Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-21
TELEPHONES,
THE MINOR RESOLUTION.

THE MINOR RISoLtiIoS.
In the matter OF the Minor resolution
the City Council OF Richmond is like
man on 2 fence with one leg over and the
pther held in a hesitating position caus-
ing spectators to wonder whether ms
next movement is going to be forward or
backward.
The Board of Aldermen has passed
soint resolution providing for the appoint
ment of a joint committee Of five to IN
uuire into and report upon the charges
made by the grand jury against members
Of the City Council. And it proposes to
authorize the committee to send for per-
sons and papers and to incur expense,
If necessary. to the amount of $780, That
sum- it is understood, is intended TO pay
for stenographic and clerical services.
This resolution was proposed by Mr..
John B. Minor and it passed the Board
of Aldermen unanimously, but ruror now
has it that the Common Council will with
hold its concurrence. Perhaps the wish is
father to the thought.
The argument used against the resolu-
ton is that it will do no good; CO that
its passage may involve the names of men
who in all innocence. have done work
thrown away; "a that it will further DE
snirch the good name OF the city, al
ready besn1irched enough" &c, &c
Our view is that the situation admits
Of TO satisfactory retreat upon the part
of tho Common Council. The report of
the grand jury amounts to charges
against some of the members of the old
Council, and many members of that Coun-
Gil are also members of this Council. The
good men may suffer in public opinion
with the bad unless dligent inquiry be
made with the purpose of separating the
innocent from the corrupt, if there be
any OF the latter.
No Virginia legislative body can afford
TO bear such a taunt from such a source
as this one comes from without causing
an investigation TO be made with the pur-
pose of vindicating itself if possible. ST.
lcnce or evasion will invite the worst sort
OF Interpretation.
Answering another objection, we must
say that the public may be relied upon
to discriminate. if in the course OF the
investigation it should appear that worthy
md trusty members have sold goods to or
done work Tor this that. or the other
corporation Our people will be slow to
condemn men of good repute where no
The insertion of a $500 appropriation in
the Minor resolution puts it in the class
Of legislative business, which here re-
quires a two-thirds vote fer adoption.
If there is any danger of the Common
Councils defeating the resolution, through
lack of a two-thirds vote we trust the
friends of the proposition will amend it
by striking out all the words relating
TO an appropriation. The $500 can be rails
ed easily by public subscription. Indeed,
the Richmond Evening News offers ITO
furnish stenographcr and to give bond
for his good conduct, and that he will
deliver to the City Council the same re-
port of evidence, etc, that would be re-
quired Of 4 man paid by themselves So
the necessity for 4 two-thirds vote can be
avoided. True, the resolution as amend
I'D would have 10 go back to the Board of
Aldermen. hut that need not involve more
than is hours delay.
So far as the good name OF this city is
concerned, what could injure It more
than for the statement to go abroad that
the Common Council has failed to face
the allegations Of the grand jury and has
rejected the advice OF the Board of AL
dermen--in matter possibly involving
personal honor and Official integrity?
1t would be looked upon, written and
spoken about and remembered as a hush
up policy. No. that would never do, Such
course would not be creditable to Rich
nond, and we don't believe it will be
adopted by the Common Council. AS for
the Aldermen. they have already nut
Themselves on record on the right side
Their position is tmpregnable