The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-24
council Will NOT
AGREE IOINVEST|CATE
Continued from First Page-o

which the Peters substitute was nnauy
adpoted, the only change bclns mat W. W
Glenn, who had voted with the Ola hleiii-
bers on. the first round lined up Win
the rcformers against the refers s uos'1i-
tute. A great many local poiltlclahs were
in the chamber during the evening, anu
the deepest interest was manifested III
the result though so far as the members
we're concerned it was we'll known Tar IN
advance There was great joy among tne
opponents of the Minor resolution "nen
the first test vote was taken. ana e.e
faces of some of the old time leaders We're
wreathed in smiles. There will be no IN. III
vestjgation. The situation IS IN en-.
control of the old members ol e.., 49, ,est
and some of them said very pialfls 'a a.,
night that they did not desire any ~
ouiry into the past actions of the BODY
THE SESSION IN DETAIL.
President Bloonlberg raped the in i'e'-.-
ing to order at 7:45 o'clock. and thirty.
three members answered to the ron Cd H. :.
Only NIessrs. Blanks and Shea oelhs az
sent.
Clerk August read the call of the
meeting, which stated its objects, anu
then he read a communication from me
Bta1d. stating that the Minor llvesuea.
ting resolution had been adopted oy t'at
body and respectfully asking the eo'7
currence of the Council.
The report Of the special grand jury
was read by the clerk, as wa. also tne.
Minor resolution Mr.. E. w. Miner OF
fered an amendment striking out 5000.
Mr.. Miner made a strong plea Tor the
penses allowed for the inveStiga ton Ihls
was the first test vote, and nearly all
the old members lined up against the
proposition which was rejected, ayes, Il;
noes, 81.
MAKES A STRONG PLEA
Mr.. Minor made a strong plea for the
resolution which the body had Just re-
fused to amend. He said he would not
only be recreant5 but llngrateful TO his
constituency did he not vote to throw
open the doors. and allow the public to
know what had gone 4on in matters re-
lating to the public business.
He wanted to know why a resolution
should pass the Board, and then a mem
her of that body come to Councilmen
and ask that they vote gainst IT. He
said President BloonberE offered a dis
claimer at the last meeting in which he.
said he was a. party to no misconduct,
and that the last line or two stated that
he courted a thorough investigation. but.
on second thought a pen had been
drawn through these lines. He thought
the best interests Of the city demanded
the fullest investigation. If our hands
are clean,'' said ne. Eve who demand
this investigation should not wear the
stigma for other people.
If the city had already been Injured,
she would be injured a. thousand times
more by refusing to investigate.
NOTHING COULD BE HOPED.
Mr. Peters opposed the resolution. He
feared no investigation and was for clean
and honest politics. but if the grand jury.
with all its enlarged powers, could do
nothing. what could be hoped for from
the Council, whose powers were much
mere crcumscribed? He said the Council
had a sked the grand jury to make a full
and thorough investigation of the con-
duct Of its members and TO report to the
Council such members as should be found
amenabie to the laws. No such thing
had been done by the grand jury. They
had found no wrongdong. and he wantel
Il, stop the agitation. which was hurting
the city Let us stand UP for the city:
Let us run this government or turn ~
over to those who seem anxious 20 take
charge of it, said Mr.. Peters.
RESOLUTION OF REFUSAL.
In conclusion Mr.. Peters offered the
following substitutes:
Whereas. the special grand jury empan-
elled by the judge of the Hastings Court
IF the city of Richmond for the purpose
corruption existing in the City council.
have. after a most exhaustive ;nvestIga-
ti,n and the rigid examination of forty
eight witnesses, presented but one in
6iclment; and
Whereas. an indictment can be found
rron much less evidence than is required
to convict. or would justify the Co.,rc Gil
in exercising its right to expel a mem
Der; and
| Whereas, it is a self-evident proposition
to all fair minds that it is impossible for
the Council to accomplish more than,
ever if it can accomplish as much. as the
grand jury. with all its inquisitorial pow
ers supported by the treasury AMI police
powers of the State. and guided and in
structed by the judge of tire Illus dngs
Court and the Commonwealth s Attorney
and
Whereas, this Council did. by resolu-
ton unanimously adopted on the 4th day
Of August. 1902. request the said grand
jury to make the most thorough exami-
nation possible. to the end that every per-
son guilty might be brought to Justice,
and should such person be then not amen
able to punishment. that such 1nvestiga-
ton and report be made as would inform
this body and the public of the names
Of those who have been guilty of brib-
cry and corruption. and pledging the
grand jury its hearty cooperation by ex-
| pressing the willingness of each member
10 appear before the said grand jury, and
directing an the officers of the city to
furnish all books and papers and to ren-
der all assistance. and instructing the
! City Attorney to aid the grand jury in
their efforts, a copy Of which resolution
was presented to said grand jury, which
was composed Of citizens selected by the
Judge of the Hastings Court on account
of their peculiar fitness for such an in
lvestigation; and
Whereas, concurrence in the resolution
| OF the Board Of Aldermen can have no
other effect than to cause the re-examina-
ton Of the witnesses who were. examined
by the grand jury and the publication OF
their testimony. which the grand jury
did rot deem proper: notWlthstanding the
unanimous request Of this pody LOT q most
thorough Investigate ton and report; and
n hereas, the finding of the grand jury
| is conclusive OF the fact that. after
nost thorough Investigation. no testimony a1''