Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-16
MUST INVESTIGATE.

There is now good reason for hoping
that the Common Council will recede from
the indefensible position it took in refusing
to unite with the Board of Aldermen In
providing for an investigation of the
charges virtually made against members
of the bodies by the special grand jury
which indicted Alderman King.
To begin with, * Is stated that some OF
the members OF the lower branch who vot-
ed against the original Minor resolution.
have on sober second thought signiilad a
Willingness to concur n the second resolu.
hon as the same purportas the first offer
ed by that gentleman and adopted by the
soard: provided the Council is given access
10 the testimony that was before the
grand jury, and which caused them to
feel justified in throwing suspicion upon
members of the new municipal !eglsla-
ture who had also served in the Cid.
Again. the action of the Executive Com
mittee of the Citizens Union at theirIneet
;ng Friday night effcctually disposed of
the contention which was advanced by
some of the lower branch members that
committee mean business and the better
public sentiment is behind them. It is
1oregonc conclusion that the petition"
they propose to circulate will be general
y signed by the taxpayers and all others
e:ho have any regard for the city's repu-
.ation. and hence will constitute de
1and" upon the Council that it purge its
garments and Richmond's robes of all
faint of pollution. We regard it as also a
foresone conclusion thatthe Unions exec
utive committee will be able to secure
through the Legislative Committee author
ity, IL such authority is necessary, for
Judge Witt to turn over to any Council
Investigating committee the testimony ad-
tiuced before the special grand jury. And
In that event another argument" Of the
non.concurring members will have been
brought to srief-the argument that an
investigation would be farce, owing to
inability to secure testimony.
The only other plea OF the opponents OF
hnresusa;ion--that OF fear that stirring the
scandal would further besmirch tho
a;y--was go absurd and illogical az
be self.annihilating. Indeed, the
,ourse of the Common Council in turning
,own the original Minor proposition
lid Richmond infinitely more harm
han a hundred Investigations would
have done 1t resulted in some In
stances in the grouping by the State pa
cers or the unsupported with the suspect
ed. and the treatment OF our whole NUM-
rlpal organization as rotten to ne core
so as we see it, when the second Minor
resolution comes up in the Common Couu-
I'll. the opposition will not have a leg LEFT
10 stand on. Unless they would intensity
:he suspicion already widespread that thew
deliberately purpose TO shield the guilty if
any there be. unless they propose TO font
arrogantiy their masters as represented
an the voters. and unless moreover they
are DEAD TO all sense of justice to the In
aocent and all regard fer The c,,v.. +o,r
q same they cannot but yield The .ys,.
aiailc manner In which the Execn,,v.
COMMITTEE OF the Citizens Union has
taken hold OF this question has made t.c
ISSUE more burning one than ever h.-
eore. snd leaves the Common copnoi; M
ioop-hole for escape from agreeing IN a.
investigation. except that Of tacit,v "a.
1ittins that sons of fits members have