The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-23
Made to Committee on Ordinance
Charter and Reform last N ght
WOULD REDUCE HIS SALARY
Think it Far 10 Excess of What Should
Be Paid for Discharge of His Duties
as He Understands Them-The
Rspors Was Adopted and
Recommended Favor-
ably to the Council.

In report Of a subcommittee, CONF
posed of five of the most prominent meme
bers OF the City Council. submitted to
the Committee On Ordinances. Charter
and Reform last night. /. is charged that
Mayor Richard NJ Taylor. chief exec;1l
tive of the city OF Richmond. is thorough-.
ly incompetent to f!l tho position to
which he has been elected by the
people. this incornpetency being 50
pronounced as to border on a
stated in the session that he was sin-
cerely happy to know that upon recent
occasion. when the Mayor should have
been at his best. no outside citizen wa1.
present; otherwise he would have hung
his head in shame for the city.
The report is without doubt the most
sensational ever rendered. and when 10
goes to the Council for adoption or re.
jection-the committee having recom-
meEded the former course-a warm fight
will doubtless be preciptated. the Mayor
having a number Of warm. personal
friends in the body will stand by and
Eight for him to the last ditch.
The report is not alone severe It iS
D
which is said to have taken place in the.
Office Of the Mayor on the 18th of Noyern.s
ber. when the subcommittee. in acccrIfs-
ance with a resolution from the Council
and instructions from It's parerit body
attempted TO learn from the Mayor some-4
thing of his duties and the workings OF
the executive departments of the nunicf-
pal government. The subcommittee say
he was totally ignorant of the facts per-
tanning to the affairs of the city. and
alleges that important matters have been
neglected by him for years.
SOME OPPOSITION
Despite the sensational features of the
report. little surprise was evidenced hy
any Of the nine members OF the commit
tee present, for all had been told prior.
to the meeting what was to come and ali.
were prepared to listen to what is proba-F
bly, the most remarkable report ever
turned in by Council Committee. Ney.s
ertheless opposition to The sensational
. documer. manifested itself from the
start. Councilman Pollock. chairman Of
tho committee. strsnuously opposing
sending any such scathing denunciation
of the Mayor to the City Council. He
offered substitute measure. which was
voted down by a majority OF five, only
he and Mr.. Pollard favorinS its adoption
The vote was similar on the adoption Of
the original report
There were present at the NEE. ing
Messrs- Pollock, Pollard. Bottom. Halls
Crenshaw. Cottreil. Adams. Minor and
Spence. OF these Messrs. Creustawcs
Hall. Minor Adams and Cottrell were
members OF the subcommittee which for-
mulated the scathing criticism Of Mayors
Taylor. and every one of them signed
the report. and at the meeting last night
advocated its adoption and sending It
to the City Council for favorable con-
sideration.
The lengthy comment upon the ALLEGED
incorapetency of Mayor Taylor is tna
result Of an effort on the part OF thu
City Council. through the Committee on
Ordinances. Charter and Reform. TO ara
rive at some definite conclusion as to
what compensation the employees and
officials OF the city should receive for the
services rendered. The above named
gentlemen were on subcommittee sap-s
pointed to investigate the workings OF
the executive and, judicial departments
OF the municipality.
The report came Immediately after
Councilman Crenshaw. as chairman OF
the subcommittee. had submitted q re-
commenda ton in regard to the salary
OF City Attorney Poilard.ki IN which 1t was
advised that his pay be- increased from
$500 per year to 5000 per year This
had been unanimously adopted, when
port on the Mayor.
EAGER EXPECTANCY.
There was ripple of talk heard to
float over the room. while on every face
was to be seen the eager took OF exc
pectancy, and smile was to be OBJ
served upon the countenances OF one or
two members. Mr.. Crensiaw said with
the consent Of the committee. he would
first read an interview the subcommittee
had with Mayor Taylor in his office on
the 18th OF last month. He thought this
essential In order that all might fully
ceeded to read the lengthy document. .
copy OF which will be found below. He
read with force. and the recitation as
suy,ed rather stacy aspect ss
When the reading of the interview had
been finished. Mr.. C enshaw proceeded
to read the report formulated by the
committee He then resumed his seat. and
Mr.. Minor secured the floor. He said In
substance that the interview was practf-
calIy correct. the only fault being thatsit
was not nearly so bad as the real inter-.
view was. The report. he continued. had
been formulated after careful ce1sider1-
tIon, the subcommittee deen1ing It their
duty to place the facts before the parent
body.
Here Mr.. Pollock took q hand IN the
proceedings. stating that the report swa1
entirely TOO harsh-too personal He
claimed that the committee had exceeded
It's authority. and investigated the pes.
sonaiity OF the Mayor, and not the
Mayors Office. as It had been Instructed Ia
do sTfa. trusted that all nersnnal NO.