Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-16

The Minor resolution, providing for a
joint: committee to Investigate alleged
councilmanic scandals during the life Of
| the Council Of 1e00-1s02, was yesterday a
!, topic Of discussion, next in interest to
| the Horse Show. Mr.. John B. Minor, the
patron Of the resolution. which had been
prepared with great care and unusual
skill, was the recipient during the day
i of many congratulations for his stand in
the premises.
| Everywhere the question was asked,
/ What will the joint committee. be able
! to- expose? Will any names be used?
land will the investigation result in the
! expulsion of any of the members of the
| City Council who. were also members du-
ring 190O-lso2?" Naturally, these questions
are source OF considerable disturbance
to some of the members of the City Coun-
| Gil, who cannot be benefited by the pub
Lie being in. possession Of their records
| while member Of the old Council.
| WANT GRAND JURY RECORD.
member Of the Board Of Aldermen
| said yesterday that a strenuous effort is
going to be made to secure the steno-
graphic record of the evidence brought
out before the special grand jury which
is still in custody Of the Hastings Court.
This record which is very volumni-
Gus one, would be of ines1imab bic value
to the investigating committee when it
shall begin its iabors. It is not at all
improbable that the testimony as record
ed fer the special grand jury would be
all the Information that the committee
would need for its WORK. Even if i;
would not save all the work it would as
sist the sco1asnittee to such an extent that
the examination would not cost one hall
the time and hard work that would BE-
absolutely necessary of. the. record could
not be gotten from the Hastings Court.
There is. no doubt but that Judge Witt:
will be very glad to lend. any assistance
possible in, its work. and that he will
turn the testimony over for the commit
tees use il he has the legal right to dc
So. Whether the court has the right Il
do this IS a question of doubt in the.
minds of. some, but it is not publici,'
known what Judge Witt thinks OF the.
proposition.
ATTORNEY WOULD BURN RECORD.
At the time the grand jury was in ses-
sion in July the question was raised in,
the presence Of Commonwealth s Attorney
D. c.. Richardson. and he, declared he
8OltlttG- always OppuSS any SGSslSSllol x
make public the testimony, adduced By
the grand jury It that time Mr.. Richard
son favored the burning Of the record
as soon as there was no further use ful
it by the. Hastings. Court.
It was never dreamed then that the
Council would take hand in the nves
tigation. SO that the right Of the judiciary
department to turn over to the legislative
branch OF the: city government suchfe evil,
lence is. a new point. and one that has
that has not been considered by Judge
Witt. There is no telling what may be
done when. the. REQUEST Tor the record
is! formally made.
COUNCIL WILL CONCUR.
The resolution will come UP before tho
Common Council at the meeting onlsthe
first Tuesday night in November: Their
is. no doubt that it; will; pass that bod
without. opnositio ard. then so to tbs
Mayor for. his: approval. When Mayo
Taylor will have affixed his signature L,
the resolution the commission will. be an:
pointed-tWo by President Turpin, of TIL
Board of Aldermen and three by Presi-
dent Bloolnberg, of tile: Common Coun-
Gil.
The. resolution provides for an appro:
priation, of $500 for the expenses Of thFs
committee. This means that an eXper
stenographer will be employed and tina
the proceedings: Of the sessions OF tht
commission will be taken verbatim.