The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-02
Alleged Charges Of Gas.
ser Against Seven.
THE CONTRACTOR
is DENOUNCED
Resolutions Adopted for I'm
mediate Investigation.
ALDERMEN CALLED TO
MEET ON FRIDAY
| Widest Scenes In Years in the Counoll
Chamber Last Night ears Shed
by the Councilrmen in Denounc-
ing Their Accuser, and En-
phatic Demands for In
vestigation at Once.

Tho hottest meeting OF the Common
Council held in many years, IL not, hn-
deed, in the history OF the body, took
place last night, and 1t resulted In tho
unanimous and enthusiastic adoption OF
resolutions calling for thorough and
speedy investigation into the rumors OF
corruption In the city government. ane @
especially with reference to certain state.
ments alleged to have been made by Cap.
tain Charles Gasser involving sewer
members OF the Street Committee of o
former Council most of whom belong to
the present body.
It was expected that the matter would Z
come up, but 1t was sprung in q form that
was complete surprise to almost every
one. and which brought forth the Bit
terest denunclation of Gasser by Messrs.
Pollock, Glenn and Mills. who We're \
named in communications submitted by
the Mayor from Assistant City Engineer \.
P. p. TalIaferro at having been among
the members of the old Street Commit
tee whom Gasser had told him (Mr. Talia-
ferro), were crooked
Councimen Named.
The seven persons whom Mr.. Talia terross
wrote the Mayor as those whom Gasser,
had named as crooked were: Messrs.
King, Mills. Gibson. Glenn, Pollock.
Bahen and Woody.
Messrs King ard Gibson We're defeated Y
at the last election and Mr.. Woody is
dead. Mr. Bahen was not at the hall last
,l,ar NJ IA
branch OF the Council. The other three
lnemb bers whose names were contained Y
g in the paper which will be found in full
below. We're in their seats and they made
sulphuric ucnuncintlons OF Gassers ALLEGED
statements and characterized the con-
tractor as a leper, scoundrel, liar and al.
most everything else, that Is bad. IN
Bcluding perjurer and slanderer.
There were thirty-two OF the thrtyss
five Councllmen In their seats. and short
" after President Bloomberg called to
order Ills Honor Mayor Taylor quietly
entered the chamber and laid a batch OF
papers upon the clerks desk and retired
When they were read. they fell Ike
thunderbolt from clear sky upon the Z.
members and outsiders who were pres
ent.
The correspondence brought in by His
Honor was between himself and Assistant
City Engneer Talaferro. In which the
former had called upon the latter for a
statement as to the alleged conversation
had by Mr. Taliaferio with Gnsser con.
cernlng an alleged combine In the ola
Street Committee. In submitting these let
ters, His Honor strongly urged prompt
action by the Council, and assured tha
body that he would do all In his power
TO get at the bottom of the matter and
to bring all guilty parties, II any. to
speedy justice SG
After scathing denunciations OF Gas.
ser by Messrs. Pollock, Glenn and Mills,
and sweeping denials by them OF ever
having had any talk with Gasser In rela-
ton to the awarding or city contracts,
a resolution vas offered by Mr.. Pollock
and adopted unanimously. calling for an
immediate investigation into the alleSa-
tons of Gasscr.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN CALLED
Later on, a broader resolution was Of
fered by AIR, Crenshaw, and In like man.
ner adopted, calling for fnl and tho
rQliGhr,i inves tigRton Into all the rumors
gs.ieged corruption in the city governs
ment, and President Turpin. who was on
the floor at once issued n call for meets
Ing of the Board Of Aldermen for o'cloos
T NJ, Friday, when the two resolutions
will undoubtedly be concurred In
The resolution Of Mr. Crenshaw Ia
broad enough to go to the bottom or all
the rumors nlads, and in addition COLI
attendance of witnesses and the bring.
Ing OF books and papers. $500 or so much
thereof as may be necessary Is nppro-
priated to carry out the provisions OF the
resolution. Unt the Board shall have
acted upon the resolutions adopted last
night President Rloomherg VIII not ap-
pont his committees; neither Will Presi-
dent Turpin Of the Board make any ap-
pointments under the resolution adopt-
ed by his body for individual investga-
tion. as this win likely be repealed. and
those Just passed by the Council for joint
action concurred in. Indicatl tlons now point
to thorough and speedy investigation.
and 1t will likely pe bbegun before Joint 4
COMMITTEES some time next week,
The Mayor Enters.
It was 7;45 O'Clock when President
Rloomberg called the body to order,
About S o'clock Mayor Taylor walked
within the railing With batch OF pa
pers, laid them upon Clerk Augusts desk
end retired immediately, lt was some
warm literature on the subject OF the
alleged corrnption in city anaFs. ana
there was quite a ripple of uHaertoned
conversation in the chamber Two conn.,
mittee meetings were in progress, but be-
fore the communications We're read f'fes-
ident Bloomherg sent the sergeant-at-
arms for the absent me nbers hui they
would not come on motion OF Mr. Eilett
the sergeant-atarms Was Instructed 70
bring in the ahsentees, and the lat'af dlt 4
SO after eome further eLort, e. 8eB
The chair laid before tho body the fok