The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-10
WILL DEFY BOARD
AND ERECT STORES

Mr. Pollock he had a right to refuse
the petition. and Mr.. Pollock said he
had. Mr.. Beck then said that he would
not grant the permit that afternoon
as IT was after his office hours and
the matter went over to the following
Tuesday. When l went to see him o.,
TUESDAY he told me he had decided to
decline the permit. and that men,
Der of the Council had advised against
H. We had quite u sharp alteration
over the matter at this time. some
plain language being used on both
sides and l charged him at the time
with being candidate for the job
of City Engineer. He said that he
would not accept the opinion of the
City Attorney in the matter, but would
put the matter up to the Board of
Public Safety. owing to the illness of
the City Engineer, the matter has
not yet been passed on by this board.
l understand, however. that Mr.. Poi
lock has introduced an ordinance al
lowing the Assistant City Engineer to
act in the place Of his chief"
Mr.. Connolly then gave a number
of reasons why, in his opinion, the
permit should be granted.
Reply of MIR. Beck.
WITCH seen luSt hight DuliuuS IT,
spector Beck positively denied the
charge of Mr.. Connolly that there had
been any political influence brought
to bear on him In the matter ''Alr.
Pollock came to my Office with Mr..
Massie. and said he represented a
number of his constituents, who We're
opposed to the granting OF the per-
mits," said the Inspector. MI. Con-
nelly was present in my office the only
to me. l asked MI. Pollock IL in his
opinion had n right to decline. He
said | had the right, wllereupon de-
cided to refer the matter to the Board
OF Public Safety. as 1t established an
important precedent Mr.. Pollock was
a member of the Finance Committee in
the Council which drew UP the ordin-5
ance under which my office is now
working. and | considered that he was
an authority on the intention aud
wishes of the Council as to the pow
ers and duties OF my office. Both he
and Mr.. Eugene C. Massie. who are
well-knoWn lawyers, assured me that
L had the right to refuse the petition,
Notwithstanding the opinion of the
City Attorney, and l acted on their adj
vice.
u positively deny that there was
anything improper about the trapsac-
s.on, a,,u 80 -, ~ 80 cn,n,.i, Would say
,,,,,,s =, ,ta Counrii 'oslxea
e.i't ~ ~, o.,tin, tnr t,,,t Te..
u ~, ~ ,n'il ny al, = ."frsaI
i'is.'.cl itNels s'ao'e' ...si.,1, ~,
anu IN Wiieii l was sus ."'''eu ~ ny
Souhcii la'ei, 49,
MI. folloch saw ias. n.s -. MY
there was no polltlcai slEill a a. -
tachcd 70 the matter Whatover, -. :
Went before the buliali's inspector ~
the interests OIL hundred or llpie
property owners IN Madison ware, VINO
had signed q petition and VINO heheVed
that their property would De uamaseu
by the erection of the stores, he de-
clared. 1T was my opinion al the
| time that Mir. Beck had the right TO
refuse the petition and SO place the
matter before the, Board OF Public
Safety, where three heads could decide
matter with more fairness than one
Mr. Massie. who appeared before Mr..
Beck in the interests Of himself and q
-
Grace Street. said last night: II think
Mr. Beck acted exactly right.
f.rhiu nunSfinp lie ono that n farfc !,