Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-08
President Jones Says Members o.
( Committee Received Commission
on the Sale.
MATTER DISCUSSED ON FLOOR
Councilman Cox Explains That Fees
Were Promised, But were Never
Psid-chairman Wallace Exonerat-
ed by Both speakers-Fellows
Wanted an Investigation.

III Il hadn't been for the fact that
some members Of the council received
a commission on the sale, the proper
~ now occupied by the almshouse
would never have been bought"
This startling charge was made last
night by President ID. ). Jones, OF
the common council, when that body
was discussing the question OF the
disposition OF the almshouse site In
Elizabeth City county. which was pur-
chased by the city council last year.
Scarcely had the president taken his
seat before Councilman Ernest Cox.
CT the Second ward. was ON his feet
with a correction. He said that GER
tain members of the council had beeE
promised a commission but tnat they
had been thrown down" when the
sale was put through.
Wallace Esonerated.
These statements provoked
lengthy and heated discussion and
several of the new members OF the
council were quick to remind the
other members that they were not on
the council when the sale was made.
Councilman Wallace. OF the Tnird
ward, who is now and was at the time
the purchase was made. the chair
man of the council committee on
slmshouse and poor. made vigorous
speech. declaring that he knew moth
ing of any commissions.
Both President Jones and Mr. Cox
assured him that they knew that he
had neither received commission nor
had he been promised any In con-
nection with the sale. With this ex-
PLANTATION, Mr.. Wallace resumed his
seat
Here some members of the council
demanded the names OF the member
or members who had received COM
missions and several OF the city Of
ficers and spectators present began
skirmishing around to find out who had
received the gravy when the city
bought the property.
Fellows Demands Investigation.
No enc would take the responsible
ity OF mentioning any names, but
Councilman Fellows, of the Second
ward, who was not on the council
when the sale was made. demanded
that an investigation be made
In beginning his speech, Mr.. Eel.
lows said that he did not care for the
Daily Press to come out in the morn
ing" with charges that any member
OF the body of which he was a member
had received any graft. and he thought
the council should make a thorough
investigation Other members of the
body agreed with him and he offered
a resolution that the chair appoint a
committee of three to make full in
vestigation of the charges and report
back TO the council
Davis Declines to Serve
This resolution was unanimously
adopted and President jones named
Mr. Fellows as the chairman OF the
committee. He next named Council
man r. Lee Davis, of the Fourth
ward, but Mr.. Davis declined to serve
saying that he didn't want any Jack
o'lanterns who were crooks and
thieves suing him after the com
mittee had charged them with receiv.
ing graft
rhis statement evoked the first
trace OF laughter that had been seer
on the face OF any member Of the
council for nearly an hour.
President jones next named Mr.
Ford. but he. too. asked to be ex
cused. Then several members OF the
council said that they didn't see any
use OF investigating the matter, a
the committee would be unable e
prove anything on any of the mem
eers.
Councilman Cox then stated thai
TIE members who had received tbs
graft are not nov members Of tn.
council and that the investigation
would be OF no avail President Jones
also stated that the members wer,
no longer In the council
Committee Not Appointed.
ar. Fellows then offered to with
draw his motion. but the chair Sais
that IL had been unanimously sdopte'
and could not be withdrawn. Mr.
Chesdie said that the investigation
should b. held. but Councilman W. r
Spruin moved that the council recon
slider ITS action This motion met will
no second and President Jones ap
pointed no more committeeman an
Instructed the clerk 70 proceed viii
the next order Of business
There the matter dropped. but whei
the session ended the counciimcn die
cussed the matter among fhemsclvc
and with some Of ,he city officials an,
others who we're present
Before the graf charge vas spTunl
By President Jones. the council hal