The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-07
But Law Is Recon- :
mended to Stop Prac-
tice in Future.
LAID ON TABLE
UNTIL THURSDAY
Councilman Pollock Denounced
Findings Which Cast Asper-
i sions on His Character.
New Law, if Enacted,
Would Have Sweep
ing Effect.

While practically v!ndicating Messrs.
George E. Wise and Gilbert X. Pollock,
the report Of the special committee on
investigation made TO the Common
Council last night deprecates the prac-
ttce OF members OF the City Council
appearing as attorneys before muni-
cipal boards or executive officers, and
recommends that hereafter such prac-
tice be made unlawful, so that there
may be no recurrence OF the conduct
developed by the evidence in the case
under investigation.
Accompanying the report is an ordi-
nance of the most sweeping character,
prohibiting members of the City Coun-
Gil from receiving or agreeing 10 re-
ceive any compensation for services
rendered or TO be rendered IN relation
10 any matter in which the city OF
Richmond is party. If adopted and
held constitutional. the ordinance. ac-
cording TO Councilman. would not only
prohibit attorneys who held member
ship in thecity Council from appearing
for fees before departments and execu-
tive officers, but also would prohibit
their appearing in courts of Justice,
either in prosecution or defense OF
parties charged with violation OF city
ordinances. The ordinance carried
with IL a fine of not less than SIS and
not more than $500. recoverable before
the Police Justice.
Violated No Law.
The report OF the special committee.
together with the accompanying
papers and a stenographtc record of
the evidence. was presented by Chair
man Richardson and read BY Clerk
August amid profound silence through
out the chamber. Mr. Wise was not
present. but AIr Pollock was in his
seat. and there were present also many
dairymen and those who had appeared
AZ witnesses Briefly stated. the report
is to the effect that the evidence does
not show that Messrs Wise and Pol
lock accepted fee OF $500 TO secure
the passage OF an ordinance by the
Council: that the fee was for services
rendered as attorneys to secure per-
mission from the Chief Health Officer
for the feeding OF distillery waste TO
mich COWS. The committee further
reports that 1t was advised by the
City Attorney that there was no law
prohibiting the acceptance of such
compensation by attorneys or other
persons, yet the committee feels iusti-
fled In especially reporting that 1t
deprecates as hurtful to the efficient
and faithful representation of con-
stituency for members of either branch
of the Council to engage their service
for compensation, as was admittedly
done in this instance. TO obtain per-
mission of any officer for the suspen-
sion of the enforcement of an ordi-
nance. and that such practice should
be made unlawful
Pollock Protests.
Mr.. Pollock was promptly on his
feet when the clerk finished read
ing. protesting on behalf of himself
and his absent associate, Mr.; Wise,
against the language of the report,
asserting that the report made state
ments which did not accord with the
facts as shown in the investigations
lie protested especially against that
part of the paper which referred TO
such practice as "hurtful to efficient
Representations" claiming that the !
character of both Mr.. Wise and him
self had been assailed. and that the
committee should have brought in
more positive findings.
'If we We're guilty he exclaimed, 'it
was the plain duty of the committee
to say so in terms and to recommend
that we be kicked from this body.
If our conduct has been entirely |
honorable, as we claim 1t has been. 4
1t was the duty Of the members Of
that committee SO to report to this
body. / denounce that part of the |
report which casts any aspersion on |
us, and ask that the paper be laid
on the table that Mr.. Wise and myself |
may file paper in reply, and ask for
complete vindication at the hands
of this body, to which we believe we
are entitled"
Tho debate which followed was
general, and more as to procedure |
than as to the merits OF the paper.
Mr.. CARRIER was for referring the whole |
matter to the next Legislature as
- Il tl,,, ~. r-.-.
but was ruled out of order, At the
request of Mr.. Mills the propositions
We're separated and the ordinance rec
commended by the special committee |
took the usual course of being re- !
ferred to the Committee on Ordt-
nances. Charter and Reform, While
the report OF the committee was tabled |
until Thursday night when it will |
come up on its merits. Mr.. Huber !
that nothing had been proved. and
that the committee should not have
put with its report an ordinance which |
by implication, seemed to reflect on
the accused.
Text of Report.
The full text of the committee re-
port and ordinance follow:
TO the Honorable Common Council of |
the City of Richmond:
The undersigned Your special COM
mittee. appointed under a resolution of |
your body adopted May 10, 1910, which |
resolution il in the following Ian
guage:
''Whereas The Honorable Mayor of
the city of Richmond has, by a |
special message communicated 10 this
body, transmitted certain information !
relative to the alleged Improper Off y
cial conduct OF Messrs, George d. Mise
and Gilbert r Pollock. members OF |
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