The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-22
EVANS BILL HELD
UP BYC'.0| i
----------- s5
Councilman RichardsHas Money.
Invested in Firm Selling
to City Home.
AMOUNT MAY Be i: FORFEITED % z:
Poor Committee vvrestlcs With
Law Against Officials Hold
ing City Contracts.
AMOUNT MAY BE FOR ElTED


On the ground that Councilman q. G.
Richards, OF Marshall Ward, Is a mem-1
Der OF tho firm, and therefore debarred
by statute from trading with the city,
the bill Of Il. w. Evans & Co., OF $149.97,
for eggs and other supplies furnished
Ito the City Home. was held up by the
Committee on Relief OF the Poor last
night, pending report to be made by
Chairman Graham y. Hobson and
Councilman Jacob Umlauf, appointed q
subcommittee to look into the claim.
The matter was brought to tho atten-
ton Of the committee by Councilman
John Hirschberg, who appeared last
night for the first time as successor to
Councilman John Lynch as a member
in bringing the question UP he was not
actuatcd by any hard feeling which
might have been cnsendered during
his fight with Mr.. Richards concerning
the sale of dressed poultry. but that
he was simply following out the law.
Statements Of Mr.. Richards, made be-
fore the Committees on Markets and on
Ordinance, Charter and Reform that
he was a member OF the firm were res
called by members of the Poor Com
mttee, and proofs were asked for a
letter addressed to Mr.. Hirschberg In
regard to the poultry proposition was
produced, and the head bore the name
of Mr.. Richards as q, member Of the
firm His name was also on the bills
rendered to the City Home.
Has Money Invested In Firm.
Richard a. Hughes, steward at the
City Home, stated that as soon as Mr..
Richards was reelected to the Council.
about three years ago, he discontinued
buying from the Evans firm, thinking
that 1t was against the law. Later he
said he was met on the street by Mr..
| Evans. who asked him why he gave
him no more orders. When Mr.. Hughes
gave his reasons Evans told him that
Mr.. Richards had no more TO do with
the firm than he had. and the purchases
were resumed.
| After hearing of the action of the
committee last night Mr.. Evans con-
! frmed what was said by MIR. hughes,
| and explained that Mr.. Richards had
actually retired from the business
about three years ago and that he had
/
u stipulated amount of interest on
certain money that he had invested in
/ the concern. His name, Mr.. Evans
| said, was retained on the stationery
! because they had been in business for
nearly twenty years together, and a
I change In the style of the firm might
result in injury to the trade. He said
i that Mr.. Richards's references to HIM
self as {; member OF the firm were made
i simply because he had money invested
'linsthe business, and was opposed to the
passage of any measure when might
be derosatory to the trade.
Whnt the Law Says.
Section S23 of the Code. amended il
1905, provides that it shall be unlaw
(, full for any member ofsthe Council o.
i Board Of Aldermen or other officer o
city, during his term OF office, TT
I he contractor or subcontractor Will
the said corporation, or its agents. O.
with such committee, nor shall the.
be Interested directly or indirectly II
any contract. subcontract or job Q
work or materials. or the profits O
contract price thereof. or any service
:, performed for the city for pay unde
!, any contract or subcontract; and N
such councilman. officer or employ,
i shall be interested directly or indirect
! ly in any contract. subcontract, Q
LOB OF work or materials, or the profit
or contract price thereof. or service
to be furnished or performed for til
city for pay under any contract Q
subcontract: nor as agent for sucl
contractor or subcontractor or othe
person furnishing any supplies or ma
terials. Every such contract or sub
contract shall be void. and the officer
councilman. agent or member Of sue
committee making such contract shal
forfeit to the Commonwealth the full
amount stipulated thereby.
mo officer OF city who alone Q
with others is charged with the dut
Of auditing. settling or providing, b
' levy or otherwise. for the payment q
9 claims against such city. shall. by con
! tract, directly or Indirectly becom
the owner of or interested in any clait
against such city. Every such con
! tract or subcontract Is void, and
9 any such claim be paid, the amour
paid, with interest, may be recovere
: back by the city. within two years al
: ter payment, by action or motion
: the Circuit or Corporation or HustinE
) Court having jurisdiction over sal
!, city"
! Left to Subcommittee.
It will be for the subcommittee
= say whether Mr.. Richards, with none
I invested in the firm OF Z. w. Evan
!. and Company, from which he rcgu
larly draws interest or profit, is d
rectly$ or Indirectly connected with ii,
:. concern. Both he and Mr.. Evans clair
49,