The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-05
Members Must Not Ap-
pear for Fees Before
Municipal Boards.
OUTCOME OF WISE
POLLOCK AFFAIR
Ordinance Amended by Striking
Out Prohibition Against Prac-
ticing in Courts in Trials At
fecting City's Interests, or
City Ordinance vio-
lations.

After heated argument and some
sharp wrangllng, the Common Councii
last night adopted nm ordinance prohib-
itinE Councilmen from appearing for
fee before any committee depart
ment of the city government in the In
tcrest of any person or matter In which
the city of Richmond is concerned,
either directly or indirectly.
The ordinance was recommended BY
the special committee which investi-
gated the charges against councilmen
Gilbert X Pollock and George E. Wise,
with reference to the acceptance OF a
fee from certain dairymen for the pur-
pose of securing the passage OF an or
,dlnance permitting dairymen TO FEED
'distillery waste TO cows The Com
Yn!ttee on Ordinance. Charter and Re-
form had the City Attorney prepare a
sweeping measure, which prohibited
Counc!lmen not only from appearing
before Council committees, but also
from representing as attorneys any
person in court in cases involving vio-
latlON OF CITY ordinances.
Councilman Pollock offered an amend
1nent to the original ordinance which
took the ban from attorney-Counc!lmen
appearing in courts. The clause which
air. Pollock succeeded in having strick-
en- out of the ordinance by a vote OF
81 to Q referred to Attorney y-Councilmen
representing In any court or tribunal
any matter in which the city was in
terested.
Only One Lawyer In New Council.
When the ordinance was read by the
clerk Mr.. Pollock rose in his seat and
offered the amendment. He started
out by saying that II was with great
deal of reluctance that he discussed
the matter. He went on TO say tAa,
after September he would be the
only lawyer left in the Council MIR.
Pollock then said.
u do not believe the Council! has
any legal right to pass such an ordt-
nance; certainly no moral right to pro-
hibit me from practicing my profes-
sion In the courts while member of
this Council. / have been serving the
city for sixteen years; am not
ashamed OF my record. and am willing
to compare Il, with any other member
Councilman Cutchins said that the
ordinance was right in principle. but
that 1t went too far. He continued
that as TO the provisions in regard to
Councilmen appearing before commit
tees and departments of the city gov
ernment. there could be no doubt as
to its wisdom. He said that 1t was
not right to prevent attorney mem
bers from representing in court clients
who may have violated the city ordi-
nances.
Attacks judicial System.
This ordinance attacks the judicial
system. 1t intimates that the courts
of this city might be Influenced by
an attorney who may also be a Coun
Gilman" said Mr.. Cutchins. IF the
judges can be Influenced by Council
man. then it is time to impeach them
am glad to say that our judges in
Richmond are not OF that kind. They
are above reproach, and for this rea-
son I am opposed to this clause in
the ordinance"
Councilman Umlauf urged the coun-
ell to adopt the ordinance. He said
that the City Attorney had drawn the
ordinance and that it was very neces-
sary. He declared that Its adoption
would be of benefit not only to the
lawyers in the Council but to every
member.
He said that he had none but the
kindest feeling for Mr.. Pollock, but
that no member Of the Council had the
right to go in court and endeavor 20
defeat the execution Of law that he
had helped to frame.
Councilmen Davis and Ferguson
took the position that the ordinance
was probably all right with the excep-
tion of the clause which prohibited
attorneys from representing in court
clients who had violated city ordi-
nance.
Richardson Favors Prohibition.
In the opinion of w. Fred Richard.
son, chairman of the special commit
tee which investigated the Wise-Pol-
lock affair, the ordinance should be
passed as recommended by the Ordi-
nance Committee. He said that there
was no personal reason why he should
like to see the measure become law,
should be placed on the same footing.
He explained this by saying that a
member OF the Council could not sci!
either directly or indirectly to the
city, and that lawyers had no right to
appear in court in the interest OF a
person who was being tried for violat-
ing city ordinance.
Mr., IS'nch said that ne had not In
tended discussing the matter, but that
a good deal had been said about the
City Attorneys opinion.
II heard the City Attorney say that
the provision in the ordinance referring
to attorneys In the, council practicing
in the courts was legal, and that 1t
was an excellent law. The City At-
torney said that he knew of the In
Huences that attorneys used in mat
ters in court. would regret to see
: Mr.. Pollock leave the Council. but
believe this ordinance is right, and
khat 1t should become a law.
Was Member of Committee.
" was a member of the Investigating
! LSno fao- o., SCR