The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-10
VERDICT, "UNW|SE
. AND IND|SCREET"
Council Finally Disposes
of Wise and Pollock
Matter.
NOT GUILTY OF
LAW VIOLATION
Mr.. Pollock Sharply Attacks Re.
port, Denying That Conduct Of
Accused Was Dishonorable..
Council to Condemn Slip
for River. Bridge at
Mayo's Island.

| That the action of Messrs. Wise and
Pollock was "unwise and indiscreet"
was the final determination OF the
Common Council last night. The re-
port of the special committee which
| investigated the charge that they had
received $500 from certain dairymen
to secure the passage of an ordinance
was received and filed. and the reso-
luton finally adopted disposing of the
matter declares that neither Of the
accused has been guilty of any illegal
or disf1onorable conduct. The ordinance
recommended by the special committee
which prohibits Councilmen from ap-
| peartng for compensation before any
municipal board or executive officer
bhad already been referred to the Com
mittee on Ordinances, Charter and Re-
form.
| The report was called from the table
! by Mr.. Pollard. Mr.. Pollock spoke
briefly, saying he had prepared no
formal statement in answer to some
| of the structures of the committee as
to the conduct OF Mr.. Wise and ulm-
| self.
Pollock Attacks Report.
The only question: he claimed.
was as to our official conduct. The
public has understood that that was
| the question al stake. When the
| charges were made We fled our earnest
request that an investigation be forth
with had. in order that our regulations
might be vindicated. 1t was the duty
of this committee under the rules to
| have reported some resolution en-
bodying its findings. We feel that it
has done US an unintentional injustice
in failing to make such report in re-
gard 10 our conduct. In the report
| II vindicates US. but II should have
| been. put In terms and spread on the
record for all time TO come. All of our
l.conduct has been the synonym of honor
nnd frankness. and the testimony SO
shows II seems TO me but just 10 Mr..
Wise and myself that this special COM
mitsee should have spoken on a aues-
ton affecting our character in the
community in no uncertain terms.
| las to the question of ethics, that
was not at issue. AS stated by Judge
| Christian that is a question on which
| good men and able men may differ. l
have no quarrel with any mans opinion
on that score.
There are one or two statements
! p the report which were evidently
inserted Inadvertently, and which must
have been hastily considered. 1t has
| HoW deEc ptSl Sldltu luol W - dcIlllltu
| taking compensation TO secure the
suspension of the operation of an or
| dinance. If guilty of that we would
not deserve a place on this floor and
| there Is no evidence to support 1t.
The statement in the report that we
| confessed our action inca apacitated us
from voting, is another inadvertence.
was not incapacitated. l had the same
right as any member of the Coun-
Gil. I do not think any member of
the committee intended TO do us a
wrong. but the failure to bring in a
resolution as to our conduct has done
US great wrong. 1 leave the question
entirely to this body to determine"
Unpise and Indiscrcct.
| Chairman Richardson made no effort
to defend the committee report, and
Mr.. Pollard offered the following res
Is and without debate:
"Bc 1t resolved by the Common
| Council, Tint the report of the special
committee appointed to Investigate the
! conduct of George E. Wise and Gilbert
| X. Pollock he, and the same Is, re-
ceived aAi filed; and whereas 1t Is
| shown from said report that neither
George E. Wise nor Gilbert X. Pollock
has been guilty of any illegal or dis
honorable conduct, therefore he 1t re-
| solved and entered of record, that II
| Is the Judgment of this body that said
George f. Wise and Gilbert X. Pollock
have not been guilty of the violation
of any law, or of any dishonorablc
conduct in the premises, but their ac-
| ceptance OF the employment was un-
wise and lndiscreet."
| The only other echo of the Pollock
Wise matter was when the special
committee presented the bill Of John
G. Winston for stenographer's services
of $3.50, and the bill Of the Sergeant
alarms for hire of a buggy. amount
ing to 49, The papers We're referred
to the Committee on Finance.
At the request of City Engineer
Boiling. Mr.. Pollock offered resolu-
ton, which was adopted under suspen-
| sion of the rules, directing the COM
| mittees on Streets and Finance to SIT
| Jointly, and report on the advisability
! OF abandoning the system of local as
sessments for paving sidewalks and
alleys, and hereafter to have what
paving is done at the expense OF the
city.
Major, Dooley's Offer.
MIR. Lynch called from the table thf
resolution accepting the offer OF Ma
jor James H. Dooley to pay the city
| 100000 for release from lHe opAe'
| ton to give the city a right or way
4 for a main trunk sewer through nj
! country place, 'Maymount,'' and pre-
sen,ed written statements from thu
CITY engineer and City Attorney. Cit,
Engtneer Boiling reported that he hat
found from careful surveys that
sewer could be built along Virginif
Avenue to drain all OF the proposed
area, and which could aslo provld
hereafter for the drainage of River
view, should that section he annexed
The Dooley Ravine sewer, designed b,
Col. Cutshaw, and proposed In the an
nexation agreement OF 1906. would b
s,674 feet long with an approximat
cost OF $1o6.b50; while the route aloni
Virginia Avenue to the river would b
but 2,5le feet In length, and COS
s9o,2s7, and would enter the river
half mile further down, Mr.. BOILING