The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-19
COUNCILMEN TO
Be INVESTIGATED
Messrs. Pollock and Wise Freely
Admitted Having Received
the Money, But Held
That 1t Was Legi-
innate Fee.
RICHMOND VA-SpeciaI-

George Z. Wise and Gilbert X. Pol
lock. These charges are 10 the effect
that the two Councilmen received a
fee OF $500 for having an ordinance
prohibiting dairymen feeding mich
C. with distillery waste amended,
So that its use was made permissible.
The letter of the Mayor was very
exhaustive and is given in full below.
II sets forth that ten or twelve dairy
men contributed TO the fund OF $500.
which was placed in tre hands of
John A. Dietrich. with the under
standing that il was not TO be paid TO
MeSSrs. Pollock and Wise until the
amendment TO the ordinance had been
adopted by the Council and approved
by the Mayor; and that the ordinance
was approved by the Mayor on March
18th, and the following day Mr..
Dietrich paid over the money.
The two COuncilmen admitted that
they received the money. but said it
was a legitimate attorneys Zee for
services in the Hastings Court
The letter also refers 10 the action
of Chief Health officer Levy in in
structing dairy inspectors not TO use
any strenuous efforts to detect the
feeding of diStillery waste" following
the action OF the Board OF Health in
recommending TO the Council an
amended ordinance.
Many Present.
Few members were absent when the
roll was called, and the room held
many visitors. Police Sergeant Sher-
ry was on special duty in the hall.
Dr. Reade said thsJ on the day be-
fore the recent primary Mr.. Umlauf
had told him Of a rumor TO the effect
that MeSSrS. Pollock and Wise had
each received $3.50 for having an or
dinance passed.
The day following the primary DR..
Levy told him the same story, and a
conference was held between him. Mr.
James r. Gordon. DR.. Levy and Mr..
Umlauf. AS a result the matter was
placed before the Mayor.
Il felt particular interest in the
matter" explained DR.. Reade. las 1
had introduced the amendment.
did so upon the request of Mr.. Wise,
who said that he did not wish TO do so
as he had been counsel for the dairy
men. He explained that he had ask
ed Mr.. Cutchins to do so, but that Mr..
Cutchins declined because he had =
brother in the employ Of the health
office
Mr.. Umlauf made a similar state
ment.
When the resolution had been
adopted Mr.. Cutchins asked il IL in
ciuded an inquiry into the alleged
suspension Of the ordinance. President
Peters ruled that II did not.
The investigation committee is to
consist Of five members.
The Proceedings.
1t was S:25 when the Council was
called to order. 1t was several min
utes later when order was secured.
and Clerk August then began to call
the roll.
When the roll call was concluded
Mr.. August began to read the letter
written TO President Peters by the
Mayor. Mr.. Huber interrupted to
make a motion for suspension Of
the rules. IL passed in moment and
Mr.. August again began.
With no Introduction he gravely
read the letter. 1t is as follows:
To the Honorable Common Council OF
the City of Richmond:
Gentlemen,-l feel constrained to
bring to the attention OF the Common
Council certain facts which have come
to my knowledge within the last few
days.
On the morning of May 4. 1910. l
was Informed by four reputable gen.
tlemen Of a report which had reached
them that MessrS. George +. Wise and
Gilbert K. Pollock. two members Of
the Common Council, had Jointly re-
ceived the sum of $500 for securing
the passage by the Council of an
amendment TO an ordinance concern
ing dairymen and the sale Of milk. by
which amendment the words prohib-
iting the feeding of "distillery waste.
usually called Swill," to milch cows
were stricken out of the eighth and
ninth sections of said ordinance
Immediately commenced an in
vestigation of this report, and from
statements made to me by several per-
sons. an examination of the records
and the admissions Of Messrs. Wise
and Pollock. believe that the following
facts will appear:
Sometime during the latter part OF
last year Messrs. Wise and Pollock
were counsel for Mr. Taylor, a dairy
man. who was tried in the Police
Court, and in the Hastings Court Cor
appeaD. for a violation of the ordi-
nance which prohibited the feeding OF
milch cows on "distillery swill.'' The
am informed that Messrs. Wise anC
Pollock then received their fees in
full for such services.
During the trial of that case much
was said as to the wisdom OF such z
prohibition, and subsequently, seVera
dairymen appeared before the BOARD
OF Health and sought TO secure a.
amendment to the ordinance by strik,
ing out this prOhibitory clause.
Instructs Health Officer.
The board had the matter under
consideration for sometime. and or
instructing the Chief Health Officer
TO recommend to the Council at
amendment TO the ordinance strikne
out this prohibition and allowing the
Ieeoing or the by-prOductS of diStil.
leries and breweries under such rule.
and regulations OF the Board Of
Health as may be necessary to insure
the proper and sanitary use of sale
products as a food for milch cows"
After the adoption of this resolu.
ton the inspectors were instructed by
the Chief Health officer mot TO use
any strenuous efforts to detect the
feeding or distillery waste"
] am not informed as to what ef-
forts were made. or what influence
was exerted. If any. by Messrs. Wise
and Pollock to secure the adoption OF
the above resolution, or to induce the
Chief Health Officer to instruct the in
spectors to be lag in the enforcement
Of the ordinance. but DR.. Levy say.
he afterwards Informed them of such
action.
1t further appears that after thi:
resolutiSm had been adopted and the
Instructions given, ten or twelv,
dajRSfmen contributed to q fund anC
raised the sum of $500, which wa,
placed in the hands of Mr.. JohI
Dietrich, to be paid TO Messrs. Wis,
and Pollock for their services.
Matter of Dispute.
The character Of the services rem
dored or TO have heep rapdarad n