The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-21
.HUlCE UNWILLING
TO ADMIT DEFEAT
Continued from First Page.

street. Inquiry at his homo Friday
morning failed to elicit any definite
Information as 10 his condition.
Friends who saw him Thursday night,
however, say that he has evidently
improved but little siAce he took his
bed the early part of the week, when
disclosures as to the shortage were
made.
Hulce TO Be Named.
1t Is practically assured that Cap
tam Cunningham first deputy coll
lector will be named collector ad In
tenn wnen the Council meets in joint
session MIR. Hulce will serve In this
capacity until after the hearing uf the
shortage charges, and Will then enter
the race In dead earnest for the reg
ular appointment. In event his chief
Is removed from office.
Mr.. w. A. Crenshaw, former city
councilman. and brother OF CITY Ac-
countant George s. Crenshaw, who
has beeL mentioned as candidate
for the -oliectorship. announced FRI
day thai ha will not be In the race.
despite persistent reports to the con-
trary. Mr.. Crenshaw wishes It en-
phasized that he Is not the city &C
countant. as good many persons
about the city appear to think,
Other candidates mentioned are Mr..
/ w. l. Hancock. retired tobacconist,
and Mr.. NJ. w. Moncure. well known
citizen and business man.
shortage May BE Larger.
Captain Cunningham shortage
may reach a figure In the netghbor-
hood Of $4,000 or more, If 1t Is found
that an insurance company paid H.
cense tax bin Of s1,400 charged
d -
Of the collectors office, IL is said, do
not show payment of the bill, but this
matter cannot be determined definite
ly until word is had from the head
offices OF the company in Chicago.
Meanwhile the parties directly con-
cerned do not think 1t would be fair
to either Captain Cunningham or the
company until this information Is In
hand. II appears that the company
Was assessed a total OF about $4,000
! for city taxes. the amount involved
+ being half that sum held over until
Decem
According to Mayor Richardson.
there are perhaps "a few other un-
credited bills that were paid the col
lector. This VIII also be definitely
determined In due course OF time.
Wouldn't Compromise.
Several friends OF Captain Cunning
ham. 1t was stated at his Office Friday
( have offered to square the amount OF
| the shortage among them being a
prominent wealthy member of the
CAPTAIN Cunningham Is connected
Mayor. Richardson stated Friday
that under no circumstances would he
agree to acceptance of such profiers II
any strings were tied tn them.
LAS | view It. there would be no
improperly in the acceptance Of money
10 cover the shortage" he said, but
under no circumstances should the
city bind itself as to any action ii
might see nit to take in the matter"
The Mayor then pointed out that
Captain Cunninghan's bond Of $4,000
would be amply sufficient TO cover all
delnquencies In sight.
I Should 1t develop at the hearing of
the Cunningham charges that he is
liable to criminal prosecution, it would
be compromising L felony. IN the opin-
ion III Mayor Richardson. for the city
to forestali any such action by acc-p-
ting settlement in advance and agree
Ing 10 call the deal off. as 1t were.
VIII Office Be Abolshed7
The question OF abolishsng the city
collectors office promises to prove a
leading feature OF the pending col
leotorshf- contest, and II was freely
predicted at the city hail. Friday. that
little more would be heard OF the move
ment. were Major Wood TO land the
position.
The candidates themselves are nat
uraHy opposed to any such procedure
, but they are practically unanlm Gus
in agreeing that the position should
be placed on Il salary basis at some
thing like IS, 600. with extra compen-
Z Ia FER c1a
Mayor Richardson declared Friday
that he is rather inclined TO favor
I abolition of the office on the ground
/ that, II properly conducted, X serve.
as an excellent check on the treas
/ urer's office, and he does not believe
that suWef money would be saved the
city by merging the Office with thai
| of the city treasurer. if the salar,
| basis is adopted. Mayor Richardson
| made ii clear however, that he was
! only speaking Theoretically. as he
personally has very high regard fol
| Captain Pace, who. he believes, Is one
of the most capable and efficient
treasurers the citY has ever had
| situation Changed
Alderman Graham Is Hobsou oil
{ Henry Ward, who recently led thd
/ fight in the upper branch Of the
/ council for retention of Captain Cua-
I ningham IN Office under existing CON
/ ditions until the expiration OF hi.
/ term, January /, 1914 and succeeded
| in practically killing the ordinance K
/ place the office on salary basis de-
! clares that he is strongly in favor o.
| aboushing the Office, now that Cap
tain Cunningham appears to be eumt.
4 mated from consideration.
n ftw f,f he 70
I Cunningham WAS duly elected under
! the fee system" said Mr.. Hobson Fri
! day, Il thought it only fair and jus
! that he should be allowed TO serve GU
j his term without interruption. 1t ap
/ pears however. that conditions ar,
materially changed, and I venture IN,
| prediction that the movement to &c
| the captain out will lose a good dea
| OF Its force IL Major Wood Is elected
! 10 the temporary successor"
MIR. Hobson went on to say tina
he would probably support Mr.. Hulce
believing that he should be rewarde,
for long and faithful service In III,
coilectorship Office.
/ Looks Like Long Shot.
i In some quarters the opinion pre-,
walls that Major Wood Is taking ra
tier long shot In aspiring to no.
sition whose stability seems to be b,
no means certain. Major Wood |.
NOW drawing between $4,000 and 81.
/ 500 in salary, and perquisites as SUI
perintendent OF the StAta prison. H,
has nearly three more years to serve
and if political machinery continue.
| TO work smoothly some of his friend,
/ at least believe that he might be con,
/ tined in office. '.y