The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-21
FRIENDS PROPOSE
TOREFUND MONEY
Offer in Behalf Of Gun
ningham Declined
by Mayor.
COUNCIL TO FILL
OFFICE TONIGHT
If Collector Is Removed, ]. B.
Wood Likely to Be Chosen to
Serve Until People Elect
Successor in November.
No Resignation
as Yet.

| FRIENDS OF Captain Frank W. Cum
| ninShain. the suspended Collector Of
Taxes OF Richmond. offered yesterday
| TO refund the shortage of S1,5b3.55, re-.
| ported to Mayor Richardson, the offer
! having been first made to Collector or
| Delinquent Taxes T. G. Walford Mr.
] Waltord, who is a close personal friend
| OF Captain Cunningham and who In the
past has several times aided in straight-
enfnE out irregularities in the accounts
| OF the Collector. consulted Mayor Rich
ardson, who said that he could not con-
sent to have the duplicate tax bills &c
out OF the office. as he regarded them
as evidence in the pending trial
| While there was no authoritative
statement. 1t was understood that had
| settlement been made for the seven
duplicate bills, for which parties hold
Captain Cinningham's receipt. but for
which there is no record of entry. and
u the funds OF which were not turned
over to the city treasury, the resigna-
| ton of Collector Cunningham would
| Follow The resignation has not been
presented to Mayor Richa rdson. and
| further investigation shows that be-
/ sides the Sl,553,55 specifically charged
there is further shortage in the Of
| hcc. Special Accountant George S.
| Crenshaw declined to give any infor-
nation on this score, though admitting
that he was sill checking accounts
but from other sources 1t is learned
that the shortage is now between $4,000
and $4,000
| Claim Woods Election
AT caucus held at the ONCE or
| Chairman II. f. Pollard, OF the Com
| mittee on Finance, carly yesterday,
/ about twenty-five friends of James q.
Wood. Superintendent OF the Virginia
Penitentiary, inaugurated movement
IN his behalf for his election BY the
Council In event OF there being per-
manent vacancy. About twelve or NJ
teen Councilmcn were present and a
number of well-known leaders of city
politics. Alderman Waverly Melton 4
friend OF Mr. Wood announced la ST
night that positive pledges had been
secured from fourteen Aldermen and
twentS-one Councilmcn clear aIor-
| tty in both branches. II these votes
are cast accordingly. Mr.. Woods cleo
| ton is assured
| other candidates in the field, who do
not concede defeat. are Herbert Hulce.
first deputy in the Office: W Il. Han
cock. tobacconist, and NJ w. Mon
cure, real estate agent. Frank II.
Bates. of the City Engineers Depart-
ment, once a candidate against CAPTAIN
Cunningham, said last night that he
had been approached by n number of
friends to announce himself as cam
didnte, and had the matter undar con
sidcration. and would to-day announce
ms decision. Former Councilman w.
=. Crenshaw, who ran for the office
some years ago against Captain Gun
ninglam in vigorous campaign. is
also mentioned as possible candidate.
though he has made no announcement.
Council Meets Tonight
6oth branches OF the City Council
nave been called for tonight. the
Common Council for 1890. tho BoardN or
n rr1n fnr . = 4 l. !
for S O'Clock -
CITY Attorney Pollard has ruled tina
there being no provision for an acting
collector. the Council must Tonight
ADOPT In each branch an ordinance Gre
ating that position and Mayor Rich
ardson Will be there to sign 1t at once.
The body will then go into Joint ses-
sion for the election of a collector ad
interim. The man so selected will he
| authorized to serve MS CITY Collector
Tor receipt of taxes pending final action
by the Mayor. who has appointed next
TUESDAY morning at II o'clock for the
trial of CAPTAIN Cunningham.
ohouid me evidence then lead TO an
! acdulttal. OF course, the term of the
acting collector would he Mt an end
| should Captain Cunningham he ro !
| moved The Council will he formally
notified by Mayor Richardson, and tho
cd interim collector will serve only
Hii'i JUS successor IS elected and
qualified. Should The dcposed collec
tor be removed and appeal to tho
tiustings Court. the ad interim coll
lector VIII con tinue to serve until the
matter Is finally determined.
Only To Next November.
Mr. Pollard has further explained
that in the event of removal the Coun-
Gil in joint session may elect a Collec-
tor Of Taxes who shall serve only un-
III the next general election which
VIII occur OH the first Tuesday in Mo-
:. before the people of the city for cleo
ton for he uneXpired term. which
4 ends January /. 1914. Friends OF Major
| Wood explained yesterday that he was
not Il candidate for the ad interim
term, as he would not care to sever
I his connection with the institution to
4; serve as collector only until the term
! nation OF the trial. which begins next
| Tuesday. He is a candidate for cleo
ton by the City Council in the event
OF Captain CunninGham's removal or
| resignation. TO serve until tho next
general election, when he will become
n candidate before the people. EIr
Wood was for Il time president OF the
/ Board of Aldermen and for some ycnr
chairman of the Committee on Finance
of tho city Council.
VIII Accept Sninry.
AS tn his attitude on the question or
placing the office on salary basis.
he stated that were he III the Council.
he would vote for 1t, and tina he could
not ask his friends TO oppose It, lie
position placed or a salary OF abou,
4 $4,000 a year with an allowance for
clerk hire and Office expenses, IN lieu
OF all fees. Ills friends express tho