The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-26
TRAFFORO TELLS
OF POLE AFFAIR
ExoNERATEs COMMISSIONER
HIRsCHBERG OF aUEsTTONA-
BILE ACTION IN DEAL
HOLDS BIG MEETING
HENRY w. RoUNTREE PREsIDEs
OVER GATHERING OF CITIZENS
AT MECHANICS! INSTITUTE
AUDITORIUM.
HOLDS BIG MEETING

palEn. ana driven IN Dy the StoFfl1
crowd of several hundred citizens.
representing every element and every
section of the city, gathered in Me-
chanics institute hall last night TO
hear Commissioner John Hirschberg
speak for himself in his candidacy
for reelection. The auditorium was
filed. and the utterances OF the sew
eral speakers were greeted with APP
plause.
Mr. Henry w Rountree presided
and introduced the candidate. Mr..
John G.. Corley was to have been mas
ter of ceremonies, but a meeting of
the city school board detained him.
H wrote a letter, however. express
ing himself as favorable to the re-
nomination of Mr.. Hirschberg. Mr..
l. T. Morris, Robert Lecky, Jr.. Rob
ert Whittet and others also spoke
Interest was particularly conferred
in what Mr. Hirschberg would say
concerning reports about the pur-
chase of poles for city lights, and
other derogatory rumors concerning
Mr.. Hirschbergs private and public
career The candidate was primed
for the occasion. He presented state
ments from the superintendent of the
electric department, which apparent
ly clarified the atmosphere surround
ing the pole question. and he denied
all rumors of misconduct upon his
part in either his private or public
life. He challenged any one to pro-
duce authentic proof of anything
which could, in any way, reflect upon
him.
While the audience was a very
large one. no one accepted the chal-
lenge.
In reference TO persistent rumors
which have been in circulation by
his enemies, Mr. Hirschberg said:
Hirschberg's Statement.
in justice 10 myself and others
concerned | deem it my duty a. this
time to call the attention of my
friends and the public 70 the fact that
certain persons and politicians have
been and are now circulating. for the
purpose of accomplishing my defeat
in the coming campaign for re-elec-
ton to the administrative board, GER
tain malicious, sianderous and sour
rilous rumors and reports about me
which involve the names of other In
nocent persons.
In reply to all such rumors | wish
to state most positively and emphat-
tcally at this meeting that they are
all absolutely false and malicious.
have the names along with the wit
nesses against such persons who are
circulating these reports. / need not
at this time mention the names OF
said parties, s. they know themselves
who they are. and ! now call upon
my enemies and slanderers for proof
as 10 the facts. and further quote the
fullest and most careful investigation
of all business pertaining to my pub
lie or private life
II make this statement not to
create sympathy, but In sense of
Justice due all men whether in pub
lie or private life
The speaker then presented a state-
ment from Superintendent f. w.
Trafford. which explains in detail the
connection he had with the purchase
Ct poles for the city. Here is the sub
stance of the statement.
Tale of the Poles.
Some time during the early part OF
this year The city engineer was di
rected by the administrative board to
prepare a design and secure proposals
for iron poles to mark hospital zones,
and, in compliance with this order,
prepared a preliminary drawing and
secured bids which were duly summit
ted to the administrative board.
Upon examination II was found that
these designs embraced the use of
electric lights, as well as the silent
signs, and, for this reason. the bids
were referred Jointly to the city engi.
neer and myself for tabulation and
recommendation
The city engineer and myself
were agreed that inasmuch as these
hospital zone poles would be scattered
throughout the city 1t would be best
TO select design in harmony with the
poles now b use on the street even
though lowpr priced poles were offer
ed. In view of these lower bids, |
thought 1t we'll TO advise Mr.. Hirsch-
berg, TO whom the administrative
board had delegated the duty Of
securing Information concerning the
electrical department, of our reasons
for this action, and requested him to
call at my Office and inspect oil of
the designs submitted in order that
he might have a full understanding
OF the case Mr. Hirschberg did not
Immediately respond TO my request
and / called his attention to the mat
ter again on the following day and
he promised to come to my office. al
though he stated that any decision
Of the city engineer and myself in this
matter would be satisfactory to
him.
About noon on the day in question,
Mr. Hirschberg came to my office, &C
companied by Mr.. Whittet, chairman
of the board, whom Mr.. Hirschberg
stated he had thought we'll to bring
into the conference At the moment
was engaged in an interview with
an out-of-toWn salesman, VINO was
also trying to sell the city iron poles
for other work. ! thought the OPP
portunity was good one to get the
views of these two members Of the
administrative board on the style of
post to be used for lighting the parks,
for which / was at that time prepar-
ing plans. I showed a drawing I had
selected, which Mr. Whittet thought
was too heavy a design; the price
quoted on this pole was s25. / then
asked Mr. Whittet to look over some
other designs with me and he select
ed one of more slender design. which
he thought better suited to the parks
We asked the salesman the price of
the pole which Mr.. Whittet had select
ed and he stated we could have il at
the same price as the one had select
ed; namely, s25 per pole. Mr.. Hirsch-
berg took no part in the interview ex-
cept TO concur In Mr.. Whittet's selec-
ton of design
Economic Measure.
''I told the two board members
mentioned that. after had de-
termined the number OF poles to be
used. / would make rcquisition to the
board for the same. thus formally
bringing the matter up for action by
the board and, no objection being
- H.