The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-17
Pass Resolution Indignantly
Repudiating Aspersion On
Integrity Of City Council
DECLARE FACTS HAVE
NOT BEEN REGARDED
Say Attack Made In Newspa-
per Interview Shows Impair
donable Ignorance Of Truth
as to Matter Treated Of

At the conclusion of a spiritless
meeting Of the Board of Aldermen last
night, after a number of financial
matters had been acted upon. and the
nine members were ready to 60 out
into the fresh air of Broad Street,
Colonel Barton II. Grundy introduced
la resolution censuring Hon. Richard
e. Byrd for his criticism of members
of City Council in a recent interview
in an afternoon paper.
The sense of the resolution carried
the sentiments of the nine members OF
the body present, for II was adopted
iunder suspension of rules without de-
bate or comment.
Alderman Grundy at the last meet
ing gave notice of his intentions. and
the introduction of the resolution came
as no surprise. The public had. also,
been appraised OF the anticipated ac-
ton. and while the fact that such q
resolution had been introduced and
adopted could carry no surprise to the
public. the language in which IL Is
couched may cause the public today
TO sit up and take notice.
Byrd Excoriated.
For the resolution excoriates Mr.
Byrd in no hidden language. 1t tells
him what the members of the Board
of Aldermen think of his interview,
and it practically calls upon him to do
something. In the language of the
street, he is asked ''to put UP or shut
up" to produce evidence to suhstan-
tiate his statements or apologize.
The Board expresses its surprise
that such a man as Mr. Byrd should
indulge In reflections 1pon members
of legislative bodies without founda-
ton for such reflections.
Several spectators there were very
few in the warm Council Chamber
last night pricked up their ears. and
departed rolling the juicy morsei in
their minds. with expectations OF
something sensational occurring later.
Want Him to Produce Evidence.
Members of the Board said last
night they could scarcely believe that
b man OF the reputation and the stand
ing OF Mr.. Byrd could have uttered
such things They hoped he would at
an early day make himself clear, and
liz there was anything he could say to
verify what he had intimated and
charged In his interview they would
be glad to hear 1t, and would be glad
to have him appear before the body
with an explanation.
The preamble and resolutiin az
presented by Colonel Grundy. and as
adopted by the body. with but three
members absent--Gilman. Gunst and
Puiler--follows
Whereas there appeared In the
News Leader. newspaper published
in the city of Richmond on July
"a, 1915, authorized interview with
the Hon. r. e. Byrd, ex-speaker OF
the General Assembly Of Virginia,
and
whereas. in the safi interview. Mr..
Byrd said among other things. 1T
has been apparent to Intelligent OBJ
servers for some years that the Pas
senger and Power Company, OF the
city of Richmond. exercises In muni-
cipaI affairs control which is to
the great advantage of the Passen-
ger and Power Company, and a great
disadvantages to the people OF the city
of Richmond.
II will leave 1t TO the common sense
of the people OF Richmond as to what
methods and by what means tbs Pas
senger and Power Company has OBJ
tanned this authority. but. however 1t
may be, It IL a thing which ought not
TO be permitted In free community.
and the members OF the City Council
who have supported the contentious
OF the Passenger and Power Company
ought to be retired to private life as
unfit for the Performance II public
duty"
And whereas. the said Hon. r. e.