Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-03
PROBE BY COUNCIL
APPEARS CERTAIN
Believed Now That Special Com
mittee Will Investigate Po-
lice Administration.
GRAVE CHARGES INTIMATED
Vice Commission Will Submit
Evidence of "Wrongdoing" on
Part of Police Board.

Inc police administration, It was
freely predicted last night in official
ana semi-oficial circles. Will shortly be
maze tho subject OF n thoroughgoing
inquiry By n special investigation COM
mittee OF the City Council.
This outcome Of the lonE-protracted
agitation that followed the filing Of
the Vice Commissions first report on
February 8. foreshadowed by the trend
OF discussion the past two weeks, be-
came practical certainty yesterday,
with the filing with the Mayor OF n
supplementary report by the commits
sion In which 1t virtually recommends
that such an Investigating body be ap-
pointed, and expresses its readiness to
surrender to such a tribunal "all evil
dence In its possession tending to show
official wrongdoinE on the part of
members of the Board of Police Com
missioners"
The report was hlcd In compliance
with n request made by the Mayor on
February 25. asking that the commits
sion file with him such evidence as It
has In It's possession that relates
specifically to police administration in
this city with regard TO commercialized
vice.
UNWILLING To ASSUME
ROLE OF PROSECUTOR
Declaring its unwillingness to assume
the role of prosecutor, the commission
respectfully informs the Mayor, in ef-
feet. that while II recognizes his right
to request the evidence In question to
be furnished to him, 1t prefers to lay
the evidence before q properly consti-
tuted inquisitorial committee upon the
demand OF such body, particularly
since the commission has been advised
that 1t Is not within the Mayors power
TO conduct an investigation of the Po-
lice Board.
The content OF report No. was re-
ceived with soma surprise. 1t was com
monty believed that the Mayors re-
quest for specific evidence would be
complied with literally. The failure TO
do so. however. has in no way COM
plicated the situation. In the opinion
OF many It has even made It more clear
The report was delivered to Mayor
IAinslie by Chairman Ashton StarIee, of
the Vice Commission. shortly after l2
o'clock noon. The Mayor took the
matter under advisement, declining to
make a statement further than to give
assurance that he proposed to evade no
pirate action as soon as he had had an
more consideration.
WILL SEND REPORTS
TO BOARD OF ALDERMEN
1t can be safely predicted that the
Mayor will do just one thing. He will
send both reports OF the Vice Com
mission to the Council-most probably
to the Board of Aldermen, which meets
Tuesday night-with perhaps a simple
recommendation that the Council take
such action as seems necessary. It Is
possible that In submitting the papers
he will recommend that n special In
vcstiSating committee be appointed
Whether he makes such recommen-
dalton or not, however the outcome
will be the same. The commissions S
second report indicates in so many
words that the body Is in the posses
sion of facts that point to grave de-
reflections on the part OF members of
the Police Board. and the appointment
OF n committee to conduct such an In
vestigation would virtually follow as
a matter of course.
Unofijcially, several members of the
Council have expressed their readiness
to Introduce n resolution calling for
the appointment of an investigating
committee as soon as 1t appears that
there Is good reason for such an in
yestigation. That there is abundant
reason for n Council investigation OF
the Police Board is clearly Indicated
in the Vice Commissions second re-
port.
FULLER SAYS MAYOR
SHOULD DRAW RESOLUTION
1T appears to me-" said Alderman
Puller last night, that the proper pro-
cedure would be for the Mayor to for
ward 10 the Board of Aldermen the
actua! draft OF the necessary resolu-
tion making the appointment of n joint
investigating committee. He regu-
larly sends such prepared resolutions
to both bodies in carrying out recon-
mendations from the Administrative
Board
The Mayor should not leave the
members of the Board to take the
Initiative. For any single member OF
the body to introduce such n resolu-
tion would mean his probable appoint
ment rs chairman Of the Investigating
committee. Tho Craftsmanship OF such
committee would be an office rcuulr-
ing several weeks of trying work, dur
Ing which time tho incumbent would
have little time to devote to his own
business.
IF tho Mayor sends resolution to
tho Board of Aldermen. tho situation
Will be considerably simplified Such
measure would then either be re-
ferred to n committee or passed under
a suspension of the rules, and there
would be no particular patron in the
body Itself whom tho other members
would regard as particularly RESPONSE
BILE. and who would be looked upon as
the natural person for the chairman
ship.
WOULD SHIFT BURDEN
OF SELECTING CHAIRMAN
Tho members OF the joint commit
tee. should such a resolution be rati-
tied, would then elect chairman from
the membership at large. Tho burden
would have been shifted from a par
ttcular patron to the full committee,
condition that. 1 think. Is extremely
IN.