Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-05
COUNCIL MAY REMOVE
G9oDE FROM OFFICE
Pitcher Offers Resolution for Ex.
pulsion OF Police Commits
SiOner.
QUESTION AS TO PROCEDURE
City Attorney Pollard Is Asked to
Outline Steps to BE Taken to Sc
cure EaCating Of Goodies Seat on
Police Board.

The Common Council took steps last
night 10 secure tho immediate rcsiGna-
ton OF Police Commissioner r. y.
Goodc. or. failing that, 10 effect his
forcihlc removal
The matter was brought 10 an issue
shortly before adjournment by Coun-
Gilman Pitcher. who. on roI! call. in
trodUccd resolution declaring MIR.
,ioodc removed from office, ar repeal
ing the measure which has just become
( Law requesting Mr.. Goode to resign.
The resolution threw the body into /,
hub buh Of excitement. and for ten
minutes business was suspended, while
members conferred with one another
on the proper procedure.
President Peters reported TO the
body the opinion of the City Attorney.
delivered 20 him verbally on the night
the Goode resolution Was concurred in
by the Common Council. in which he
held that. If MIR. Goode declined TO re-
sign. the only way The Council could
remove him would be by impea chrnent
proceedings. In view Of this opinion.
Mr.. Peters was doubtful about the
legality OF Mr.. Pitchers resolution
DOUBTS SHARED ny MEMBERS
OF INVESTIGATING RODY
by Counctlmcm Seaton and English.
members OF the committee that invcs-
tigatcd the Police Department. and
which framed the resolution relating to
Goode. Both OF these recalled opinions
expressed by the City Attorney TO tho
effect that the committee could safely
recommend that Mr.. Goodies rcsigna-
tion be requested, but that II 1t recon-
mendcd that he be removed from Of
lice, Mr.. Goode could insist upon his
legal right 10 trial by the Council.
Councilman Haddon suggested that
tho Council take n recess of five min
utes to allow President Peters time to
talk tho matter over with the City At
torncy over the telephone. Council
man FERGUSON called attention to the
fact that the hour was already late
and that the matter would not suffer
by being laid over for day or two
during which time the City Attorneys
views could be obtained and the reso-
luton made 10 conform to them
INVITE VIEWS Of CITY ATTORNEY
AS TO METHOD OF REMOVAL
Upon the motion of Councilman Fer
gusson, therefore. the body directed
the clerk to address communica ton
to City Attorney Pollard, asking him
If the resolution introduced by Coun-
Gilman Pitcher was proper one. and
in the event that It was NOT, what
steps may he taken by the Council to
secure the vacatinG OF Mr.. Goodies Of
flee. The motion to this effect was
adopted unanimously
Members of the Common Council
commenting on the development. ex-
pressed their belief that, had there
uhn bn
Pitcher resolution. it would have been
passed by an overwhelming majority.
Several members stated openly that
they were ready to vote for rcsolu-
tion addressed to the same end, pro-
vidcd ii were properly drawn.
In councilnanic circles last night it
was freely predicted that. should Mr.
Goode fail to comply with the Councils
request within the next few days, i'm
mediate steps will he taken to have
his Office vacated. The charter pro-
vldes~ that a member of the Board of
Police Comms ssionerS may be removed
for good cause" by n majority of the
members elected to both branches
Introducing his resolution, Council
man Pitcher spoke briefly in favor of
its adoption.
"Mr Goode has been asked by the
City Council to resign" said Mr.. Pill
cher. and, instead of that he has
treated this body with what. In my
opinion, amounts to contempt. Instead
of resigning, he has taken an active
part in the Police Boards business,
with results which are familiar to
us all
IF it is the purpose of Mr.. Goode
to defy the Council. If he really wants
to SEQ II we will put him out OF office
I think this body should assume the
duty that is before 1t. 1t is up to the
Council to act"