Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-25

missioners and the members OF the
FORCE to that effect was then offered
and Alderman Melton proposed to
amend 1t SO as to include tho members
OF the Vice Commission. Chairman
drnndy Informed him that the vice
commission members were to be sum-
moned az witnesses
Do we want Thorn az witnesses?''
Councilman Ferguson asked.
we do. We want every member of
the Vice Commission on the Witness
stand Alderman Workman replied.
CAN COMPEL VICE
COMMISSION TO TESTIFY
Mr. FERGUSON wanted to be Informed
as 10 whether the members Of tho Vice
commission could refuse to attend
when summoned
ihey can be dealt with exactly like
other witnesses" said Mr.. Pollard.
ihey can be compelled to attend when
you want them and to testify"
Inc Melton resolution instructine tho
cierk TO summon in the nrst batch OF
witnesses Mayor George Ainslie and
the members of the Vice Commission.
win the Police Board members and
the members OF the police force to
ioiio". was then adopted, it being the
sense or the committee that the Wit
hesses shall be examined in the order
named.
On motion of Councilman English
me provision requiring tho Vice Com
mission to produce all OF the written
evidence taken before IL or any of its
suocofnmittees, including all reports
made to tho Mayor, was then incor-
porated.
EXAMINE WITNESSES
WHO GAVE EVIDENCE
Mr.. FERGUSON asked: Suppose the
members OF the Vice Commission. when
you get them here. decline to testify
ana merely refer you to the reports
'hey nave been submitted to the Mayor
ana which are now before YOU"
Then We can compel their testi-
mony, responded Mr.. English. "wc
hh'e a>right to compare their indi-
Siouai testimony before us with the
evidence contained In the reports to
.he Mayor. The witnesses who testi-
ned before tho Vice Commission should
DC asked to testify here. 30 that we
may Know that we are proceeding on q
OASIS or accurate testimony"
city Attorney Pollard remarked tina
f'''N f" GO wen taken. III the evil
uence or these same witnesses before
THIS committee is different from what
IS contained In the reports, the credi-
pllity OF the witness who 40 yatleA In
naturally affected to an important de-
gree" he said
After some further discussion II wa,
decided to fix the date for the mart
meeting at next Tuesday night and tho
committee adjourned
MINISTERIAL UNION To
TAKE DRASTIC ACTION
Vice conditions in Richmond will he
uiscussed at a meeting OF the executive
committee OF tho Ministerial t,nfon Of
richmond which has been called for
next Monday at noon. II is Understood
mat some action bearing upon the sit
uation brought about by the investiga-
tioh now In progress will be taken at
th's meeting. member of the union
stated last evening that something
startling" might be expected.
IL is Significant that the call for this
special meeting followed the publica
tion OF The statement by members OF
the Police Department that the union.
TWO years ago, conferred with the police
on conditions In tho segregated dis-
erict, and gave It's sanction to the reKu-
iations then I'm force
Members OF n committee NJ TIA ,nto,
nave since made public the text of reso.
lutions showing that the committee
TOLERATED a segregated district Of which
II could not approve, provided certain
other reforms were Instituted. Recent
revelations have shown that this com
pact was not kept by the police authori-
ties.