Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-26
MUST ELECT M'CARTHYs
SUCCESSOR THIS WEEK
Charter Requires Vacancy on Police
Board to BE Filled Dur.
ing July.
ADAMS WILL CALL MEETING
Will Convene Council In Joint Ses-
sion This Week, Even IL Madison
Ward Members Fail to Hold Cau-
Gus and Agree on Nominee.

AS the terms of the commissioners
shall expire the vacancies in the board
mus created by this act, or by any
act OF the General Assembly hereto.
Iore or hereafter passed shall u,
mica by election in the month Of JULY
VI each year by the two branches of
inc CITY Council In Joint session"
Inc foregoing passage from section
81 OF the city charter will make II
necessary FOR President Adams, Of tho
i5oatd OF Aldermen, to call a ioint
session OF the Council this week for
the purpose OF clccting n successor IN
Police Commissioner y. f. McCar,bv
whose term expired July /. Under tho
general practice Of the Council Mr.
McCaf, hy. although his term has ex
pired. Is holding Office until his sue.
Ccssor IL elected
MAKE ANOTHER EFFORT
TO HOLD WARD CAUCUS
Mr.. Adams will probably call Joint
session the middle Of this week.
Another effort Will be made between
now and the joint session TO secure !,
caucus of the Madison Ward members
Of the Council to decide upon the ward.s
rhoice Tor the vacancy. 1t has been
the almost unbroken habit of the Coun-
en- to eiect tho man recommended bv
the caucus OF The ward which the Office
to be filled represents
N. senior
member OF the Madison Ward delega
ton, called meeting OF the ward
mem bers two weeks ago but less than
n quorum reported. President Adams
served notice last week that he would
call the joint session this week whether
the caucus convened or not. since, under
the charter provision, the Office must
be hlled this month.
CAUCUS MAY MAKE
DIVIDED RECOMMENDATION
1t is regarded as probable that tba
caucus. should II meet this week. will
fnd 1t difficult to agree on unani-
nous report Should there be both n
majority and minority report. a cor
responding division may develop In tho
Council.
While Police Commissioner d. +. Nc.
Carihy has many warm friends in the
council. 1t Is regarded as improbable
mat the Madison Ward caucus will
unite In recommending him for re-
election. However efficient he has been
rs n member Of the Board of Polica
Commissioners. 1t Is felt in many
quarters that his future usefulness in
that Office Will be seriously impaired
by the criticism that his conduct has
received at the hands OF the recent
joint committee that investigated tho
Police Department
The ether three candidates for tho
office are Alexander Birchett DR. w
J.. Mathews and Police COMMISSIONER
j. T.. Bradley, elected from old WASH
ington Ward. whose term has still ono
year to run.
| CHRISTIAN DENIES REPORT
or CHANGE IN HIS POSITION
Alderman L. T. Christian last night
took occasion TO deny the report in
dustriously spread in certain politi-
cal circles that he had Withdrawn his
support from DR.. Mathews
DIR. Mathews consented to allow the
use OF his name at the instance Of his
friends. and he has considerable
strength both in Madison and the other
wards" said Mr.. Christian. "He ia
regarded as well qualified for the Of
flee OF Police Commissioner. The re-
! port that l had Withdrawn my support
from him Is without foundation and
does injustice both to DR.. Matthew'S
and myself"
Tho votes of two-thirds of the mem.
bers of each branch of the Council ara
required for election. This means that
! the successful candidate will have to
! poll at least eight votes in the Board
| of Aldermen. and fourteen in the Cons
! mon Council.