The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-11
Sending of Rough Draft of Re-
port to ire Board Denounced
as Breach OF Faith
EXPLANATION Is ....
PROMPTLY DEMANDED
Drastic Changes in Organiza-
ton of Department Suggest
ed in Documents Submitted
Informally

Has the New York Bureau OF NUM-
eipal Research betrayed the condolences
imposed in it by the special council
committee on chatter changes, and
thereby abrogated It's contract with
the city? is a question which the coun-
ell committee on charter changes Sc,
out TO answer. or-have answered, at
a short session last night.
Publication in the afternoon papers
yestei day OF what pIrported TO be a
summary of the report OF the bureau
On the ire depar tfnsnt. is what started
the row. In order to verify the report
subcommittee Of the special com
mittee was sent to the meeting OF the
board Of fire commissioners then n
session In the city Hall. This sub
committee not only learned that this
report was we'll founded, but II Sc
cured a copy OF a letter written by
e. }. DrfscoH to secretary Jones. OF
the Are board, which caused express
sions Of Indignation nom members oi
the committee, The committee alst
secured copy of the reply of this
beard 10 the expert. showing wnai
that body thought If the action 81 the
expert.
The committee directed it's clerk tc
write letter to the bureau. 2st i5road-
way New York. asking for vert6catior
OF the report and requesting inforna-
tion as to when the report would b'
ready for presentation TO the city, al
pes contract aud agreement
Sensational Disclosure.
The disclosures made AZ the meat
ing were mildly sensational. 1t wa'
shown THAT the bureau had apparently
IA a-s p-$y ha
s~stseltttnz .ysortions. Of It's rerorts u
-sAe~~ than tire ctt% eferk. and tina
IN date the committee had not beer
w~tt@ea aS to progress bring made, al
stimulated in the contract
According to thu minutes 81 th'
raeetiu<S ~ t'se cor~ra'ttee. the bureau
s~~se1 70 furnish that body with IN
formation on progress. and that tbs
city, clerk alone should first be mott
sed NJ the COMPLETION ~ any part %
Are work before i; could he submit
tsss s%.1s fYqess;49 'rs9Ff fs54' sssaeT*s
-wNn letter ~ MIR rri$enli who su+'
vsve4 both the police and fire de0art
s,,r-,tS. was directed 10 Clerk Jones
Re stated that he had forwarded
ro,,~h s~sft Of the survey SO far al
I. referred "a ,ee hre department e
Ftt4f Jnvne&. from whom the eleri
r.ps - recsi,-e H. and to shnw II In.
fN~ssN iiN 10 mo nfHfnhAf& ftf ltle po8Ffs
-~ls according 10 President Peters
teouncItnrpa Mills and Aldermen Pul
}cr aud Workman. WIS violation o.
.h~ tvus, imposed in the bureau.
I've fire hoard took similar view
end ,ts rerlv ~ Mr.. nriscoll redecte,
-he continent of every member Of thu
boz I'd
S~cr~,arv Anderson. ~ the civic as
.n~ atom who was present at tn
rseetirs NJ the committee said he was
s%o~a solely ir the interests OF the as
socis'iau. and not as a representative
~. the bureau
Coincidence s., Bureau.
.'rtowAver" he - ia from nv know1
nA~e ~ tNe we~N ~ the bureau.
GOV, snv tSe' - hrs @twnvs NAe~ i''
4r,.4,i.l42It- -1,llt1,nas Of re-
ror.s n frtare~.Ad persons befNrs
sens,n~ IN lie nna' re~crt. csnn"'
saw noth'n~ In connection with their
roo.~ort win the cttv. whethar II he'
acted IN -~o6 faith Or not NV know1
ed~a ri the bureau inreis me TO ths
hefef that u has always acted in Root
fas.N end honestly"
when reference WAS made 10 ths
qualification In the afternoon parers
subcommittee wss NAMED to ask ths
Are board for information TO the
suth~nticitv of the report This com
rofttee embracing Messrs. Mills. Pc
ters and Fuller found the board very
wuch nerturbed over the letter Of Mr.
nriscofl The letter and reply which
the board had unanimously adopted
were shown them. TIE Driscoll let
ter was made part OF the report o.
the committee and was incorporated
on the minutes of the meeting
Citizens Ar~ Surprfsed.
A large body of interested citizens
rreseut at the committee meeting ex-
rressea surnrise and Indignation a,
what thew took IN he breach NJ faith
on the nart Of the bureau in ignorinV
tAr c~v,-,sttrA IN sending it's rough
drnSt" to the fire chief
"This a~sir has recruited just as
had antici,nted." exclaimed Mr.. Pc.
ter~. eff cou~c'l had accented NV reso-
hilton tn er,nlov the bureau experts
~ .+e EXPENSE of the city. this state
~ aTa'rs would ro' have been appar
ent This Is fa~rant violation OF
the contract with the city,
~ want To do everything Tor the
r,od ~ the neon1e ana the city" said
~ Mills. land will do this. II I,
artt-u of iris bureau IS nevond ex-
preston We are accustomed to deal
with neopie who have the sense OF
hur,or TO keep their contracts"
III the work were being done under
ssA direction of the citv," said Mr.
workman, "there would be something
doirr right now"
"Instead OF the experts doing the
wo~k ~ surveying the city" said Mr.
Mills. they got the heads of depart
nents to do IL. and they thereby gained
much valuable information, which,
mark YOU. will be used to ,advanta &c
aornN time In the fv4ure''
NV '.These people Proclaim US as a fine
hoard" said Commissioner Cheatwood
and say the department Is in ex-
Gallant shape. and upon the face Of II
auERest the abolition Of the board"
Seems most psradoxicai to me-
fceatinnsA On second Pagal