The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-04-21

II,
that It was necessary to uphold the reputation of
the Trustees at any COST and if an overwhelm-
ing amount of proof had been produced to prove
the charges, it would have been discarded and the
Trustees acquitted. He then referred to the action
OF the President in his ruling against him on the
occasion OF his offering the resolution asking for an
investigation, which forced him to give authority
Tor the charges, and after doing so the Committee
insist and by resolution charged him (Mr. New
mani with being the preferer of charges. He had
denied at the time that he had preferred charges
and yet the Committee forced him into such a posi-
tlon, and demanded that he should state specifically
and numerically the charges. The whole action of
the Committee was an insult to him and an outrage
upon his rights. Why did not the Committee send
for the gentlemen whose names he gave as the
authors of the charges, if they desired to give the
matter a lar investigation. And vet the report
states that the Committee sought in vain for evil
dence to sustain the charges. Can the gentleman
who presented this report expect that it will receive
eredence, when, in the very earliest stages of it
there Is such hagrant prevarication-"made every
effort to secure evidence"-and vet did not summons
the authors of the charges?
MT. Newman then referred to the manner in
winch winch the data for the report was gained. He
addressed the member from the Twentieth ward,
Chairman of the Committee Did YOU have
vouchers for your accounts?
Mr.. MoNTAGUE.-Yes, sir, for every thing.
= MT. NEWAAN.-Well, sir, it is easy to manu-
tacture vouchers it is to make false report and
now say that men who will be guilty of classifying
the records and sending out a false report to
sustain themselves, they will manufacture
vouchers.
Mr.. NEWMAN then went into an investigation of
the coal account, and, TO sustain his position he
SAID he would read affidavit made by one of the
Trustees of the Almshouse.
Mr.. WooD.-I object to the reading of anv Aft
davit.
Mr.. NEwMAN.-What is your objection?
MT. ooD.-Mr. President, | object to the read
ing, because the gentleman had all the affidavits
which he now possesses in his possession when the
Committee summoned him before them. He re-
fused to give them to the Committee, and as the
Trustees of the Almshouse could not defend them
serves on the Chamber floor, it was improper to
read affdavits The evidence to sustain the charges
should have been produced before the Committee,
and after the member refused to give the evidence
and set the Committee at defiance, he has no right
to read his documents.
The CHAR.-The member from the Fourteenth
ward can refer to any matter to sustain himself in
his position, but cannot read atfdavits
m Mr.. NEwMAN.-l wish to discuss that matter
The gentleman is certainly not afraid of truth
Mr.. MoNTAGUE.--Mr. President have YOU made
your decision.
The CHAIR.-I have, sir. The affidavit cannot be
read. Y GU can appeal sir.
Mr.. MoNTAGUE.-By no means.
Mr.. NEwMAN.-Am | not to be allowed to read
the evidence to sustain the charges? Do | under
stand that am to be put off in this manner? If So
L nave nothing more to say. Does the Chair so
rule?
The CHAIR.-The gentleman can refer to the aft
dence.
Mr.. NEwMAN-I am done, will publish nv re-
marks and the evidence III my possession to prove
the charges of corruption Before taking NV scat
| would say that believe the Committee from the
beginning never intended that there should be a
fair examination of the charges. They never in
tended to investigate the matter, but intended to
smother everything which would toud to a conyic-
ton.
Mr.. MoNTA GUE.-I call the gentleman to order
He shall not impugn the motives of a Committee in
such manner 1t is an insult to which this Branch
should not submit.
Mr.. NEwMAN.-I disclaim any intention to i'm
pugn the motives Of the gentleman from the Goth
ward, (Mr. Montague.)
[Mr. Newman then folded up his papers, took his
hat and started out of the Branch
Mr.. MoNTAGUE.-I hope the gentleman is not 60
ing to leave the Branch
The CHAIR.-He complains of being unwell
Mr. MoNrAGUE-l am sorry, for l intended to
reply to his remarks.
Mr.. NEWMAN left the Branch
Mr.. MONTAGUE said that as chairman of the Com
mlttee who presented the report he felt bound to
make some remarks in reply to the speech Just
made. The fact that the gentleman who made il
had vacated his seat raised doubt in his mind in
regard to the proprety of reply, but as he was
DESTROYS of having vote the adoption of the re-
port he would proceed to speak. He then reviewed
the course which Mr.. Newman had pursued He
had refused to appear before the Committee
had treated them in the most defiant manner
and swore he would not appear before such a
I'D committee. He (Mr. Montague) had
assured Mr.. Newman, that the investigation
should be thorough and complete, and if the evil
dence proved corruption in the administration of
the Almshouse, he would present a report to that
effect If he was the only member of the Committee
who would do so.
Mr.. MONTAGUE proceeded at some LENGTH to n re-
view of all the circumstances connected with the
charges, and pronounced the affair an effort of in
9lviduals to defame gentlemen of high character,
Tor no other reason than that they themselves were
disappointed
"hen Mr.. Montague had finished his remarks the
question was called and the report adopted by the
following vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Hynes, Randolph, Henderson.
Beacham, Mace, Talbot, Beale, Cunningham Ham
ilton, Clark, Wood Granville, Addison, balm, Mules
and Montague-15.
Mr. BAN asked permission to be excused from
voting, and gave his reason that he had made a
decision as President against the gentleman from
the Fourteenth ward, and as he absent, he pre-
ferred not to vote. He would state that if he did
vote he should vote for the resolution.
He was excused.
Messrs Ford, Jenkins, Houston and Newman
were absent.
The Branch then adjourned until tomorrow after
noon at five o'clock.
SECOND BRANCH.-Branch met pursuant to ad-
journment. Present-WnLIAM McPHAIL ESQ Pre-
sident, and all the members
Mr.. COTTON offered a resolution directing the
Water Commissioners to have water pipes laid from
the corner of South and Baltimore streets alon o.
street, to have fire plugs placed along the line of
said street, and to have the pumps removed Read
q second time and passed.
The ordinance providing for the sale of the
Charles street City Spring lot, the old Tobacco
Warehouse lot and the eastern Potter's Field, and
for leasing other city lots was taken up and
adopted.
The resolution directing the City Commissioner
to repair the culvert on Pulaski street at Pratt
street, was taken up and adopted.
The resolutions making appropriations for the ex-
penses of the City Comptrollers office and for the
expenses of the Mayors Court was received from
the First Branch, and read.
Also the resolution authorizing the CITY Collector
to make discount on tax bills which NAV be paid
before the lst of May.
The resolution authorizing the Water Engineer,
Chief Engineer and three members of the Water
Board to visit the water works of Philadelphia and
New York for the purpose of obtaining informatio
in reference to the water works of the CITY, was re-
ceived from the First Branch. Read a second time
and adopted.
Mr.. TAYLOR offered resolution that the door
keeper be requested to prepare an index of all or
dlnances and resolutions passed from time to time
during the session of the Council. Adopted
communication was received from the First
Branch asking Committee of Conference on the
or dinance providing for the appointment of detec-
tive police officers.
The Branch acceded to the request, and Messrs
van Nostrand, Cotton and Musseman were ap-
pointed on the part of this Branch
The communication from the First Branch, pro-
posing Committee of Conference on the resolu-
ton changing the fiscal year, was taken up and &C.
coded to, and Messrs Cook Musselman and McCo-
mas appointed on the part of this Branch.
A resolution allowing 7. j. Cochran Co. to
continue in use a frame shed for the purpose OF
storing ice received from the First Branch and
read.
The ordinance appropriating additional compen-
sation to the Board Of Control and Review and to
the Clerks and Assessors of certain districts was
taken up and read.
Mr.. VAN NosrRAND moved to strike out 5000 in
the first section and insert $500. Adopted cas-
6, nays g.
Mr.. TAYLOR moved to amend by appropriating
Sioo to James L. Armstrong, assessor of the 9th
district. Adopted.
Mr.. VAN NosTRAND offered a substitute for the
second section, appropriating the sum of 500 to
the clerks and $50 to the assessors of all the dis
tricts.
Mr.. CoLToN offered a substitute for the substi-
tute appropriating 500 to the clerks of the lst
4th. 9th and 10th districts.
The question being taken the substitute for
the substitute, it was rejected by the following
vote:
Yeas-Mr. Colton-l.
Nays-Messrs. President, Van Nostrand Cath
cart, Cook, Taylor, Ellcott Musselman, MeComas
and Sewall-s.
The question then required on the substitute
offered by Mr.. VAN NosTRAND.
Mr.. McCoMAs moved to amend the substitute by
giving 500 additional compensation to only the
assessors and clerks of the lst 4th, 9th and 10th
districts.
Mr.. VAN NoSTRAND move to amend the amendment
by giving 500 to the clerks and $50 to each of the
assessors. Rejected by the following vote:
Ieas-Messrs. President, Van Nostrand Cook
and Taylor.
Nays-Messrs. Cathcart, Cotton, Ellicott, Mus
oil avid NnTa