Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-03-24

-safn6 CAn0Or Oh our H0n6sk mayor
~-He Invites Investigation OF the
Oflicial Acts OF the tisy Council.
There was an inquiry" meeting at
the Court House last night For some
days 1t had been .heralded abroad BY the
Courier, that thousands Of dollars bad
been thrown away upon favorites by the
City Council. Here is the call as pub
lished in the Courier:
corruption-Heavy Tax-Payers, At
eemafom-Ref0rm HHeef1mg-At the
81 Coutt Honss- Friday Evening,
There are grave charges against the
City Council Of Evansville which call
loudly for explanation. A number Of
influential citizens, among our largest
tax payers, reqgested Us to join them il
their call for a public meeting to take
the matter into consideration, said meet
ing to take place on Friday evening, at
the Court House. A slsa .sgsls
Therefore, let ell friends of Reform
attend, and participate in the meeting,
which 10 designed 70 be one of inquiry.
This was followed by a flaming editori-
oil beginning this way: 49,
A gentleman, who is q member OF the
City Council, has boldly stated that the
public funds have been shamefuily'
squapdersd, and the interests ofsthetax
law, in hundreds of instances, BY the
present Council. He 10 of opinion that
the books Of the Council will not bear
an examinationI he is opposed to the
election Of Heilman, and will work
against his election.
Of course the people would turn out
upon the publication Of such startling
paragraph as that. If such was the
case, every one wanted to know it, and it
! was due that every citizen should know
it, and of the select md intelligent au-
disnce that bad assembled, none seemed
more anxious to witness the wonderful
disclosure that "gentlemen of the
City Council WAS TO make, than His
Honor, the Mayor, and the City Council
all being present. !. ~. ... (.
1t was about II o'clock when we
reached the Court Houses and ct that
time it was about half filled. The meet
ing had not yet organized. Time wore
on. Il was near 8 o'clock, and nothing
had been done, nothing said, save call
in The distance from some Of the ..irre-
psessibIe" lads Of the city, 6rpt for one
man, then for another, then all was si-
lence. It was growing palnfnIly silent
aud inactive.
Finally Sergeant White walked for
ward, and as be did so, some Of the
lads 10 the gallery called him out. 1t
was quite evident that he Mas mot the
man for ihe occasion, but he responded,
saying THAI as he was not financial
manahe of course could not give them
information ON the subject the meeting
was called To discnss.
| There was again period Of painful
"do-nothingness" This lasted for some
time, when some person called for Capt
Willard. The call was taken up and
repeated by nearly al in the house,
| when at last Capt. W. rose and said,
Gentleman, do not know what this
meeting is called for. I did not call It.
Let those who did call it organize it,
Some person then called for Carpen.
ter. After d delay of some time, Mr.
Willard Carpenter came forward and
said that he did not understand the OBJ
ject of the meeting, He had been call
cd upon for . speech, but he was moi
posted. He, however, occupied sons
considerable time in talking about side
walks, pavemsnts, the salaries Of city
| officers, &C., but, as be said himself il
was evident that {" he was not posted,
so ended bis speech.
/ Capt. Willard then came to the relief
and moved that. Mr.. John A. Reitz be
chosen Chairman of the meeting, and
that Peter. Meyer be appointed Score
tary.
| Upon taking his seat Mr.. Reitz stated
THAT be did not understand the businesso Of
the meeting he had been called upon to
preside over, and hoped that some gen.
tisman would stats The object
Capt Willard then suggested that Mr..
Keirolf state the cause of the people as
| sembling; as he had published the mo-
/ tee, be would perhaps know something
about it. e .s9IuH
Keirolf said that three heavy tax
payers had called at his ofics, and
asked that meeting be called to ap-
point Committee to, examine the fipan-
cial affairs Of the city, but he did not see
the gentlemen present who made the
suggestion to him. He, however, moved
that COMMITTEES often Of the heaviest
tax payers Of the city, Eve Democrats
and FIVE Republicans, be selected to ex-
anime the books Of the various city OIL
GERS, and learn where the frauds were
a
No sooner had the motion been made,
than Mayor Baker sprang to his feet
and seconded it with an earnestness
and win that put the blush 70 the
meanest Of bis accusers. He was most
anxious for the motion to prevail, and
more, he wanted it made precedent
for all time TO come. We undertake to
say that there was not an honest man
there who did npt feel that Mayor Baker
was sincere, and that he was confident
the investigation would lead TO per-
feet vindication OF himself and the
Council from the foul ISLANDERS that the
Courier bad heaped upon them.
/ After considerable discussion, il was
agreed that the Chairman of the meet
ing, being selected as Chairman OF the
Committee also be empowered to- ap-
point the COMMITTEES. II was at the
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