Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-25

furnish three hundred special policemen
to cooperate with the regular police
force in preserving the peace on the day
of the election.
THE PROPOSED EXAMINATION OF
THE BOOKS OF THE NASHVILLE
AND CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD
FROM THE DATE OF PRESEDENT
BURNS ADMINISTRATION To THE
PRESENT TIME.
NASHVILLE, July "a, 1S67.-To the
Stockholders of the Nashville and Chatta-
nooga Railroad / desire to lay before you
through the press of the city, simple,
fair and candid statement of my efforts IN
connection with Mr.. W. A. Gleaves, to
obtain an examination of the books of the
Nashville and Chattanooga railroad for the
past twenty and half months, or from the
beginning of Mr.. Burns management to
the first of the present month.
To explain why ] come out over my own
signature, while in former negotiations and
publications my name is associated jointly
with Mr.. Gleaves, / lay before you note
received from Mr.. Gleaves on Saturday
evening last
BAlUhDA1 11N ENANN, OCL1 - ASO''
JNo. CoLTART, Eso.-DEAR SIR: I sent
to Mr.. Burns yesterday communication re-
questing specific information in regardto the
consumption of fuel on the Nashville and
Chattanooga railroad during the twenty
and half months of his administration,
the cost of same, wood and COAL | only
asked of him that Jno. W. Thomas, ESQ,
auditor of the road, should certify to the
same as to quanty, cost, etc, and give the
names of the individuals or corporations
| from whom the same was purchased, and to
whom the cost of same was paid or is vet
due.
Mr. Burns makes no reply except YER
bal one through Capt Anderson, the bearer
! of my note, to the effect that he could not
undertake to give these specific answers,
| but would place his books subject to exam
| ination within two hours, and during the
evening | received the "origindP of the
communication of Mr.. Burns, as published
in the Banner of this date, which commu-
nication You have doubtless observed was
| addressed to you and myself. To this
| paper of Mr.. Burns / have replied over my
own signature, because | was on the eve of
leaving the city, and thought it doubtful
| whether / should see you before | left
Will see you on Monday when l return
| On Monday the examination will doubtless
begin. Respectfully yours,
w. A. GLEAvEs.
From the publication of Mr.. Burns in
the Banner, stating his readiness to go into
an examination, and the above note from
Mr.. Gleaves, l supposed the work would
90 on at once. On Monday morning Capt.
Anderson called upon F. A. Gaines, ESQ,
Treasurer, and reported himself ready for
the examination, and was referred by Mr..
Gaines to Isaac Litton, Esq, as the account
ant selected by Mr.. Bnrns to go through
with the desired investigation. He called
upon Mr.. L., and was by him informed
that under the full and specific instructions
given by Mr.. Burns he could go into no
examination of the books until an agree
ment be drawn up by w. +. Cooper, ESQ,
as the lawyer of the company on one side,
and Mr.. Spurlock, lone of the Attorneys of
W. A. Gleaves, +. w. Cole and V. X.
Stevenson, in law suit now pending in
one of our courts, on the other, and when
such an agreement had been made between
the lawyers, and the accountants sworn,
then the examination could begin.
In the absence of Mr.. Gleaves, Can't.
Anderson called upon me stated Mr.. Lit
toms instructions, and expressed his own
willingness to go into the examination at
once, provided, no unreasonable obstacles
were thrown in the way and suggested
that | should 60 with Mr.. Spurlock to Mr..
Cooper, and if possible to arrange all pre-
Misunderstanding at the same time, that
should Mr.. Cooper insist upon beginning
with the reports of the company or it books
from 1860, it would be impossible to get
through all the details in time to present
results to stockholders before the election
] called upon Mr.. Cooper in company
with Mr. Spurlock They failed to come
10 any understanding, and having waited
upon Mr.. Cooper again this morning, and
from his desiring to see Mr.. Burns, (now
absent or Just returned from Huntingdon,
and inferTing very naturally that nothing
more on my part could or ought to be done
/ determined to drop the subject and give
briefly. the conclusions to which /, as a
stakeholder have arrived. The first of
which, is, that no examination of the
books, expenditures, etc, during the sd-
ministration of Mr.. Burns can be had,
until too late for use in the pending cleo
ton.
Ii is known to every stockhelder that the
assertion of Mr.. Burns that no account had
been rendered by those having charge of |
the rolling stock of the company South,
from 1861 to 1865 is not true in point of
fact We had sent to us, as stockhold- |
ers, full and complete statement of the
operations of the rolling stock for the peri |
cd referred to, and an account of the funds |
carried South, and earned thereafter.
The annual statement of their operations,
az made out by Mr.. Bransford, who was |
the principal book-keeper South land who
occupies the same position noW,) together |
with the books themselves, have been by |
President Burns and his board subjected |
TO the most searching inquiry of COM
mittee of his own appointing, who, after |
nearly four months of patient investigation, |
pronounced the annual statements and the /
books correct. That committee was composed |
of the following Directors, viz: w. S.
Huegins, James II. Grant and T. G. White
side-and it is presumed that they did
Hiustiee to the subject" The proposition |
of Mr.. Burns, therefore 10 submit his /
books for examination only on condition /
that the accountants begin at the begin
nsng, aud go through all the details
10 the pfccSut ttulet ~ III my opluAOA
subterfuge unworthy Of one who holds his
position.
II il took Grant, Whiteside and Hug
gins four months to go through with their
examination, and that, too, at an expense
of twelve hundred dollars to the company,
how long would it take Anderson and Lit
ton TO 90 over the same ground, (as proposed
by Mr.. Burns,) and then through Mr.
Burns administration 10 the present time
Regardless of cost, or setting aside all
except the objects of the investigation,
am confident Of correctness when l say that
nothing could possibly be laid before the
stockholders by those accountants by or
before the day Of election.
If Mr.. Burns would viudicate himself
lie. me ask why he imposes any conditions
a all? If his administration has been
honest, fair and economical, why prevaricate
or shuttle
gave to Gen. Innes, at his Own request,
on the first day ON which application vas