Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-06-27
THE PAVING CONTRACT.
Attempt to Brlbe Immaculate AL
dermon--A Lively Council
Meeting.

| - tltVui uittbuH " Ah' Roohu VI a.
dermen was held yesterday evening fol
the purpose Of inquiring into an attempt
to bride Aldermen Lemon and Cochrane
in regard 70 the paving contract Alder
man Lemon said he had been approached
by one Of the parties whom he thought
was connected with the firm Of Hopper
& Montgomery, in the contract for
street paving The gentleman referred
to in fact had said he was interested, and
had told him that IL he would vote for
Hopper 4 Montgomery to get the con-
tract it would be one thousand dollars in
his way, Captain Postal was the gem
tleman. Alderman Cochrane said Capt
Postal had made him a similar offer.
The Mayor said an old friend Of twenty
years standing had approached him and
said that If he would use his influence
for Hopper & Montgomery, certain
amount Of bonds would be settled on any
of his children that he might name. Al
derman Townsend said that he held
GreenlaW q Jones in high estimation !;
had high regard for Mr.. Montgomery,
but had no use for Mr.. Hopper, whom
he had no confidence in. City scrip had
commenced going down since the con-
tract was awarded. These contractors
we're to-day charged with bribery, and
would endeavor to bride the City En-,
giueer. He was in favor of giving the
contract to honest, reliable men, like
Greenlaw & Jones.
Alderman Smith reflected on Town
send for accusing the City Engineer of
not doing his duty. Alderman Shaw
said he had not been approached, and
thought the whole matter should be in
vestigated. Alderman Passmore said he
had been called the champion of Hopper
& Montgomery. he denied that BE
was the champion of the people of the
city. He wanted to know why they had
attempted to hold secret session to
discuss this bribery question. That Sc.
cret session, however, did not come off,
and he asked why this charge Of bribery
had not been got up on Tuesday, when
the paving question was under discus
sion. BE then went on to refer to AL.
derman Townsend's continued attacks
on the Messrs Foster, and calledon him
to bring direct charges against the City
Engineer, if he had any to prefer. Al
derman Powers said the grades of many
streets were wrong, and, therefore, the
City Engineer was placed in an embar-
RAISING position. Aldermen Boiling and
o'Donnell spoke in favor Of an inyesti-
cation. -J - n
Alderman Lynn said he could not tell
what Hopper & Montgomery would do
before twelve month was out, when
they attempted to bride the members Of
the Board already. He was astonished
that any of the Aldermen could vindicate
what had taken place, and.he called on
them to look carefully into this matter
and revoke the contract with men who
had attempted to bride the Mayor and
two of the members of the Board. He
then spoke in hattering terms of Green
law & Jones, and referred to theintegrity
ofthe Mayor and Aldermen Lemon and |
Cochrane. Alderman Passmore denied
that any direct charge of bribery had
been brought against Hopper & Mont
gomery. Alderman Clancy said no one
had bribed him. Alderman Smith wanted
an investigation. Alderman Powers said
he would vote as he did before, to give
the contract to the lowest bidder; the
bribery ought to have been spoken of
before. Alderman Lemon said he would
never have mentioned the subject butthat
Captain Postal had abused him for voting
as he did. Alderman Amis did not
think any member Of the Board could
be bribed Alderman Townsend saidthe
same thing, and also stated that he had
never been approached on the subject Of
bribery. Amotion was made by Alder
nan Johnson, and carried, that com
nttee of one member from each Ward
re appointed to investigate the charges
# bribery which had been made, and
hat the Mayor be the Chairman of the
Committee. The Chair appointed as
UGH committee Messrs. Johnson, Pow
RS, Wiekersham, Boiling 0Dennell,
shaw, Lemon, Smith and Passmore.