Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-06-27
An Investigallon 10 be- Fad.
Introduction Of Sanitary Meas
ures.

bad asd b 3
essrs. Hopper IND Mont
be called upon Msssrs.
mon to know if they had
sum Of one thousand
Mem or their agents to
he contracts to those
-, who 81.
.n) wdA <vote * ing them
Iconti 3 it would be a th9~sn dol
IderHH fPassmore asked fSs the
AldermsKL Lemon replied, that it was
Capt. Postal He considered it as a
bride.
Alderman Cochran said that he met
Capt. Postal, who told him-that he q
an interest IN the contract, and II IL was
awarded to Hopper x Montgomery 1t
would be one thousand dollars to him
alderman COchran.)
Alderman PassmOre said the board did
not know Capt. Postal in the matter. No
offer Of money, as a bride, had been Of
fsred by Hopper d Montgomery. Had
it been done by the parties themselves 1t
would have been an entirely different
matter.
Alderman Townsend said that Capt.
Postal had told him that he was a party
to the contract. He acknowledged that
fact to several members Of the board.
The mayor stated that ne had been
approached by a friend Of twenty years
standing, and told that if by h~isiutiuence
the contract could be awarded 10 Messrs.
Hopper & Montgomery, g certain amount
of bonds would be placed in the names
Of his children. In answer to an in
quiry from Alderman Lynn, the mayor
said he considered it an attempt at
bribery. He would never sign the CON
tract until every member Of the board
had an opportunity to set themselves
right in this matter, when money had
been offered as q bride. If Alderman
| Boiling had not called the meeting, he
would nave done so before signing the
contract.
Alderman Townsend said that many
members OF the board had objected to
! secret sessions where these matters of a
private nature might come up. The OBJ
jeet of calling the meeting at Alderman
Lynnls room yesterday was for the pur-
pose of discussing these matters in pri-
vate, and not to bring them up and
/ pose them before the public. As TO the
character OF these parties, the matter
having come up, he proposed 10 discuss
them. AS for Mr.. Montgomery be en-
tertained for him the highest regard,
and always had, eve since his first ac-
quaintance with him. As to Mr.. Hop
per, be was a man in whom
he had no confidence. He had
proved Uufaithful heretofore. Had been
in a gambling difficulty of bis own seek
ing and called upon the police to shield
him. The effect Of letting this contract
to these parties had since yesterday de-
preeiated the value of city scrip in the
same ratio that it had increased the two
days previous. He found the grades,
lines and curves Of the streets had been
altered by the city engineer, by what
authority nobody knew. IL the city was
to be ruled by the city engineer and a
certain small clique, it was time the
people were fully aware of the fact. The
alteration of the line on Washington
street was an injury to the property
holders. He did rot believe in giving q
contract to parties who were not reliable.
He then at some length repeated his
often expressed views preference to the
financial schem6. WP ~
Alderman Smith, in reaiy to AIderri "
Townsend, said that he had iRyites RON
members 4 the press to be presdi' awe
the meeting yesterday, and he tfhlNR Of
il bis duty q kdo so, as it had b~ee~iahsdp cl
the evening AreviOus that thhu id4ntitie,
was to be a Aclic one. e-he J for ohgT
was opposed = sessions. Al
derman Tow a made assertions
in reference .Cy engineer. II he
t--our FhasA a. H. - H. !
g tlep TO impeach him. He was
low that aldermen could not be
Ie sleepiL,o, abow s.id shet he naver
Sne Spte more repBgnant to his feel
sOHss IS@h the one he gave yesterday.
He explained that he gave his vote con-
scientiously in the matter. He had
changed his mind after full and careful
consideration. The'reasOn why he had
voted against Hopper d Montgomery was
because MessCs. Greenlaw & Jones were
either of them aBie 90 0gTry the contract
to a successful completion. He bad
never been approached, not even by the
most trivial offer. He thought that be-
fore the contract was closed the matter
should be thoroughly ventilated. and the
|aard should wash their hands clearly
hsSR Of bribing.
$1eTman Passmore said he was not
the champion Of any contractor, but he
proposed to defend tbs interests of the
people. The secret session mad been de-
Gated yesterday, andnow that the con-
selHnnhad hasg4s \, they come up
wAich two accusation in public. II
and Mat6een the case, why not have
4 warr& secret session today. If CITY
- were not competent for their no.
isitiOns, bring them up, convict and dis
miss them out on be continually
harping upon Foster and 50 ~eliuues.G
This finding fault eternaIly with i'm
proVement and other committees was
s~ickening. He would move that a com.
mittee of five be appointed to examine
the whole matter and report to the next
meeting of the board.
Alderman Powers said that the Citv
engineer was placed in a very embaFrsss-
ing position. Property holders conn
planned of the alteration in the grade
while the engineer claimed, that he had
received the grade from q former CITY
officer.
Alderman O'DOnneii wanted a fair
investigation in the m5tteF, and # snv
member Of this board was W~eak-nindad
enough to accept a bride, the public
should know il.
Alderman Boiling suggested that as we
were here he would like to know from
Commodore Montgomery what interest
Capt. Postal had in the contract, aud If
he was authorized to make any offers of
bribery TO members OF the board.
Alderman Lynn desired to say that
Can't. Postal had told him that ne had
an interest in the contract. If these
men started out with bribery and cOrrup-
ton, what could be expected from them
during their dealings Cor the next twelve
months2 He looked upon the Offers
made by Hopper & Montgomery as di.
rect offers of bribery, and he was aston.
ished at the lame defense put up by the
friends of Messrs. Hopper y AOntgom-
cry. He was of opinion the action of
the board should be revoked and the
contract awarded to other parties. No
person doubted the honesty or integrity
of NJ. +. Cochran, Hans Lemon or w.
o. Lofand. This was a great financial
scheme, and would affect the credit and
of the city for all time 10 come.
Alderman PassmOre still urged an in
vestigatiOn, and whatever might come
this matter he was not prepared 10
vote away twenty-five thousand dollars
the peoples money.
Alderman CLANCY said that the per-
to whom these offers had been
made should have made it known yes
He had never been approached
in the matter any more than he and
Mr.. Jones had a drink together, for
be Mr.. g. paid.
Alderman Smith had yet to learn who
had been bribed. When il was proven
that any member of the eight, who had
voted in the majority, had been bribed
he might change his vote, but first give
US the proof. BE was willing to 20 into
an investigation on the spot and settle
the matter at once.
Alderman Powers stated that no per-
son had ever said a word TO him on the
Of bribery. He had talked with
q Montgomery. They had
never insulted him with any such offers.
saw 20 reason yet TO change his vote
Of the previous day. The question, in
his opinion, had come up a day too late. {
Alderman Lemon said, IN explanation,
that he had not Intended TO have said
anything about It, nor would he have
done so ifCapt. Postal had acted properly
him and it was only when be .
that similar offers bad been made l
10 Alderman Cochran, that be made it
q