The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-17

stated That having neard oil TINS ne nau seen
Mr.. Adams, and been informed by him that
he only said what he did as assn
A JOKE,
and did not mean anything by it, but the
committee not being able to understand
why he should take the trouble to gonear.
ly three miles from home to see member
of the committee, of whom he was not on
familiar terms, to joke with about a matter
of serious importance to the city, did not
think the explanation satisfactory, and they
ordered the discharge of Messrs. Bell and
Adams and the substitution Of Mr.. J. j.
Fry to perform the duties of both. 1t is
scarcely necessary to inform the Council of
the fs .5IrEE.l..E g.. d.
REFUSAL TO OBEY ORDERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, FAX u.-.
their reference of the matter to the Mayor
and the Superintendent reply to the same.
Subsequently Mr.. Adams, having asked
permission, appeared before the commit
tee, and having acknowledged the impro.
priety OF his conduct, expressed regret for
the same and requested the forgiveness of
the duties heretofore performed by himself
and Mr.. Belfassigned to him. arst IL
3 On the payroll e1 1,f aZz,'.9. laE foi
~ eWl MR. BELL
is set down as ''clerk," at 500 per month,
and the impression has been created that
he wasput in this place by the Council,
and that the committee had no right to in
terfere with him. h sdl b. L.a ar 81. .g...s-
y The following extracts from the records
Of the Council and the committee will give
a history of this appointment, and the COM
mittee proposes to show how little attention
has been paid to the requirements of the
Council. b
AT meeting Of the Committee on Light,
held January ", 1866, the following reso-
luton, which had been adopted by the
City Council, was read and ordered to be
spread upon the records:
''Resolred, That the Superintendent of
the Gas Works be authorized to employ an
agent to receive and weigh all the coal re-
ceiyed at the Gas Works, and receipt for
and keep an account of the same also to
sell and deliver all coke at the Gas Works,
and to enter the same in book, with the
name Of the purchaser, and the money re-
ceived be paid over to the Superintendent
of the works at the end of each week, and
to perform any other duties required by the
Superintendent, provided that the appoint
.ment be approved by the committee, who
shall fix his compensation.
The Superintendent having nominated
Mr.. George Bell, the agent, as specified in
said resolutions" the committee approved
Of the appointment, and fixed his compen-
sation at 81 so per diem. Subsequently, on
the LIST Of October his pay was increased to
So per diem. but the most careful exami.
nation Of the records of the committee fails
to reveal any authority for his being relieved
of his duties as sagept.n and his title
being changed to that of F" clerk and the
fact is apparent that T
WITHOUT ANY SHOW or AUTHORITY
he has been relieved of his duties, and
others have done the work. and his nav
has been increased to more than $3.50 per
iday. In addition to this man is paid So
per day to weigh coal. one of the duties
assigned to Mr.. Bell. and servant at 81 .25
per day is EMPLOYED to wait on the clerk.
It will thus be seen that the duties assigned
an tagent' at So per day, actually costs
the city for each working day,
For Mr. Re,l clerl, Az 81
For coal welgher.. 90
For one servant.'........ 10
geine totalof A. 90
These dnties heinz Divided batweep tbroo
nersons and The origna onnointee narsnrn,.
mo q small norton of the work far which
he was EMPLOYED. and further instead al
complying with the resolution, and report
ing the amount of sales, and paying over