The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-14
The Gas works Again.

l4O2 Main street. and Mt our counter.
| -
Tho Gas Works Again.
The special committee to whom Presi
dent Wynne's address was referred by tn,
city council held another meeting last nigh
and examined several witnesses. Mayo
Kelley was the first gentleman interro
gated. He said that during the early fal
or winter he had received letters from two
New York capitalists asking information
concerning the gas works, which they hat
understood were for sale. One Of these gen
tlemen was the mayors brother; the name o
the other was not just then remembered by
witness, but he referred to Mr.. Isaac Da'
venport. of this city, as to character
These gave witness surprise, and he ex'
pressed this surprise in his letters. lie
had heard things which would lead to the
inference that improper influences have
been at work to secure the gas works.
Mr.. Wagner was next examined. lie
knew of no improper efforts being made to
secure the transfer Of the gas works.
Mr.. Williams testified that shortly after
his election to the council in 1872, a letter
dated New York, October %, 1872, and
addressed to Mr.. Isaac Davenport, was
handed to him with the request that he
would furnish the information to enable the
party to whom it was addressed to answer
certain inquiries in reference to the gas
works. The letter animated that arrange
ments could be made to return the city the
money she has in the gas works that for
five per cent. on the money so returned she
could have all the lamps she now has and
more ; and that the transfer would give her
all the money she could possibly require
for completing the water works, and thus
save her paying 8 per cent. on the in
creased debt. Mr.. Williams had made in
quiry of several persons both in and out
of the council simply in order to gain in
formation necessary to answer the inquiries,
but did not remember that any member of
the council ever expressed in his presence
any opinion as to the expediency of such
sale; certainly none OF them ever lntimated
a willingness to become parties to a pur-
chase under any circumstances; and no
one Of them ever sad or did anything
to oppose the increase. of taxation,
or to do any act whereby the credit
of the city might be impaired, in
order to accomplish the sale of the gas
works. Had such proposition been ever
intimated to him, he should have been
wanting in respect for himself, and in re-
gard for the interests of the city, had not
be denounced it. Never heard of any con-
spiracy in or out of the council to embar-
rass or obstruct the credit of the city. until
he heard it announced in the presidents
report; is not prepared to believe it now,
because [ hold the man who makes a
charge, if made upon his own authority,
as bound to sustain it by proof. If made
upon the authority of another, he must
give his authority OF be himself responsible
for it. N @ taa#
2 Mr.. Higgins testified that Mr.. Cunning
ham, son-in-law of Mr.. Thomas Branch,
approached him last year to get Informal
ton concerning the gas works with view
of purchasing them, but no declined to
furnish it, being member of the council
and opposed to the sale.
Mr.. Bossieux testified that he knew
nothing of his own knowledge concerning
the matter, but said that he had heard Mr..
ker Campbell, Charles @. Whitlock,
Charles U. Williams, and Isaac Davenport.
as ring formed to purchase the gas
works.
Mr.. Whitlock (vacating the chair testi-
fed that he never knew until this inyesti-
cation began that any person inside or out
side the council contemplated making any
effort to purchase the gas works; never
was approached by any member of the
council, or other person, to lend any assist
ance to any scheme Of the sort. No per-
son could have heard the remarks of the
president with greater surprise than he.
The committee then adjourned until five
o'clock this evening. -