Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-24

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Report of fhe General Oonmcil Com
mtttee ON scFip-sfeaitnE In the
City Hall.
1t the General Council meeting last
night the following report was preseated
BY the investigating committee on paving
scrip accounts:
Export.
Your committee appointed to investi-
gate the paving scrip accounts Of the
city. and the charges preferred against
Mayor Loagua by Andrew Davis, would
report that they find, from the books
containing the record OF the scrip which
has been countersigned and issued,
1921, 27s, and find the amount of can
celed and redeemed certificates to be
$3.50. 1864 SO, showing a deficiency Of
1913 81, or, rather, that 1918 81 more
scrip has been issued than there are
vouchers or certificates TO authorize.
The books show that the city paid for
$6O6, 900 Of scrip originally. We find
the scrip not countersigned TO be $685.
GA; countersigned, but not issued, $l9,-
039 so; scrip in envelopes, countersigned
and awaiting exchange, $3.50 so; scrip
countersigned and issued, $3.50, 1854 So;
showing a difference Of $l688. As to
this item of $l66S, we find the deficient
scrip, so far as we have been able to
learn, to be in the last or highest nun.
bers-that is to say, instead OF 5000 fifty
dollar notes we find 1884 6tty-dollar
notes, and instead Of 5000 twenty-dollar
notes we find 1854 twenty.dollar notes;
instead Of 10000 t~en-dollar notes we find
1910 ~ten-dollar notes; instead Of 10000
fve.dollar notes we find 1884 t~ive-dollar
notes; instead of 20, 900 two.dollar.and-
fifty cent notes we find 1896 two.dollar-
and-6fty cent notes. making a total
shortage OF 1910. On the other hand,
however, we find 1922 one dollar notes
instead of 5000 one-dollar notes, making
q surplus Of 1922. The real shortage,
therefore, is $l688, which, added to the
above 1913 81 makes the total de-
6ciency $26Ol 81. II is proper to state
that while the books show that $606, 900
Of the scrip was paid for, yet, mas
much as we find on the one hand a
shortage in numbers Of 1872, so far as the
City, twenty, ten, five and two-dollar and
Gfty.cent notes are concerned, on the
other hand, we find a surplus of 222 in
number Of the one-dollar notes, we think
it may have been hat a mistake oc-
Cured in lithographing the scrip. As
to how this is we cannot report, but can
only report the facts. II 5000, 900 of
scrip was Autographed aud received by
the Mayor, then there is an actual de
fciency of $258l 81. II, on the other
hand, only $604,3l2 was Autographed
and received, then there is an actual de-
6ciency of 1913 81. The committee,
upon diligent inquiry, could not ascer-
tain the actual amount Of scrip re-
eeived, and their report is based upon
the amount paid for as shown by the
Comptroller. We will state further that
we find the amount Of scrip counter
signed corresponds with the amount Of
scrip which has been issued. That is TO
say, there has been countersigned $780,
66S, and the scrip not countersigned,
$293, GA; total, $604.3l2.
AS to charges made BY Andrew Davis:
We summoned him to appear before us,
but he excused himself on account of
sickness, whereupon we appointed a sub
committee to visit him at his residence.
As to the first charge, that $4,000 or $4,000
Of paving scrip had been stolen, we find
the amount to be about as hereinbefore
stated, aud in many instances find scrip
paid twice for the same certificate.
As to the second charge, that the
Mayer made no effort to recover the
missing scrip, we find he was informed
months ago by Mr.. Davis, also by the
General Council, Of the fact, and by call
ing the Mayors attention to some circles
on margin of the books, he readily adj
mitted they were marks of Mr.. Davis,
indicating, as he said, some irregularities
Of Robert, meaning Robert League, his
former clerk, and has never made any
attempt to arrest or punish the guilty
party, so far as we know
. AS to charge third, being guilty Of
forgery, we have been unable to find any
evidence Of that fact.
AS to charge fourth, that be was in
formed of every piece Of scrip stolen,
and given the numbers by Mr.. Davis, we
are satisfied, from marks on margin of
books and the admission Of the Mayor
why they we're made, the charges are
correct.
As to charge fifth, being Informed Of
every piece Of scrip stolen, and given
the numbers by Mr.. Davis, we are salts
fed from marks on margin Of books and
the admission Of the Mayor why they
were made, the charges are correct; and
that he has never given to the public or
General Council the numbers OF the
fraudulent issue, although having knowl.
edge of the fact as we believe.
As to charge sixth, that the Mayor
has changed the entries in the finance
books Of the city to the amount of $40.
900, we End no evidence thereof.
|. As to charge seventh, hat he has
used his official position for his personal
benefit instead Of the public, the com.
mittee have no report to make. Re.