The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-11

duet Ofthe City O1leeFa-"BhAll Hxpef.
fence Teach ne NothinRF"- other mem.
hers Of the Committee Talk-The Pact
Is We are In Old Ruta.
We gave yesterday morning the minor.
lily report Of the committee on Accounts
to Council in regard to the manner in
which the City Clerk and City Receiver
did business in their respective depart.
ments This report was signed by E. ].
Stone and Robert Cowan. The paper
rather severely reflected on their alleged
"looseness,' and 10 ascertain the grounds
for this dissenting report we called on Mr..
4. J, Stone at bis place Of business, North
Main street, yesterday morning. We found
him busily engaged In talking TO New
York silk man, andasking him the rates at
sixty days; but as soon as he observed US
he dropped the n. Y. S. N. and pointed
to chair.
swell, Mr.. Stone, have called TO see
YOU in regard to the minority report pre-.
sented by you and Capt. Cowan 10 Coun.
Gil last night In regard to the conduct OF
the Clerks and Receivers Offices" was
our salute.
"Aheml" said the Deacon, to gain time,
at was no minority report. There were
only four present at the meeting Friday
night last. Two signed one report; the
other two another; which Is the majority
report, eh?" We gave It up and he con.
ItT,,n1, Uf tpaO annninIad nm 1I,is 49,,
mittee while | was in Syria and the Holy
Land, and 1t was some time before took
any part in the proceedings Of the com.
mittee. In fact, because l was appointed
while abroad, | have rather stood in
the background, and have not been very
prominent in their proceedings"
"What led you to make the report Of
last night?"
Coming TO that sir; coming to that part
Immediately. We met last Friday night
at the City Building TO make out our re-
port for Council, and we're examining the
reports OF the several city officials. We
came 10 the OUTLAWS for Streets, Alleys and
Grades and asked for the receipts, they
replied that they had none, that Il was too
much trouble to make them out, or some.
thing TO that effect. He showed US u
memorandum for this committee contain.
ing the list Of employees and opposite the
names OF each when paid was merely a
check mark, showing that 1t had been paid
and taken nothing In the shape Of a
receipt. turned tn Clerk Updegraf and
told him that these were not receipts, that
il he was in a bank this sort OF thing
would imperil his head; that this sort Of
thing was not business. When we
came 10 Todd's accounts We found only
memoranda in pencil, and | am OF
the opinion that thousands were paid
out by the Receiver for which be
had only memoranda in pencil and
no vouchers. To save q pay roll orders
for months wages were drawn in
his favor, with which different and
numerous city servants were paid This
amounted to many Thousand dollars, and
when discussed the check marks oppo.
site the name Of man was the only re.
ceipt OF payment that secured the city,
and how slender this is you can readily
see. In the light OF our past experience,
so recent and so expensive, in great city
like this where from seventy-fve thousand
TO eighty thousand or one hundred thou.
sand dollars are annually discussed, this
sort Of business is, to say the least oil it, q
little loose"
GLOW did you dispose Of certain
money!" l asked Mr.. 'Codd.
MY tally book is in the hands Of the
City Collector; you can readily see it to.
morrow" was his reply. ~ made some
structure on this way OF doing, when
Mr.. Todd asked me il l intimated that he
was dishonest, or il l reflected on
his honor. instantly disavowed any
such intention, and assured him that
only wanted to see things run in accord
ance with the ordinance.
Aleck also was very much enraged, and
INDUCED in some generalities personal to
me, which thought and told him the
disparity Of our ages might have averted,
and right here, sir, l wish to say that do
not think that there is any dishonesty in
either OF the gentlemen mentioned. Ny
point was that they carry on Mings looHly,
that is all.
swell, Sir, what excuse was offered for
this irregular manner OF procedure?'
"The ordinance explicitly prescribes the
relative duties OF each, and indicates to
them clearly their course, and, in brief,
they have not observed it. One OF them
told me that he would not 20 10 the
trouble OF taking every mans mark that
came in to get his money, although it is a
part Of his duty. Another thing, $500
was drawn by Eccles for oats for the Fire
Department in anticipation OF its payment
by Council. You will readily see the IA.
cilities for peculation that such away Of
doing business affords, and now is the
time to take decided step in the matter.
Eighty dollars were also advanced to
Kimberly recently. l do not know that
this was out Of the road, but these things
form precedents, and what are the sequel
to such Irregularities? am OF the opin-
ion that Todd has pursued this even since
his induction. ltappears to me that Il
there ever was q case demanding investi.
cation this Is one. II there Is nothing
rotten in Denmark at present, there is a
chance for the future. And sir, further, !
don't think that there is any man, and
certainly would like TO see the man who
would attempt in Council to defend such
conduct OF public officers. don't think it
would be popular movement. I at first
thought ofpreferring charges Of malfeas.
ance in Office, butdid not, as thought that
Council would appoint special committee
toiDquire into matters. The fact Of s., 773 40
being paid out and no vouchers for it
looks like something needs attending to,
don'tit?
Mr.. Stone gave some data in support Of
his assertions, taken from Todd's memo.
randa, and again explaining to US their
bearings in the case, we left him to hunt
up Mr.. ]. A. Jefferson at the Bank Of the
Ohio Valley.
"NIr. Jefferson" said we, "what do you
think OF the minority report?"
II think 1t is a reflection on the MAORI.
ty, that is upon those Of us who signed
the report first read. The entries in the
books Of both the City Clerk and Receiver
were correct, but when we found that no
vouchers and receipts had been taken,
then we took occasion to say that the bust.
ness had not been transacted according to
ordinances in regard to them. Mr.. Stones
report is merely an application Of ours"
Another member or two OF the com.
mittee was called upon and expressed