St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-15
H0yt Rather Holds the Age
on That Too Eager Com
mittee.
Those Sensational Charges
Simmer Down to Very
Little.
The Mayors Crushing Charge
Failed to Come to the
Front.
Everything Hoyt's Way on
the First Day of the
Hearing.

The six members of the special COM
mittee, DR.. Hoyt, G. d. O'Brien. E. A.
Hendrlckson and a small-sized lobby
attended the meeting of the investiga-
ton committee yesterday afternoon.
As soon as the meeting convened G. D.
OBrien stated that he. aid MIR. Hen
Erickson represented DR.. Hoyt as coun-
sci, and desired to know if there were
any objections to such appearance.
, There being none, Mr.. Pike read his
resolution passed at the last meeting,
which practically requested all persons
who had statements to make regarding
the manner in which affairs of the de-
partmenI had been conducted under DIR.
Hoyt'S administration to send in the
same.
Waived Jurisdiction.
Mr.. O'Brien said that without regard
to the jurisdiction the council had in
the matter, DR.. Hoyt recognized the
right of the council to make investiga-
tions as to his or any other department.
The doctor, he said, was willing and
anxious to answer all questions relating
to the affairs Of the health department,
and would be glad to furnish the COM
mittee any information it desired.
In relation to the Endorsement or ap-
proval of bills of the AZotine company,
Mr.. O'Brien said the Endorsement by
DR.. Hoyt had not the least legal effect.
The commissioner was not a party to the
contract made between the city and
FleiShman, who was first awarded the
contract, nor had heanything to do with
the transfer of the contract from Fleish-
man to the Azotine company. The bills
had been approved by DR.. Hoyt after
the council committees had approved
them. The fact that the doctor was not
the city auditor and his approval of the
bills had no legal or binding effect on
the city should be taken into considera-
ton. None of the bills approved had
been paid. newspaper reports to the con-
trary Notwithstanding.
The Gould Matter.
In the matter of one Gould, an en-
ploye int department., having been
paid salary for the month of May, 1891,
when he died On May 6, Mr.. O'Brien
madethe following explanation: Some
time in May or June the then mayor ex-
planned to DIR. Heyt that it was Gus
tOmary when an employee in any of the
departments died to continue his salary
to the end of the month in which he
died. On this statement GOuld'S name
was placed on the June pay roll, the no.
tation being made that it was for salary
for part of the month of May. Whether
or not the city had the right to recover
from the bank to which the pay was as
signed or from DR.. Hoyt for=the amount
| tee had nothing tes1o. In order that
the committee might be convinced as to
| the statements made, they could, if de-
/ stree, zeXamine the records which were
| before them as TO the; azotfne bills, and
further call on members of the old coun-
| Gil and officers Of the AZOtine company.
| AS to the Gould matter. the evidence of
the ex1mayor would bear out the state
mentS made.
AZOtine Claims. -.-sS,
MIR. Hendrickson, in speaking of the
AZOtine matter, said in August, 1891,
the corporation attorney decided the
AZntine company had not defaulted in
| their contract. The health commits
sioner at the time informed the COM
| mittee that the work was not being
done according to contract, in that the
garbage was not being disposed of by
pany representatives claimed at the
| time the garbage was being removed
| from the city, and that in the near fut-
ure another plant would be built to re-
place the one destroyed by fire.
| The committee ordered the AZotine
| company to go ahead and do the best
! they could under the circumstances. 1t
was under the advice and suggestion of
the committee that the bills for five
months were approved by the health
commissioner. The corporation attor-
ney at that time had i'll written Opin-
| ion said the claims were legal under the
| of mil fnp I'M rHQ q
company to go ahead. These facts,
| MIR. Hendrickson said, were matters of
record which could be ascertained by
| the bills now in the hands of this COM
! mlttee. He also called the attention of
| the committee to the fact that none of
| the bills so approved by the commits
sioner had been paid, and that the in
| dorsement had no legal effect SO far as
! the payment of the bills was concerned.
| FalherIess Statement.
| While the statements of counsel were
being made MIR. DOran had furnished
! the reporters with communication
which had been sent in, probably in
answer to the request for statements
| about the administration of the health
| department. The communication was
| neither signed nor sworn TO, and in this
connection Mr. O'Brien said he hoped
/ the committee would take cogniZance of
the position in which Dr.. Hoyt was
| placed, and, in admitting so-called evil
| dence, have the charges formulated so
| that recourse could be had against the
| individuals making the charges in case
| they were not correct. This was but
| proper and fair, as rumOrS and not SUBJ
| stantial evidence could be talked
| about, which, while not true or hav-
ing any foundation of truth, would
l - T.. L.. c.,H
| ure standing. After this talk the COM
mittee decided not to consider the COM
| munIcation and requested the reporters
not to use its If all investigation were to
| be had, Mr.. O'Brlen requested it be con-
Quoted in legal way, and he also asked
/ that meetings be held evenings. This
he anticipated would be best, as even
the aldermen he thought must have
business which demanded their atten-
ton during the day time.
Tech nIcalIy Admitted.
Mir. Hic kman said the commissioner
| through his counsel, had admitted tech
| nically that the charges were true. 1t
would be proper, he thought, for the
| counsel for DR.. Hoyt to say to what
extent the investigation should now be
| made.
MIR. o 'Brien, in reply, said the state
| ments tn at had been made in explana-
ton had not been controverted, and the
mere fact that they should be sworn
to would make them no stronger. AS
| to the Azotine bills, the papers and
records were now before the committee
and could be used to prove the correct
ness of the statements. Regarding the
| payment of Gould's salary for the twen-
| ty-three days after his death, it was Gus
tomary in all departments to carry men
on the pay rolls for the balance of the
months in VIII ich they died.
Assistant Corporation Attorney nj
| chael corroborated the statements of
| Mr.. O'Brien as to the practice of pay
ing salaries to employees in city depart
| ments for the months in which they
died. Mr.. Michael also said it would be
| proper to have further charges If there
were any made in writing-as he did not
care to listen to verbal charges and pass
| opinions on them.