Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-24

Grounds and Buildings Committee 10 expend
any money in sending the subcommittee 20
visit the different place. whefe these metallic
cssee wore IN USE Your committee dcem II
proper 10 cay that no committee ought 70 to
allowed 20 authorise any such trip, ex-
ceps under resolution of tho Council: nor
should tho City Auditor pay any warrant for
any such trip, unless 70 Authorized by such
resolution. While your committee are informed
that 10 has been customary with ether commit
tees 70 send sub-com mis,ces on similar trips
pertaining 70 matters under their CD arge vet
yoar committee deem that the Corncii should
put stop 20 such q custom.
THEIR xxrKxsE EXCESSIVE.
Your committee condemn the eypend,tura nv
Mossrs. Curtis, Mountcastle. and Epps, OF the
sums respectively Of ESQ, 500, and sii8, charged
TO aud paid oy me city. - shown 10 be excessive
81 comparison with the vouchers Of Mr.. Andor-
os1 aud Mr.. Bates for 500 each, Tor nll sctnai,
necessary, aud legitimate expenses for the same
trip.
disapproval Of the costly and suggestive atteri-
ions iavisbed by Mcssrs Beivsn. Booz, and
Glenn upon the members OF this sub-com IN ittec,
and partisulsrly the Gift o; elk hats 70 Messrs.
Curtis. Eppe, and Bates, tho latter being q city
employee. Such attentions, under such circum-
stances. reflect no credit either upon those who
tender or those who receive thom.
crSsrRsp FOR BORROWING.
Your committee would especially condemn
both tho Lending and the receipt OF 800 tor
rowed by Mr.. Epps ana &lC0 borrowed by sir.
Mountcasile from Mr.. Glenn, the representative
OF the Everett Wadjey Company, aud as such Of
the once Specially Company, which sums were.
however. repaid before the awarding OF the
contracts. though u IL fair to state that
there was evidence before the Committee
tending TO show that the suggestion OF this tom
porary loan met with the approval OF Mr. Curtis,
tho chairman OF the sup-commiitee. aud that
this approval was announced 10 Mr.. Epps aud
Mr. Mountcastle. And 10 IL also fair 10 state
that Mr.. Mountcastlo was at that time under
contrac 10 do a considerable amount OF work for
Mr.. Waddcy, part d which had been done and
portion OF the contract price therefore due
PRIOR 20 tne time OF the acceptance OF the loan.
Your committee would express even more de-
cded disapproval OF the borrowing by Mr.. Eppe
OF sl00 from Mr.. Beivn, bidder himself and
the representative OF Mr.. Booz and the Fenton
Metallic Company. While OF the opinion that
mr. fpps may not have realized the improperly
OF his conduct, and while impressed with his
frAnkness In cOnfcssing his error whom he made
his statement 70 the committee towards the con-
clusion Of the investigation, yet your committee
feel compelled 10 characterize the transaction
as reprehensibls.
Your committee would further report that
they consider Messrs. Belvin, Booz and Glenn
have been guilty Of serious improperly In en-
deayoriUg 70 Improperly influence the decision
and the votes OF the various members named oil
the Committee on Grounds and buildings. your
committee would state that Mr. Booz has not ap-
peared before them, though several times
summoned end requested 70 come. and though
tho committee adjourned twice Tor MS spcclai
tenoft-the last time for q week so as TO give
HIM an opportunity TO bo present on date sug-
gested by himself. Your committee considers
that Mr.. Booz's absence jusifes tho seserest
criticism. They did not adjourn again for MS
benent. as they were convinced by his course
that he would not come.
THROW TUE CONTRACTS OUT.
Your committee would further recommend
that the Council annul the contract with the
Everett Wsddey COMPANY, representing the
once Specially Company, II in Its power, ana
that they direct tho Committee on Grounds ana
Buildings 20 decline 10 receive new bids from
the ONCE Specially Company or the Fenton
Metallic Company, eithor directly or indi-
rectiy, for the reasons hereinbefore stated !;
ana further, because, while tho city
should encourage active and legitimate
competition for its contracts, 1t should set tho
stamp and seal Of It's condemnation upon all
competitions tainted with fraud or improper
methods. Respectfully submitted,
fSigned.I JOHN MANN. JH,
Chairman.
X. ". BoYKIS,
Il. p. REEVE,
J. W. WHITE,
". =. GUM,
JAMES I. VAUGHAN.
THOMAS Z. MURPHY,
N