Evening journal., 1894-02-16

Report OF the Investigating Commit
tee to City CounoIl-Messrs. Candy and
Mention Ash for Money Lost by Them
In the wawaset Park Purchase.
The Council Committee appointed TO
Investigate the purchase Of the Wawaset
aud hukwood Parks reported as fol-
lows at the meeting Of City Council last
night:
Your committee appointed by a reso-
luton Of the Council 10 investigate the
purchase Of park lands would respect
fully report;
That your committee, acting In con.
Junction with the committee an.
pointed by the Park Commission. have
fully and carefully investigated the pur.
chase Of the tract of land on Wawaset
street and the purchase Of Kirkwood
Park
I'VE find that the purchase OF the
Wawaset street land by Messrs Candy
and Mention 10 be held until the City
Council could take title for the same was
made In good faith and for what they
thought to be fair price for the land.
While In the opinion Of many persons
the price WAS beyond It's true value, yet
the witnesses examined did not consider
the price excessive, although full.
1.-THE account kept by the Equitable
Guarantee and Trust Company with
Messr5 Candy and Mention was placed. IN
evidence and showed that the track Of
land had cost $13 600, which, with in
terest added, brought the cost TO labout
$40 more then the amount authorized
by the ordinance
"Nessrs Candy aud Mention. however.
n "a -.
for the sum OF $4,000 trusting TO the
Council TO reimburse them for the
balance. We feel that purchases OF land
for city use should be made openly and
with the full knowledge aud approval Of
the Council as body. In this investi.
pation we fnd that the members Of the
| Park Commission acted on the advice Of
individual members of the Council, and
in so doing opened the door for criticism
which resulted In this investigation.
The act creatingl the Park Commission
/ provides that when the city bid ithe
owners of land needed for city or park
/ purposes cannot agree on price, OF the
sum asked is excessive, that a commits
Hion be asked for and appointed by
the Council 10 fix the true value. We
feel that bad this course been adopted
no citizen would have questioned the
VERDICT
Your committee further report that
they have investigated the purchase Of
the land for Kirkwood Park. We find
that every thing was done with the full
consent and approval Of the Council and
WAS perfectly fair and honest in. every
particular. 50 far as he evidence shown
tbe committee. Wethink the mayor WAS
perfectly justified IN asking for the in
vsshgaiion and deserves credit for the
interest be has takenin the matter"
A petition was presented from Messrs
Candy and Mention asking Council to al
low them $46l %, that being the amount
paid by them for the Wawaset Park
lands above Sl4,00 which they have al.
ready received from the city II was re-.
ferred to the Finance and Law Commit.
tees.
Mr.. ,Dannenberg presented a communi-
cation from the Street aud Sewer Depart
ment stating that the department. would
at once proceed TO lay out work TO the
extent Of the scope allowed them by
Council
Mr.. O'Neill called attention to the fact
that the poor IN the city etded coal
which could not be given TO them be.
cause tie appropriation had already been
nearly exhausted Already 5000 has had
10 be transferred to that appropriation.
No action was taken.
An invitation to attend the annual re
ception OF the Washington Steam Fire
Engine and Hook and Ladder Company
was received and accepted.
Mr. Ratledge offered a resolution tc
appoint Baiiff 1Illman a witness OF the
killing Of dogs by tine dog-catcher at q
salary Of So month
Mr. McNulty arose to point of order
because there Is already a resolution Il
that effect, which resolution does not
allow any additional pay
Mr.. Rotledge said that IL was extri
work and the bailih was not required Z,
do additional duty. IL has been the Gus
tom for long time.
After considerable discussion, in whicl
all the members took part, the resolution
was adopted.
b The bill Of Eugene M Sayers for $51'
for collecting taxes and the interest lis
+. for March. amounting 70 81, 506 90, wer
ordered paid,
+ The city treasurer reported the bal
? snce In Union National Bank to be $63,.
746 j5; in each Of the four depositor.
. banks, 81, $40 46; received Of Edmund
: Mitchell, Jr., 5000; Eugene NJ. sayers
) / c75O