The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-13
GAS WORKS SHORTAGE.
NO QUORUM or THE COMMITTEE on
LIGHT YESTERDAY.
what Mr.. Charles 4. Stokes Saws About
tho Bcnd-win Bookkeepcr Meredith
and Foreman Walsh he Eetainede

Another meeting OF the Committee on
Light was called fer yesterday afternoon
at 5 O'Clock. in room No. Of the civ
Han. for the purpose OF continuing the
consideration OF the report made by she
subcommittee in regard to the cxamina-
ton OF affairs and discovered defalcation
In the management OF the CITY Gas
Works. The only members present were
Nessrs. Grimes chairman. Branch Hard
wicke. and Wallerstoin. In the absence Of
quorum. the meeting lad 10 DO post
Doncd until next Monday afternoon at
o'clock The members who for some rca-
son ala not put IN an appearance were
Ncssrs. George II. Davis. James Caskie
j.. NJ Noble and T. y. Starko. Mr.. James
T. Vaughan was confined 20 his home by
sickness.
THr BOND.
Mr.. G. v Meredith. the city Attorney.
was on hand to give the committee what
legal advice might be needed in the prem
ises. lie stated privately afterwards that
he had just come into the case, and was
therefore not in a position TO say any
thing on the subject. lie had not read the
bond given by Mr. G.. y. Stokes for the
late Superintendent Adams. and he was
therefore unable 20 state anything as TO
that gcntlcmon's liability
Mr. Charles T.. Stokes was also In at
tendance TO await the further develop
ments Of the Investigation. When speak
ing on the subject afterwards. he said he
desired TO do what was absolutely rgnt,
and DE felt confident That the city ou-
thorincs would bee prompted by similar
motives. lie had been living here I'm this
city an his lie and paid his taxes. and
he dil not expect that he WAS 10 bc driven
10 The wall. especially since he himself
had not done anything wrong.
When asked os 10 whether or not MS
bond contained the clause that ne would
become Mir. Adams surety provided the
Socks and accounts or The Gas Depart
riont bee examined annually. nc said that
this was not the case. lie thought. how
over, that the city charter or tho city or
dinances contained such provision.
FonrNAs AND ro)KKfrrrr
Foreman Thomas j. Walsh and Book
keeper John H. Meredith were present TO
give the committee any desired additional
information in reference 90 the charges
brought against them. one of the most in
tercstng questions TO be- decided in con-
necton with This matter viii be as 10
whether or not these TWO officials shall be
retained in their positions.
The general belief is that tho fun COM
mittce Will adopt the recommendations
presented by the subcommittee. that ac-
ton Dee brought against the estate and
bonismen OF the late superintendent W.
q. Adams. and that the report publish
ed be forwarded 10 the city Council with
but few. If any. alterations.
When Mr. Adams was elected Supcrin-
tendent OF the Gas-W orhs IN 1856 me gave
bond in the penalty OF 5000. with Mr.
Charles T. Stokes as surety This bond
was renewed four times without any
change whatever. ana AIR Stokes was
sul surety for the Superintendent when
the latter died Ina May. The Gas-W 0rks'
deficit during the first term of Mr.. Adams
administration was $l,235.g6 In excess of
the 500 bond. the second TERMS excess
was sl.501f5. and in the tnird IL reached
SIZE ~. The discrepancies during the
fourth term lacked $l21G OF reaching
5000. and from July J. 1894. 10 May. 1850.
they aggregated bat $2zi.51.
fXpENsIyE OFFICIALS.
The misdeeds of certain city officials
have proven to be rather expensive dur
ing the past ten years. Besides the
deficit Of more than 5000 in the accounts
OF the last Superintendent OF he Cas-
Works. there IS the loss sustained through
the late Ayle;t Wo0dsJn during his in
clmbency in the ofii-e of City Collec-
tor. which amounts TO about $4,000. Then
the predatory operations of Clerk
Grymcs. formerly of the Trcasurer's
Office foot up more than 5000.