The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-19

NAIH 4AA- -'-N %. N.HlAa.A H.- -'Atta -HH--
ough and Aldermen Mcmillan and O'Brien.
In their answer they stated that they
I desired the fullest Investigation as 10
I their alleged violation Of rule a.
Mayor NcDonoueh stated that lumber
was sold 20 the city as per voucher - Boy
McDonough q Coz bur that De had no
know ledge 90 Dr. ~ the time Of the sale.
though be was informed Of It's delivery
20 the city, and he says the prices were
reasonably just and fair He said also
that NcDonoueh & Ballantyne sold cast
ings 10 the city TO the AMOUNT Of s. g..
and that the charge was reasonable one.
He added that McDonough q Co. sold the
city lumber 10 the amount az $2iS.4j.
and another BIN Of H.79 81 used in re-
pairing the quarantine station after the
storm Of August. l,93. this lumber having
been ordered by himself because prompt
and decisive action was necessary lie
admitted that McDon0ugh 4 Ballantyne
sold iron and furnished labor 10 the city
for repairing the quarantine station 20
the extent OF $3.50 ~ and for other pur-
poses 20 the extent of S7l.25 on one occa-
sion 1850 al another time. and Sfls at
another OF these last three transactions
he said, he had no personal knowledge,
hutethat the prices charged were reason
able and just in an cases. He denied that
the work done or the material furnished
could have been secured ar lower prices
Alderman Mcmillan admitted that Nc
MILAN Bros. sold the city sheeting 10 the
amount Of 81 003 q, 20 cover piling at the
quarantine station. at Is cents "a pound,
while - cents was charged for the same
goods IN this city. that his firm sold the
city lead and materials to the amount Of
$l3i02 for the waterworks, the copper
works of Mcmillan Bros being the only
place where work % such nature could
be done and that his firm sold the city
1000 pounds Of lead at cents. making
500. without his personal knowledge Of
the transaction He says the prices were
all reasonable and fair. and that the ma
terial and work could not have been OBJ
tanned at lower rate
Alderman O. Brien admitted that teams
belonging TO his firm were hired by the
city after the August storm al a cost Of
Sl62; that he received $40 for teams for
the same purpose; that he received $50 for
"a horse selected by the superintendent Of
dry culture for his own use; that he sold
a horse 10 the IRE department for $3.50:
that he exchanged one horse with the city
for another, receiving $50 in ada
diuon, and that the city re-
ceived the benefit Of the exchange;
that he sold the city horse about Feb. 5,
for $50 for the city engineer, that
he sold two horses 10 the
fire department. which were selected and
purchased by Mr.. NJ. W Dixon, then
partner, Mr. w. b. Robinson, sold the city
a horse for the use of Mr.. Hops, assistant
engineer. for $500; that he sold four mules
to the city al Sl75 per head authorized 10
be purchased under resolution of council
adopted on recommendation of Supt Fitz-
gerald, that Vice Chairman Wells refused
10 approve the bill. because he had not
seen the mules, but he approved the bill
because the price was reasonable and
proper, and no bids were asked, because il
was not customary i'm such cases; that he
denies he made a profit Of $75 but says
his firm made a profit OF about $40 on the
four mules. He denied he refused to ac-
cept four mules furnished by j. +. Gull
martin over three years ago or at any
other time, that he was not chairman Of
the committee then and had no right 10
accept or reject any mules; that the let
ter from j. 4. Guilmartin q Co. was
handed by the mayor to him and he read
IL and handed II back, but he did not know
whether IL was shown to other parties or
not, that he had no knowledge Of any
contract for the purchase Of fifteen mules
but If Chairman Harris saw fit to pur-
chase them from him or his firm he in
sisted he had the right TO sell but he
said no contract had been made by him for
any such sale. lie insisted that the prices
i'm all cases We're reasonable and Just and
the answer says every act done by the
liAA &C It's IblANflii0 HAS bttn Just, IdlI and
honorable and with due regard to the citys
interests.
Mr.. Leakin requested that the following
witnesses be called j. W. Conner. .. J.
Reilly. Geo. S. Haines, j. w. Hunt. G. D.
Baldwin, r. +. Harmon. j. W. Cooper
NJ. w. Dixon, II. T. Smart. T. b. Floyd
Robert Hunt +. NJ Johnson. William Don
nelly, William Rockwell. A. G. Wilkinson
". 3. Puder George Mouro, c. s. Hardee
II. s. Dreese
Messrs. Carson and Baldwin was re-
ported sick. Assistant Chief of Police
Reilly was sent to md Mr.. Smart. as Mr.
Leaken insisted that these witnesses were
necessary TO establish certain points in his
case. lie also asked permission to intro
duce the absent witnesses when they
could be secured, which was granted.
Mr.. Leaken requested that as a number
Of witnesses who had been summoned
were not able to be present the investiga-
ton not be closed until they be heard from.
By Alderman Baldwin he proposed to
prove that he proposed to sell the four
mules to the city sold by Mr.. O'Brien at a
lower price than that charged by Mr..
O Bren. He wished to have Mr. Baldwin
present to attest this fact he said
BY Mr. Smart and Mr.. Carson he pro-
posed to prove that the charges for lum-
Der, lead and other materials were excess
sive,
BY suggestion of Alderman Wells the
marshal was instructed to get a carriage
and go after the witnesses.
Mr.. Dreesc was the first witness put
upon the stand. He was called upon TO
testify to the correctness of cerCain
vouchers secured from the treasurer's
office, which ne did. He was asked for
information as to the process Of passing
a bill, but was unable TO tell the road
which a bill against the city travels until
1t is finally paid at the treasurer's office
City Treasurer Hardee was asked the
same question. and said that the bills
did not come to him until they had been
approved for payment.
Clerk Hernandez gave the desired expla-
nation, showing that the city has quite
a system of handling its bills.
Mr.. Leaken read Rule IA prohibiting
any member OF council from being in
terested in any contract with the city
having any emolument connected there
with. He said that the sales had been
proved and admitted. and that this fact
itself showed violation of the rule This
rule, he said. could not simply be con-
strued to apply to written contracts,
but under Websters definition that any
sale is a contract. He asked that the
council pass upon the question whether
fts members had or had MOI violated tho