The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-14
MAJ. BLANBF0RD REPLIES.
HE ASKS FOR AN INVESTIGATION
OF CHAIRMAN DALE's CHARGES.


ing n Full investigation of the
Matters at Issue-The Board Votes
Three to Two and Adopts "A Mi
nOrity Report on n Small Matter,
over CRairman DaIe-Prospect OF
some More suits Against the
County.
At the regular meeting Of the county
commissioners yesterday Maj. r. A.
Blandford. the county engineer. asked
that Investigation be held of the charges
made by Chairman Dale against the de-
partment Of which he has charge, and
which. to a certain extent. reflected on
himself.
Mai Blandford asked to be heard. which
was of course. allowed. He quoted a
published statement made by Chairman
Dale with regard to a bill for tents from
which there was deduction of 10 per cent
Chairman Dale went on to say there had
been no deductions on former bills and
ne wanted to know where the 10 per cent.
had gone In former cases.
with the greatest respect for this hon.
orable body" Mai. Blandford said. ':and
the dignity OF the position occupied by
It's honorable chairman, l must say that
II he Is CORRECTLY quoted, most solemn
ly protest in the presence of the honor
able members of this board, in the pres
ence OF the people of this community. and
above all, in the presence Of the Almighty
God against the great injustice done me
by this imputation, under which to longer
rest In silence would be a crime against
| myself. and a wrong to those who have
/ hOnored me In the past with their friend
ship and confidence.
with equal solemnity l protest that
in no transaction whatever of the county
with which l have been connected, have
[ directly or Indirectly prohted to the
value Of one cent, nor have l sought. nor
has any such offer of profit ever been made
10 me, nor would l have accepted it had II
been made"
Maj. Bradford went OF 10 submit some
proofs in refutation of the statements
Then tents referred TO, he said, were or
erred by him about five months ago I'M
der instructions from DR.. T. J. Charlton,
and were neither ordered nor bought in
his own name He showd from his letter
book that the tents had been ordered sent
70 the commissioners of Chatham county.
The statement by Chairman Dale. as
follows: "and when 1t was found that
the tents could be bought here very much
cheaper the major announcing
that 10 per cent. was to come
off the bills Maj. Bandford
| characterized as incorrect and misleading
He then submitted figures to show that
even with freight added the tents were OBJ
tanned from the Tent and Awning Com
pany of Cincinnati cheaper than they could
have been purchased here.
Maj. Blandford said he was gratified
to learn that DR.. Charlton, chairman Of
the chain gang committee. was to make
the fullest investigation OF this matter.
He said he had never bought clothes or
shoes for the convicts, and that none of
the acquisitions for supplies had ever
passed through his office, except a few
for clothing for necessary reasons within
the last eight or ten months. Inasmuch
as the inputation had been laid to him he
invited the fullest investigation, request
ing that all bills, orders and acquisitions
| for supplies be examined as evidence, to-
gether with any records in his office bear
ng on the subject. He asked also in this
! connection that an investigation as to
prices paid by him for supplies when he
had authority to buy them, and those paid
| by the clerk of the board under the new
order in comparison with the market
prices current at the time of purchase
be made.
Chairman Dale at the conclusion of Maj.
Blandford's statement, said he only saw
that the bill was made out to R. A. Bland
ford. He had no access to Maj. Bland
ford's letter book. He said Maj. Blandford
nor any other man had a right to order
tents or anything else for the county.
II am responsible for that order" Dr.
Charlton said, ''as l have directed him to
write for the tents"
you had no right, nor did any other
member of the board, to order tents, -
Chairman Dale said.
III there was any error" DIR. Charlton
said, lit was mine. l was directed to sup
ply the camp with the tents"
1t seems that the committee on chain
gang authorized the purchase of the tents
and they being a majority of the board,
| Commissioner Carson contended they had
a right to do It,
Il contend that they were Illegally or
dered," Chairman Dale said, "as the
board has decided that such purchases
must be made through the clerk / stated
that the county was paying a double
price for tents, and that in former in
stances did not know where the ten
per cent. had. gone"
DIT. Charlton said he had begun an in
vestigation of the whole matter, and would
bring it up as soon as he could get the
necessary information.
Chairman Dale went into a discussion
OF the tent question in reply 10 Mai
Blandford's statements. He referred again
bills. which he did not see credited. and
said something about failing to see where
il had gone.
DR.. Charlton made some reply to the
statement and Chairman Dale looking
towards him said
Somebody has got the ten per cent.
Whoever the cap FITS let him wear it,
At this DR.. Charlton warmed up. and for
moment the atmosphere looked threat
en'ng.
1T don't fit me and don't you say it
does even for a fraction Of a second"
he said, looking straight at Chairman
Dale.
Air Dale said he had not made anv
such remark. His statement, he said
had been misunderstood
Il don't ask Maj. Biandford any odds"
Chairman Dale said. He may be as
honest as the Virgin Mary I don't saw
he is not. / was put here by the people Of
Chatham county to do my duty. and !
am going TO do it. if you, Maj. Biandford
were as big as a meeting house I don't
say you stole anything. ] came here to
10 my duty and I am going TO do it in
spite of what every man in America can
say"
DR.. Charlton said he had a consultation