The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-31

committee decided on motion OF Mr'
Bloomberg. to go into executive session
10 formulate a plan for the preparing OF
the renc<A 10 the Council. This was
agreed upon I'm order that the report pe
not given out by piecemeal.
The doors were then closed, but about
half an hour later Mr. John +. Meredith
arrived. and the doors were thrown open
again
MR.. MEREDITH's STATEMENT.
After the report Of Colonel Smith. the
expert accountant, TO the committee had
been read. which has been previously
published in the columns of The Times.
Mr. j. r. Meredith addressed the commit
tee, and Substantially made the following
statement.
Il can only repeat what I said to the
Common Council and to the Board Of Al
dermen, that / could not balance the
books. When | spoke to Mr. Adams about
the matter nc said that 1t could not be
done on account OF outstanding unpaid
bills. giving as one OF the reasons that
the fiscal year of the Gas-WOrks ended
ON December Slst and that OF the Auditor
on his books on January 5lst. | told Mr..
Adams that I thought that this could be
remedicd. but he replied that the books
had never been balanced before. and
showed this to be the fact from printed
reports 1 thought that that was the
manner in which the books had been
kept and that my predecessor had not
been any more competent than myself.
and that at the time when I took charge
OF the books there was a deaclt Of about
$1,000 I'M existence which had never been
explained to the public
Witness next called the attention OF
the committee 10 the coke furnished 20
the city Mission The city had paid for
this coke $4,000. he said. and never a cent
o. II had been paid over TO the Gas
Works account No appropriation for
coke 70 be given 10 the City Mission had
ever been entered on the books OF the
Gas-W Works, and yet the money had been
paid In 10 somebody. As this coke left
the yard he ISSUED the tickets for ,Ae
same. and these tickets he subsequently
turned over TO Mr. Walsh and Mr.
Adams. lie found this way of procedure
wnen he took his Office and was told TO
continue In the same manner He only
entered on his books the amounts OF cash
received for coke lie was directed 10
keep the books In the same manner in
which he found them. and he never had
any entry 10 make for sales on credit:
such entries were made by Mr. Adams in
MS books. Witness said he held himself
responsible for what he himself took I'm.
received fie did not open the books
when he took charge of his office. he was
only subordinate and was told to keep
the books as he found them. II he had
been superintendent and had the power
ne would have changed the system, for IL
was not the proper one.
city Attorney Meredith next desired
20 obtain some additional Information
from Mr.. John +. Meredith. in regard
10 the dealings In oyster shells at the
Gas-Works. hut he did not succeed IN
adducng any facts that had not already
been published In the columns of The
Times
Witness said he did not think ne kept
an account Of tie oyster shells purchas-
cd up to the time or Mr. Adams death
This account was kept by Mr.. Walsh
lie afterwards explained, however that
ne had a littl, shell account which he
kept separately, charging il up TO the
expense account. lie never paid anybody
for the hauling Of shells. and this must
have been cone by Mr. Adams and hy
Mr. Walsh. he thought that he kept
his coke account right, and he again
expressed the opinion that If there had
been a shortage OF about $4,000 In the
coke account before the year 1891, this
should be gone into and an explanation
about the matter should be given TO the
public.
HOW THE SHORTAGE OCCURRED.
city Attorney Meredith here requested
that Mr. Boudar be called back 10 be
interrogated more closely in regard 10
the point just touched by Mr. John +.
Meredith. This was agreed to-
Ar. BOudar, when Informed OF the
statement made by Mr. John f. Mere
dith, said. that when the books were
turned over by Mr. Warren. the Audi
tor, who preceded Mr. J. r. Meredith.
they were perfectly balanced, but they
were not balanced by Mr. Meredith at
any time he had charge OF them. When
questioned by the City Auditor. how 1t
could have happened that the books OF
tho Auditor balanced perfectly and yet
there was shortage of $4,000 existing
IN the coke account. Mr.. Boudar re-
Piled
"rhe auditor made his entries I'm his
books from the books in the treasurer's
Office, where the Superintendent had
turned over the receipts OF the depart
menL ana, therefore, no shortage could
appear on the face of the auditors books
The auditor, however never saw the
coke or shell-bOOk at the Gas Works
Any bOOk-keeDcr, who had access 10 the
original entries at the Cas-WOrks. could
not have been ignorant Of the fact that
too little money was paid into the treas
ury by That department In some months
less money was paid I'm for coke lime.
tar etc. than had been actually received
for coke alone. The auditor had no
way OF knowing whether the money
paid 20 The treasurer by the heads OF
departments We're the actual amounts
received hv them. Mr. Warren would
not have known Of one dollar OF short
age at the Gas-Worxs unless he went
there and made the same investigation
rs ne himself had recently made.
-. j. =. Meredith next alluded 20
The fact that Mr. Adams had made
monthly reports 10 The Committee on
Light which largely differed from those
pee presented 10 the Auditor II an ex-
animation OF the affairs OF The Gas
Works had taken place ~ the time
when he took charge Of the office OF
iooS-keepor. n shortage of about si6.0
would have been shown At that time
When Superintendent Knowles subse-
0uentlv told him how 70 keep tho books.
he followed his orders and Kept the
books correctlv. This fact was admit
ted hy Mr. Knowles
Mr. Boudar then stated that he did not
think the committee or the public could
hold Mr.. J. 4 Meredith responsible for
any shortage that occurred prior 10 his
taking charge Of the Office When ques-
toned by the city Attorney. he stated
that since the Investigation had been on
the way, he had seen some OF the reports
submitted by superintendent Adams 10 the
Committee on Light. and 10 the City
Auditor. and that they vastly differed
the amounts OF money on the respective
reports not comparing with each other az
all
FINAL REPORT TO-DAY.
There ended the examination OF 1r
Eoular. and Mr.. HlOomberQ Thought II