The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-19
ALDERMEN As LEXOWIzERS.
The Council Spend Most Of The Night
On the GuilmaItil Case.
THE CHARGES DISMISSED.


vestiRation Question: The Acting
City Attorney Decides That It Has No
Authority 70 Delegate the Investiga-
tion TO Outside Parties-The Charges
Brought Specifically Against Mayor
McDonough. Alderman Mcmillan and
Alderman o'Brien-Their Reply-The
Facts AS Brought Out IN the Exami-
nation of Witnesses a Technical vi
olation Of Rule IA, But No Intention
To Defraud Proven.
The city council was in session from 100
O'Clock last night until early This morn
ing. listening TO evidence In the invest-
cation of the charges against IT'S mem
bers. preferred by MI }. T. Guilmartin.
The investigation has fallen fiat So far.Tne
charges were sensational. but the bulk Of
the evidence submitted last night went
10 disprove them. All the members Of
council were present. except Alderman
Charlton and Baldwin. the former being
absent from the city and the latter sick
in bed The crowd which packed the
council room was about equally divided be-
tween sympathizers with and opponents
TO The present administration.
Mayor McDonough announced that the
meeting would take mp charges made by
Mr.. GWlmartin against certain members
OF the board. The charges were read by
Mr.. W. R. Leaken. Mr.. Guilmartins at
torney
The charges cover several pages OF tyne
written legal cap. They charge spe-
chcally that Mayor McDonough, Alder
man Mcmillan and Alderman OBrien
have violated Rule Il by being Interested
In various contracts with he city Mayor
McDonough with having sold the city
lumber and other supplies at prices
higher than tho prevailing market prices
& which the city could have secured them
10 a better advantage. Alderman Mo
Milan was charged with having sold 4
the city sheetnF. lead, nails etc.. al
prices higher than they could have been
obtained for elsewhere. on the same line
Alderman OBrien was charged with
having sold the city live stock al prices
above those which prevailed In the
market. The charges against Alderman
O Brien cover more ground than the
rharges against either Alderman Nc
MILAN and Mayor McDonough. The
charges referred 10 the vouchers and
these were to be produced in evidence
Mr.. Guilmartn charged that when he ap-
piled for permission to put In bid for
such live stock as was wanted he re-
ceived no reply from the mayor TO
whom his letter was addressed and that
soon after Alderman O'Brien sold the
stock to the city at prices higher than
Mr.. Guilmartin would have offered. The
charges specified each item.
Mr.. Leaken reserved the right to oh |
Ject TO any OF the parties charged or
connected in any way with the charges
from sitting in judgment on the ground
that such proceeding would be contrary
70 reason and justice.
Mayor McDonough said that inasmuch
as himself and two OF the aldermen were
mentioned In the charges, he would re-
quest Alderman Mills TO take the chair
In behalf of himself and the two alder
men he wished TO say that not one of
them would vote or take part in the
investigation.
Mai. P. W. Meldrim. representing Mayor
MeDonough and Aldermen OBrlen and
Mcmillan, was about to read the answer
10 the charges. when Alderman Screven
asked permission to read the following
resolution:
Whereas, 1t has been alleged that GER
tain members of this board have violated
its rules to their personal profit and
advantage. and contrary TO the public
interest and welfare.
Be it therefore resolved That the fol-
lowing citizens, namely Messrs. J. D.
Weed, r. D. Guerard, John FlRnnery
Abram Vetsburg and J. r.
by appointed committee. with
power to investigate the charges so al
legged. and to report their conclusions
as speedily as possible, and in the event
that any of the above named citizens
bseline to serve on the committee, the
3,
I'LL vacancies.
Alderman Bohan said he did not think
the fact that certain members Of the board
were candidates for reelection should
have any effect upon their official action.
He accordingly moved as substitute that
the board proceed with the investigation.
Alderman Myers agreed with Alderman
Screven to a certain extent My posi-
tion," he said. 'is a very delicate one. l
do not believe that the circumstances
would in any way effect my official action.
but feel that whatever may do will be
misconstrued. l prefer not to take part in
the investigation and I shall ask to be
excused If the investigation is proceeded
with"
Alderman Wells said that as he expected
TO be called as a witness and probably
every other member OF the board would
be he favored Alderman Screven's resoiu-
ton.
n
substitute and it was lost by vote of
TO 8. Ayes, Bohan, Remshart, Pollard,
nays, Sereven, Myers. Harris, Wells.
Alderman Screven's motion was carried
by the same vote.
Mr. Meldrim. Mr.. Leakin and Mr.. Den
mark, acting city attorney, all seemed TO
agree that II was doubtful if the council
could confer authority to conduct such
an investigation upon committee of cit
liens.
Alderman Mcmillan desired an i'm
mediate hearing and he preferred that the
matter be heard by the present board.
Mr.. Denmark gave it as his opinion
that the council had no power to delegate
such authority as was contemplated in
the resolution. He was not prepared to
give an expert opinion upon the matter
but spoke simply from his general knowl-
edge of law. He said II was a matter OF
common reason that the council should
not delegate to half a dozen, or a dozen
or any number OF citizens to investigate
charges against its members. He knew
of no law which would compel these
members TO go before such a committee
1t is the custom and law for all legisla-