Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-11

perintendent, who instructed him TO go
on with the management OF the ahairs
In the same manner az had been done
before Whenever he sold coke he placed
a ticket. giving the amount. In a locked
tin box after entering the respective
amount on the srub-book In the eve
ming he would settle up with the foreman.
TO whom he turned over the money. some
times smah discrepancies would occur
and he remembered that on one occasion
s. had been stolen from him. which he
had lnadyentblyy left exposed TO view,
at another time he discovered a surplus
| Of $50. At the expiration or month
the coke Journal was added up. and this
was mostly done by Nr. Adams. IL there
were discrepancies Mr.. Adams would
usually call attention TO this TACT Mr
| Adams wrote all monthly reports himself
so far as they related TO receipts. Mr..
Meredith said he never saw any checks
! that had been received for sales. When
| he asked MIR. Adams about the monthly
receipts. so that he might enter them on
| his books, the latter would hand him
I slips In Mr. Boudar's Auditor Warren's.
/ or Mr.. Adsms's handwriting. He had III
that time the utmost confidence In Mr..
| Adams, and he had no Idea that he, would
be used TO that extent.
COULD NOT BE BALANCED.
! When he tried TO make out balance
/ sheet Mr.. Adams told him II was no use 10
attempt that, for he could not balance with
! the Auditor. lie did not suggest 10 MI
Adams that this was an improper way
| OF book keeping. FOR he did not want 10
dictate to him. He was not indebted to
Mr. Adams for his position, but TO Mr.
William 5. Gunn and Mr.. r. NJ. Taylor
who secured him the appointment by the
committee. He kept the books and ac-
| counts In the same manner as had been
| done before he received the position.
Mr.. Grimes then explained tMr. Waller
| stein in the chair under what circum-
stances Mr.. Meredith had been elected
! book keeper. Prior TO that the books had
been kept either In the Auditors office
or between that office and the gas-works
by clerk who received $50 per month.
At the same time a young man was IN
charge of the coke department at the
! Lower gas-works who received $40 per
| month When both positions became va
| cant by death OF the incumbents the
| committee decided 10 CON- - ~" two
places by appointing book-keeper at
a salary Of 81 per month. and Dir. Mere
dth received the position.
Mr.. Boudar next went i'm detail over the
figures supplied by him. and showed how
Mr. Adams In stated time paid over
$1,000 into the city Treasury In excess or
| the receipts which he had reported 10
the Committee on Light. lie clearly de-
| monstrated that these monthly reports OF
the Superintendent TO the committee could
not be used by him az guide.
When asked how the money appropri-
ated to the City Mission for coke was
paid. Mr. Boudar stated that Mr.. Adams
would call at the Auditors Office for a
warrant covering the amount or the APP
propriation, and would afterwards present
this warrant at the city Treasury as part
payment OF whatever amount he desired
to pay in. The amount or coke appro-
priated by the city Council always bal
anced with the coke Delivered 10 th'
ladies' OF the city Mission. The deiicien-
cles in the figures dated back as far as
1886, and IL Mr.. Meredith had pursued the
regular course I'm posting his books daily
any disagreement would have shown M
the end OF the respective months. As
long as he made his entries from the
slips furnished him by Mr.. Adams this
could not be done.
Mr. Meredith here stated that he had
never had anything 10 DO with the receipts
from the coke appropriated to the City
| Mission.
MIR. WALSH'S STATEMENT.
.lr. --.lomas j. Walsh, the foreman
OF the Lower gas-works. was then asked
Mr.. Meredith turned over to him ever,
night the money which he received du
r,ns the day ir thra put the inune,
I'm the safe and turned IL ever to Mr.
Adams once a week, either on Wednes
days or Saturdays. He had nothing Il
do with the keeping OF books. and h'
never took receipt from Mr.. Adam:
for the money given him. BE mad nc
control over the sale of tar and liquor
| 81, nnfshn ..rQ word
TO the correctness Of the amount OF tai
and linuOr obtained. He never kept ar
account OF the money handed him by
MIR. Meredith.
SHOULD CONSIDER WELL.
Mr.. WallersteIn here moved that an adj
! journment be taken in order that thu
committee might consider the report.
Mr.. Noble opposed the motion, and
stated that the facts laid before the com
mttee in the report were positive. The
foreman and book keeper had had an OPP
portunity for an explanation, and 1t wac
due 10 them as well as TO the public, thai
prompt action be taken by the commit
| tee.
Mr.. WaIiersteln insisted that the com
mittee should duly consider the matter
and that the City Attorney should be ask
| ed 10 be present AT The next meeting. Mr.
Branch also spoke In favor OF careful
consideration and postponem mt OF action
Mr.. Noble said the committee DID not
look at the matter in the proper light
There had been charges preferred against
these two employees. and pending these
charges Il was impossible for the mel
to remain in the employ OF the city. The
matter was also n very serious one FOL
| the committee. as they had been dere
let in their duty lie therefore thought
the committee should continue the inves
tigaiion until a result had been reached
Mr. WalIerstein was of the opinion thai
the two employees had made their ex
cuses and that the committee should TAKE
time to think over the matter. lie dis
claimed. as a member OF the committee
that the latter had been derehct. There
had been a disposition among the mem
beers to investigate and improve the gas
works. He referred to the fact that tbs
| committee would. for instance, have con
tlnued paying about 500 per month fol
| oyster-shells II this had not been stopped
BY certain members some time ago. There
was at present a supply OF shells or
hand that would last perhaps for hy'
| years To come.
THE COMMITTEE DERELICT.
Mr. Noble. In explaining his formei
statement. said that the committee should
nave ascertained thoroughly the condi
ton and affairs OF the gas-works whei
they first took charge of the same. Il
had just been shown that at different
times Mr. Adams had paid several hun
dred dollars more into the city treasur,
than his receipts called for. and II h.
was now living he would perhaps be able
TO explain the circumstances.
Mr. Davis also dlsclalmed derelictior
| on his part and pointed out that abou
A wear ago he had tried In vain 10 taxi
certain appointing powers from the su
perintendent and vest them In the com
rnittee He thought every man on th'