The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-03
The GAS-WORKS SHORTAGE.
CONTINUED from First Page)

agreed to bid. and tried to get Mr.. Mont
gomery, to bid five and a half cents per
bushel but Mr. Montgomery declined, and
told him that he only proposed 20 bid at
live cents a bushel, and that money could
be made at that figure Therefore Mr..
Smoot bid only four and seven-eights
cents per bushel. The contract was
awarded 10 Mr. Smoot by the Gas Com
mittee, they not being informed OF the
deliberate fraud that the Superintendent
and their chairman were perpetrating up
on the city under the cover OF Mr.. Smoot
name ur MOI never delivered load
Of shells under that contract. How long
Mr.. Adams continued TO share In the
fruits Of this fraud your committee cannot
tell: for II was proven that shortly after
the sO-called Smoot contract was made
Adams sold his carts 20 Mr. Grimes. From
that time until the committee, in March.
1898. orc ere that no more shells should be
bought, only MIR. Grimes and Mr.. Walsh
delivered shells TO the Gas-Works The
evidence submitted not only shows tha>
this contract was obtained in this frau-
dulent manner but also that II was exc
cuted by the beneficIaries under IT In a
manner equally as outrageous and frau
dulent.
a visit TO the Gas-Works. and a view
Of the enormous pile Of shells there at
this time. although none have been pur-
chased since March, 1888. will show that
the city. under the so-called Smoot con-
tract was buying. not according 70 hef
needs. but In compliance with Mr.. Grimes
desire TO sell. But n still stronger proof
OF the gross disregard shown by MT
Grimes as TO the city's interests. where
they came in conflict with his own VIII
appear by a calculation and comparison
a.I...a t.I.N INHt.fHI
in the Auditors office OF the payments
made by the city for shells purchased
under the Montgomery and the so-called
SmOOt contracts respectively Under
the Montgomery contract II appears that
the shells delivered from January, 1922 TO
December OF the same year amounted TO
G2 S25 bushels: from January. 1894, 10 Oc-
tobcr. 1894, a period Of nine months. there
were delivered 1900 bushels of shells.
Under the so-called SmOOt contract from
October T. 1894, 10 the latter part OF
March. 1898. a period Of not quite SIX
months. there were delivered 6s 1913 bush
els Of shells. This Unsuitable desire Tor
shells was increasing about the time that
the necessity for ime was decreasing. as
the water-gas plant was being developed.
In the above comments your committee
bas only presented the salient facts deNel-
opcd 10y their investigation. As the evil
dcnce taken before them Is also herewith
returned. an opportunity will be had by
each member of the Council 10 form his
own judgment as 10 the weight and et-
feet OF that testimony.
THE CONCENTRATIONS
Your committee deem II their duty 20
present the following concl%ions and
recommendations:
1. That by the late W g. Adams the
,ff.r has bqgfl rohhgf OF 80. ,i54. "a.
o That the stealing could not have con-
tinued for the length Of time IL ala had
MIR r. Walsh, the foreman. done his
duty. or had Mr.. J. 7. Meredith done his
duty as book keeper
8 Outside Of the amount stolen. as
above mentioned. the city has been robbed
by the coke allowed 10 be- taken by the
man Townes. with the knowledge and
consent Of the said T.. j. Walsh
T. That Mr. ". J.. Knowles. the present
Superintendent. acted properly and for the
interest Of the city when he discharged
Mr.. Walsh.
E. That the contract with Nir. Mann
was in Violation of law, and that Mr..
Mann knew that IT was such violation.
6. That while the evidence shows that
Mr.. Mann performed the contract openly
ard according TO its terms. yet ne de-
serves censure for having knowingly vio-
lated the law.
That Mr. John r Grimes, although
chairman Of the Gas Committee, assisted
I'm violating the city ordinance forhidding
employees TO give orders on their wages
That I'm so acting he realized on his
money not only usurious hut a cruei
rate Of interest.
.. That for his personal benefit ne as
sisted in having the fraudulent contract
for shells made with Mr.. Smoot.
TO- That under that contract me- WINE
chairman OF the Gas Committee. sold TO
the city quantity of shells far beyond
its needs.
Your committee feel constrained In the
light Of the evidence before them TO rec
ommend that Mr. Grimes be called to the
bar Of the Common Council, OF which
branch he is now member; that he be
asked whether he desires 10 offer any owl
dence to disprovc that submitted by yoW'
committee: and that the Common Council.
after hearing such evidence as Mr.. Grimes
NAV offer. shall. IL Mr. Grimes fail 10
disprove the above charges and the evil
dence herewith SUBMITTED m support OF
them, expel HIM by vote from among lis
members. We are,
Very truly.
MARX GUNST Chairman,
w r. WOODY.
SOL. l.. BLOOMBERG,
SAMUEL If. COTTRELL.
CTWAY s. ALLEN.
MINORITY REPORT.