The herald., 1896-02-01
Park Matters Will Be Then
OverhauIed
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Meserve Is on the Cards to Go for a
Certainty
A nan Already Slated for the Superintendency.
The Incumbent's Brother viii Be on
Hand With Stenographer

The board of park commissioners yes
terday set next Monday morning as the
time for inquiring publicly into the various
charges which have for some time been
floating about, affecting Superintendent
Elmo 4. Meserve's management of park
affairs.
Superintendent Meserve is to go. OF that
there is now no question. He will not re-
sign his position, but the cards have been
stacked for him to be decapitated, and tho
investigation next Monday is what in the
vernacular Of the street is termed bluff.
The various charges against the superin-
tendent, stripped of generalities and laid
bare to the surface, will. it is stated upon
the best of authority, develop the fact that
Meserve permitted $3.50 worth of pots be-
longing to the city, to be used for period
of three or four days by private parties,
and that, too, without his knowledge or
consent and with the knowledge of one H.
V. Bard. the foreman at East Side park,
who incurred all of the present trouble and
who is alleged to be slated for Meserve's
position.
The board of park commissioners passed
a resolution at the notorious blind session
held behind closed doors last Saturday
evening that no attorney should be per-
mitted to be present, and this rule was yes
terday made to apply to the new inquiry
to be held on Monday. This was intended
to keep away Ed Meserve, the superintend-
ent's brother, who is a lawyer and pretty
good one at that. Ed Meserve will, how
ever, be on hand Monday morning, and,
being a taxpayer aud citizen. will insist,
if compelled, upon his rights. He will be
accompanied by a stenographer. who will
take down every word of testimony intro
duced.
1t will be developed during the investiga-
ton that not one, but several members OF
the board of park commissioners have
used the citys conservatories at their own
homes upon frequent occasions, and it will
also be proven that Elmo r. Meserve has
been the best and least expensive superin-
tendent of parks the city has ever had. All
of these things and more too. it is claimed
by Meserve's friends, will be brought out
on Monday. But in spite of these things,
Meserve is to go. 1t has been so written in
the book of politics. and that book, when
there is an election pending. never lies.
Deputy City Attorney Crutcher, being
called before the board yesterday, ad-
vised that under the law. no park moneys
can be spent for any purpose, without an
authorization from the council.
On the recommendation of the superin-
tendent, the time for Watchman W. P.
Myers to be on duty at Westlake park was
fixed at from 9 80 a. m. to 6 80 p. m. As
a result of this action there will be no
police service at the pa after night. The
Superintendent reported that Two carpent-
ers are making benches to be used at Vest
lake. He also reported that he contem-
plated the re-seeding of lawn at the sime
park, planting chiefly white clover, as it is
the orly recourse against bermuda and
salt grass.
The superintendent was directed to
cause the removal of the shrubbery about
the small summer house in front of the
new bandstand at the park.
The attention of the lard was called to
the fact that the recent storm washed out
the gravel on some of the walks at West
lake park. The superintendent said he
now had several teams hauling earth to
remedy the damage done, and asked
whether he should continue the work. He
was so instructed.
The secretary was directed to give
Councilman Snyder of the supply commit.
tee receipt for two horses furnished the
park department by the supply committee
of the council.
Su 1erinteudent Meserve made the fol-
lowing statement of the finances of the
park department:
The auditors books show the condition
of the park funds to be as follows. at this