The herald., 1896-02-04

minute of time in that nursery. He was
never in 1t except on Sunday. We are pre-
pared to show that he never received any
benefit from the parks. nor any of his
family, not even 30 much as roseslip to
plant"
I'm any matter which comes up the
commissioners are entitled to judge
whether such acts on the part of subor-
climate are matter of'which they can take
cognizance and whether 1t is sufficient for
any criticism or not" said the mayor.
;, "Let me say right -here," said Captain
Cross. II want to say fright here, Mr.. Me-
serve, that your whole text seems to be
made UP Of tho charges against. your
brother, and want to say that the most
serious charges that have been made have
been made against the commissioners"
"The city council is your SUPERIOR" an
swered the lawyer. "Mr. Meserve's supe-
riors are yourselves; you should investigate
him, and the council should investigate
you. You should demand that"
THEN THEY ALL FELL DOWN
"Where do these charges emanate from
that are made against the commission.
ers?" questioned Commissioner Post.
"Not from any member of the Meserve
family, that's dead certain" replied Ed
Meserve.
"Our duties as park commissioners are
very plainly marked OUT" said Captain
Cross, land want to say that this is all
out of order. The matter is, to try Mr.. Me-
serve. as park commissioner. He is
strictly under our control, and do not see
as we are to hear evidence and take evil
dence; or to listen to the expounding of
the law by learned gentlemen, or anything
of the kind. 1t seems to me we are gen.
tlemen properly authorized to act upon
this matter, and there is no occasion for
/ fn hat Mr.
Meserve gets justice, or any other gentie-
Let's take this up as business matter"
well. Captain Cross, do not know who
called this investigation here today. This
investigation is called publicly. Over forty
men have at a large expense to the city
proceed. Now, the position is right here.
If the investigation is called. and is to be
held, hold it. If you have nothing to inves-
tigate, il no member has preferred any
charges against him, or has iptmated that
he has done wrong" Ed Meserve got no
further.
Commissioner Cross broke in with,
"Well, whatever is the best Judgment Of
the board will be done"
$50 far as l am concerned" said ex-
Mayor Workman, ~ would just as soon
have this investigation go on
as not. have no particular
reason to hide anything, but have some-
WudG UeCOIne COIVlUc6Q Ill ToRdTu 10 tQ0
matter. l want the investigation to 60 on,
but it would take a week.
II don't see that there are any charges
preferred to investigate. haven't seen
anything OF the kind" persisted Captain
Cross.
"This meeting" said the mayor, "is in
pursuance to motion made at our last
meeting. Certain matters, Irregularities,
or rather disposition, perhaps, to neglect
on the part of the superintendent have
been in question. No charges have ever
been made.''
''Charges of neglect are the worst charges
that can be made" remarked Ed Meserve.
1--WE demand right here that you investi-
gate publicly these charges"
"No charges have been made, but the
members of the board have rather felt that
there has been little negligence on the,
part of the superintendent" said the
mayor mildly "that he has not given that
time to the parks, perhaps. that he ought,
and there has been a little spirit of stub
the board individually or collectively, and
yet at the same time the whole fact is
summed up and has its foundation in that
the superintendent has engaged in busi-
ness for himself, which, in the opinion of
the members of the board, Is not in line
with the idea Of obtaining the best results
from an official in that capacity"
1.-THE most serious charge know against
Mr.. Meserve," safd Commissioner Work.
man, "is going into the nursery business,
where such business would be in conflict
with the city, and also of neglecting visit
ing the parks, or attending to his duties"
''Mr. Workmun," asked Ed Meserve, ''do
you make the statement that he has neg
lected the parks, and has attended to his
private business?"
"Only from the evidence of the fore.
man." was the reply.
"Well, let's have the evidence pro-
duced," said Meserve. "That statement
was lie. Was Mr. Elmo Meserve per-
mitted to be present when they made that
statement? No. he was not present,"s
"What are you going to investigator"
again asked Captain Cross. "You will see
there are no charges here. | have not
seen any. The kind of investigation you
are doing is on the street corner. IT any
member of this commission has got spe-
tendent, make them. My motion is to de-
fer any further discussion OF this matter
until the charges are preferred in the reg
ular way. You will oh admit that is the
proper mode of investigation"
The discussion was taking very ram
bling turn, with no daylight anywhere in
the distance, and it bade fair to continue
indefinitely. Every member of the board
was half inclined to move that the park SUI
perintendency be declared vacant, but not
one possessed the requisite courage for the
purpose. After Captain Cross had freed
his mind about washing dirty f,mily linen
in public and Commissioner Matthew iced
had told the board how he had cautioned
the superintendent from dcvoting too
much of his time to "those dirty politicians
about the city hall'' instead of doing his
official duty, motion to adjourn until
Thursday morning, which will be the reg
ular park meeting day, prevailed.
Tho members of the board ore now up
tree, and Superintendent Meserve is to
them collectively more obnoxious than
ever, yet they have not the courage to
forcibly resign him. Those who do the
thinking for the municipal administration
favor Meserye's immediate decnpitation,
and this may be secretly agreed upon
within the next AS hours, to Ee formally
m tiff ad in Ct,a,, r,,oatipr of thn L,, rd IN