The Portland daily press., 1897-09-13
A RED HOT TIME.
Tic Street Investigating Committee
in Session Saturday.
THEY ASSERT THAT SUPERINTEN-
DENT STAPLES SW0RE.

Mattocks Employed by Alderman
Rounds as Counsel-The Other Mem
bers Say He Must Pay Him-The CITY
Solicitor Turned Down.
The city government committee which
is investigating the street commission
assembled Saturday afternoon in the
aldermen's chamber, city building,
andScontinued the investigation begun
some months ago. The hearings up to
the one of Saturday have not brought
forth very much evidence against the street
commission. To be sure it was testified
that barrel of sand had gone astray but
this was all the evidence that Alderman
Rounds, who is chairman of the commit
tee, and who brought about this investi-
cation could bring to back up his allega.
tiens concerning the street commission.
On Saturday afternoon the alderman
from Ward three came loaded for bear
and fully thirty witnesses were present
from the street department, not all of
whom were examined. Gen. Charles P.
Mattocks was present to represent Alder
man Rounds and conducted the. investi-
cation. From those witnesses examined
not very much material to support the
claims of the enemies of the street COM
mission was brought out but the session
proved to be very spicy one for all that
and at some points it did not lack for
sensational features.
1t was somewhere in the neighborhood
of four O'Clock when Alderman Rounds
walked into the aldermen's room and pro-
ceeded to set the wheels of the investiga-
ton to running. There was some little
difficulty at first in settling the question
of stenographer to take down the evil
dence but this matter being settled Alder
man Rounds raped sharply on the desk
with the gavel and announced that the
hearing was now open.
81 will state for the benefit of the
members of the committee that Gen. Mat
tocks will conduct the case for the COM
mittee and he will now proceed to ex
anime the witnesses.
"Just one moment, Mr.. Rounds" said
Alderman Leighton. Before this mat
ter goes any further I should like to in
quire whom Gen. Mattocks is here to rep
resent2"
''He is here to represent the interests of
this committee" replied Mr. Rounds,
scenting a possible row and raising to
the question as trout jumps for fly.
81 most earnestly protest against Gen.
MottooEc onpaa,incr b.,ro in bo no,
of counsel" said Alderman Leighton.
"The city employs as it's solicitor very
able and honorable gentleman who is paid
for the purpose of conducting just such
Investigations as this and do not see the
necessity of hiring another man to act as
counsel in this matter
81 am not in favor of other counsel be-
ing engaged for this investigation, said
Alderman Mcdonald. "We have city
solicitor who can carry out this matter
to the satisfaction of all concerned and l
do not think it is at all necessary for the
chairman of this committee to go outside
and hire COUNSEL
MAY 1 ask Mr.. Rounds whether you
intend to pay this gentleman S for his SER
vices or whether you expect the city will
pay for them? "asked Alderman Leigh ton
'The city will pay for it, said Alder
man Rounds. 1.-THE mayor told me t..
go ahead and get counsel and have en-
ployed Gen. Mattocks."
"Well the city will not pay for it with
my CONSENT" said Alderman Leighton
"We have city solicitor for this work
and do not believe in paying another
man for the work that he is fully com
petent to perform
At this statement of the gentleman
from ward seven. Alderman Rounds
grew very indignant. "We are here to
examine this street commission business
from the ground up. We intend to make
the investigation thorough one and l
intend to do it If it takes seven months.
/ don't want any one to conduct this
case who is prejudiced in favor of the
street commission to start with. The city
solicitor drew up an order which was
presented by the gentleman from ward
seven at the last city meeting closing up
this investigation and generating the
commission from all blame. He has only
acted in half hearted way in this whole
matter and it is my purpose to have a
man here who can question witnesses and
get from them the truth of the matters
which we are looking into. You can't
shut off this investigation" continued
Alderman Rounds, turning to Mr.. Leigh
ton, land it will go on whether you like