The Portland daily press., 1897-09-13

You are chairman of this committee,
returned Alderman Leighton, with con-
siderable vehemence, "but you can't run
this whole show. You are not the only
member of this committee and the other
two members have some rights here as
well as you have"
Alderman Rounds-"The city solicitor
has taken sides with the party who can
see nothing wrong with this commission.
He wrote the order which had for its
purpose the shutting off of the work of
this committee
eyes, he wrote that order att my re-
quest an d at my dictation," interrupted
Alderman Leighton.
Alderman Rounds raised his voice and
continued to talk when Mr.. Leighton
said: "You can t shut me off. I have
some rights here and 1 intend to be
heard"
Alderman Rounds-"And you can't
shut me off either"
Alderman Leighton-'H you wish to
employ Gen. Mattocks to coach you in
this investigation you may do SO, but you
will have to pay him yourself
Alderman Rounds-s'I won't have to
pay him myself. The city will pay him
for his services. Don't you know that
any bill an Alderman contracts the city
is obliged to pay for?'
Alderman Leighton-' Excuse me, the
city will not pay him for his services. He
will be paid for by you but not by the
city"
Alderman Rounds-"What have you got
to do with it? I say that Gen. Mattocks
is here at my invitation to conduct this
investigation and he will be paid for by
the city. If the alderman from seven is
here to defend this commission 1t Is time
that 1T was known. I asked for this COM
mittee to be appointed to examine the
workings of the street commission. Now
| it is claimed that 1 have brought charges
against this commission which the gen.
| tleman from seven looks to me to back
up. thought that this was committee
Of investigation not committee to try
this case, but instead of investigating the
commission the gentleman from seven Is
defending it and trying to block the in
vestigation. Our city solicitor is in favor
OF the commission and I believe that
some man who is impartial should con-
duct this case"
Alderman Leighton-"I m here to in
vestigate the commission and am will
ing to do SO, but move you, Mr.. Chair
man. that it is the sense of this commit
| foo hot ho \
to conduct this case at the expense of the
CITY,"
| Alderman Mcdonald seconded this mo-
ton and Alderman Rounds was forced to
put it to vote. OF course it passed
| by o vote of two to one and Alderman
Rounds so announced the vote.
Alderman Rounds-"You may pro.
coed with the examination of witnesses,
Gen. Mattocks.'
"Not with my CONSENT" said Alder
man Leighton. GAS I have said before,
our able city solicitor is fully competent
to conduct this case.''
Alderman Rounds-"Our able city
solicitor seems to be very much in favor
of the commission. Gen. Mattocks you
may proceed with the investigation
Alderman Leighton-''Not as attorney
for the city"
Alderman Rounds as attorney OF
the city. He will get paid for his services,
don't you fear"
Alderman Leighton" Then he is act
ing as the attorney for the gentleman
from ward three and with the under
standing that he is here to coach him in
this investigation have no objection to
proceeding"
Alderman Rounds told Gen. Mattocks
to go ahead, but before he entered into
the case Gen. Mattocks said he wanted to
know whether or not it was with the
consent of the committee.
Alderman Leighton" You do not ap.
pear in this case with my consent. We
have an able and honorable gentleman
who is fully competent to represent the
city's interests and who should now pro-
coed with the investigation. I have nc
objection as I have said, to Gen. Mat
! tocks appearing here as counsel for
Alderman Rounds. The city solicitor is
fully as able to conduct this case as any
one and l don't believe he is siding with
the commission.
Alderman Rounds-"How is it that the
city solicitor is here today without iDvi.
tation or summons. He has never come
here at the other hearings unless he has
been sent for? How is it that he is here
today and is so anxious to act as counsel
for this gentleman from ward seven? He
is prejudiced against this Investigation
and intends to defeat its Objects
General Mattocks-"Is it with the con.
sent of the committee that proceed with
this Investigations
Alderman Leighton-"If Alderman
Rounds wants you to represent his inter
ests you may go ahead as far as I am con
| cerned.'
This matter being settled, but with
Alderman Rounds still affirming that the
city had employed Gen. Mattocks as its
counsel to conduct the investigation the
case proceeded. City Solicitor Carol W