The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-01
Mr.. KEH0E LEAVES THE BOARD
RESIGNED BECAUSE OF THE SCAN
DALs AT THE CONVICT CAMPS.

ana COnSl0eFe0 Resignation his
Only COurse-Leaves the Matter to
the Public-supt. ChapIin's Report
on the Missing Fornge Brought Up
the DiscussiOn-Mr. w. ID. Sim<ins
Elected i'm Place of Commissioner
West Whose Place Was Declared
Vacant-COunty Poor Fund Re-
duced Again to $1,000.
Commissioner William Kehoe Of the
Board of County Commissioners, rendered
his resignation as a member Of that body
yesterday, and just after electing a new
member, the board finds Itself with an
other vacancy on its hands.
MI Kehoe's resignation followed spe-
cial meeting of the board held yesterday
morning to discuss certain matters such as
tine county budget, and the invitation from
the Fulton County Commissioners to tie
convention of county commissioners to be
held in Atlanta, July 20.
At this meeting Superintendent W. r.
Chaplin made report with reference to
certain forage ordered for the convict
camps. which Commissioner Kehoe charg-
ed. had never been received by the couu-
~. Superintendent Chaplins report with
reference to that matter was as follows:
II respectfully beg to submit my report
on the bin of Messrs. J. NJ Dixon & Co..
for purchases made I'm May for account of
live stock, and which was referred to me
for an explanation of certain items con-
tained therein. The items are for purchases
or May 4, one sack oats, one sack BRAN
IA ha1 10 ba ,f
May 5, ten sacks of corn.
AS to the items charged on the second
! beg to say that they We're sent to my
stables for use of a horse belonging to the
county, and engaged in road and bridge
work. 1t has been customary to keep n
horse in the city for this work for the past
eighteen months.
The horse was sent TO No. 3 camp on
or about the 9Th of May, and the balance
of the forage is etill in my stables to be
req when occasions require a horse 10 he
kept in the city to facilitate the work Of
the county.
For an explanation of the other items
l respectfully beg 10 refer you to the
monthly report of the quartermaster at the
farm camp, who accounts for all the
items contained in the bill Except that
hlch went to No. camp. and about
which there Is no question: except that ne.
states that he being absent from the
camp when the corn arrived there on May
A. he Is unable to state positively whether
there were five or ten sacks of corn That
there We're ten sacks of corn received on
that date submit a statement. showing
the amount of corn received fed ana on
hnnd when an account of stock was taken
which explains itself. 1 have the honor to
be, etc.
Following this report are several certif-
Gates and bills showing the amounts of
corn received, used and still on hand
Connected with Supt. Chaplins report was
also a report showing the total cost of
Dale avenue to have been $l219l64 The
cost OF the Augusta gravel used on the
road was $556,67. The cost of convict
labor was included in the total and other
items were hauling, hire of engine and
engineer fireman, transfer charges, and
other like expenses. The road Is surfaced
Tor a width of twenty-four feet and is
about two and one-eight miles long
After the report had been presented at the
meeting numerous other papers connected
with 1t and relating to other matters.
Chairman J. ]. Dale asked whether they
should be read or received as information.
Commissioner Kehoe objected to the latter
course and there the discussion started.
Commissioner Kehoe took up several
questions connected with the county con-
NiCN NdulpSI CHARGING lndl the eOfNtflisS-
toner's had been derelict in their duty to
permit the existence of such a state of
affairs as now exists.
He referred to the recent purchase of
Augusta gravel for paving the county
roads. Before any of the gravel was
used he said, the Augusta people stated
they could deliver it for about S1.10 per
cubic yard. When the board started to
use 1t he found it had been billed at SIP
instead of $1l0 and after a short time the
price had increased to $1.30. No notice
was given the board he said and the
members of the committee were not con-
suited, but the whole arrangement was
made In private by Mr. Chaplin and Mr.
Dale. Some $4,000 or $4,000 has been paid
out by the county in this way, he said
He stated also that he had frequently com
planned of the loose unbusinessiil1e way in
which the matter was conducted, but with
out avail.
while we employ an engineer as assis-
tant superintendent" he said, "he has
never been allowed to measure or inspect
one carload of gravel
Mr.. Kehoe stated that Richmond coun-
ty paid Is cents a cubic yard for the
gravel while Chatham county paid 81 80
The freight to Richmond county was Sc
a car and to Chatham SIS. There are
twenty cubic yards to the car This, it is
figured out, makes Chatham county pay
II cents per Cublc Ndlu more AOI the
gravel than Richmond county pays for II.
Chairman Dale referred to the gravel
question as ancient history.
Commissioner KehOe then took up
matter relating more closely to the con-
vict camps. There was a fragrant case
of immortality there he said which he
reported tc the chairman. No punish
ment was injected The captain of the
camp for his own protection sent the
negro man out ON the works several days
afterwards. but the superintendent, he
said, ordered him right back to the free
dom of the camp.
''Wheu | assumed the craftsmanship of
the committee on chaiu-gang," Mr.. Kehoe
said, Il Investigated that case, and order
ed the man to be put at hard labor for
the balance of his time. and told the cap
tain TO tell the superintendent Of that or
der when he came out. 1 reported to the
chairman of the board the next morning
what ! had dCne He said that was all
right though he would not punish a man
for that. The man was never sent out
tn work and was 1tsCha rgp1 two 5a We