Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-03
COMMON COuNcn.

4este' q. 4. KNIGHT, Clerk
COMMON COUNCIL.
At called meeting of the Common Cor,
Gil of Alexandris, Va, held Tnesday r.
airy End, 1898, there were present:
Hubert Snowden, esq.,, Presidep+
Messrs. TIimyer, Alton Moore. c n NJ
Strider, Latham, Birrell, Beach. Bril- II =
rison. Greene, Smith. Uhler, White FirrIi.
aud Kelly. : ''A'IA
The following communication was lead
MAYORS OFFICE
ALEXANDRA, Va. FEB. =. 1sq6
To the Hon. City Council of Alexander
Gentlemen-Owingt to the Serious c,rr,,;.,
lions in the affairs Of the clerks ottic. ~ 49,.
city gas works have convened tn - 80
bers OF the City Council this eyenipp =, -
port to them as the representatives OF The ro-
pie, matters that have been brought IN W..
notice, and to report, also that / have ii
day removed hr. r. T. Cook from his NO..
ton ss clerk of said city gas works for mi..
conduct In ottice and for neglect of duty. ~.
denced by the fact Of his cratic dens,,,,,.
from city and from official servic In. w..
slstent silence and continued absel.ce dur.
the period Of great excitement incident Ia l;,
unexplained behavior; viols;ion of the ,go
requiring him to deposit within tween fam
hours after their receipt, all moneys rece,yoi
BY him and general Irregularities in the ,r,,.
agement OF his Office records.
These ara the acts that impel the ras,c,,
Of an old corporation official, and thai TIM.
upon me an unpleasant responsible ity wr.,f
| eau neither conscientiously nor corsi..e-..l..
shirk Mr.. Cook in his report to tDs ~.
Council st its last meeting exposed c.iir,
difference of more than fifteen hurdred III.
lars. between the amounts received snd o-.
posted by him. The discovery TN, d..
rrepancy, Mr.. Cook g irexplicabla alscr Co. All
the general ignorance of our cltz MS ga n,
his whereabouts were more than suficie-- T.,
excite the gravest apprehen rs. and M.
deace born of these fears suggested NJ NM
measures.
The security company in which the ce,s
was bonded was notified n meeting Of ,i..
committee on ilRht Was held, and o S.tum
afternoon, the difference as admit cd by Afr
COOK IN his report was deposited with III c..g
treasurer. I Il Monday morning Jaue.r7 5
1898, l directed two of our bouded otI
Auditor Price and Deputy Treasurer go
moyle, 10 take charge, and Mr. Coos was sun.
moned through letter left at his b III 10 ~.
pear on Wednesday, February =, 1S9s, aha
show cause why he should not be 7, n yel
from Office he failed to appear, and his ii c
is now vacant
The report of the auditor and the deputy
treasurer which is herewith appended demon.
strates more clearly than words of uine. Il,
absolute necessity and vtsl importu,c ~.
throwing around the CLERKS oilic. rigid oil.
vironment of safeguards, for while tbs o'ire
is an exceedingly honorable one. its di.n.ty
IL nowise justities the privileges auc uu-
tramelled Liberties enjoyed By its incum1ea,s.
1t is an office that should be radically .h0n
OF many of its powers. aud il is one il which
reduction of salary could equitably scconpsav
diminution of responsibility. Committee o
Council could possibly thoroughly e1s2in,
monthly without extraordinary abor the ac
counts Of the Office, and thus prevent tie
needless employment of an expert annually
Some one should be an appointed check upon
the clerk of the gas works. aud the a e.
should, at brief intervals, be compelled 10 20
port his deposits with the treasurer aud ms
return of unpaid bills to that some one. ara
thus verify by business system oil youchci.
the correctness Of his official acts.
Respectfully,
GEO. L. SIMPSON, Mayor