Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-09
Intellectual Effort of Council to Elect
Clerk of Gas.
REPORT OF EXPERT ACCOUNTANT READ
The Shortage in Clerk R. 7. Cooks
Accounts Stated.
GENERAL AND PERSON AL
Evening Star Bureau,
No. so King Street,


doors at the regular meeting of the city
council last night. in anticipation of ac-
ton in regard to the affairs of the gas
Office and the election of successor to
Mr.. r. T. Cook. After taking seventeen
ballots, however, there was election,
and the meeting adjourned until next Tues
day night.
When the board was called to order every
member except Mr.. j. T. Harrison of the
third ward, who is in New York, was
present. General business was taken up
first. There were no reports from the
committees on finance and general laws
A resolution from the committee on streets
appropriating 500 to remove dirt from
the gravel bank at the old canal was
passed resolution introduced by Colo
mel Ficklin of the fourth ward, appro-
priating $500 for repairs to Duke street
from Washington street to Henry street,
and Henry street from Duke street to
Wolfe street. was referred to the commit
tee on streets. Permission was granted to
MIR. d. w. Aitcheson to inclose with boards
the second-story front of a brick building
on the Strand.
The two boards then went into joint
session for the purpose of taking up the
matters affecting the gas office. Hardly
had the meeting been called to order, and
President SnOwden directed the clerk to
read the mayors message. before Council
man Green of the third ward jumped to
his feet and moved that the mayors mes
sage be laid over until the next meeting
without reading, and the election of a
Clerk be proceeded with at once.
The motion is out of order" responded
President Snowden. THE mayor must be
treated with respect and his message must
be read"
What does the message refer to-" asked
Mr.. Green.
1T contains a report of the expert ac-
countant who has examined the books of
the gas Office
After some discussion between Mr.. Green
and the president, the message of the
mayor was read. 1t simply stated that the
report of Expert Bayne was inclosed for
the Information of council The report was
q lengthy one, and consisted of main
sheet and three exhibits. In the main il
confirmed the report made by Deputy
Treasurer NOrmoyle and Auditor Price.
Expert Bayne's Report.
Mr.. Bayne's report showed that he had
made an examination of the books of the
gas office from June 1 to January %. in
elusive. The shortage of Mr.. Cook, as it
now stands. is alleged to be 81 .266. I5 This
is independent of the shortage of 81 ,56sS5.
which was made up and deposited by Mr.
Cooks friends. making the total shortage
since June 1 about s2.s35.64. Ir. Bayne, in
his report, stated that the books had not
been carefully kept, and in periods prior
to June 1 no balance had been taken.
The disposition of the report caused an
other hot debate. Mr.. Green of the third
ward moved that it be referred to special
committee. Mr. Birrell of the second ward
moved as substitute that il be referred TO
the joint committee of light and finance
Mr. Green thought the matter had been be-
fore the joint committee, and said a special
committee should handle it.
President Snowden. without leaving the
cha1r, stated that the report had never been
before the committee on light finance.
and he thought that 1t should properly go
before them.
This is no time for the citizens to be
bamboozled or humbugged,' said Mr.
Snowden- No one feels more kindly dis
posed toward or has deeper sympathy for
Theodore Cook than l entertain, and the
matter should be settled as soon as poss.-
BILE"
Mr.. Green said he did not know that the
report had never been before the Joint com
mittee. and waived his objection
Mr. Uhler thought that no committee of
council had the time to give the matter
proper attention. MIR. Green thought there
might be mistakes IL. the report of the ex-
pert, and thought the accounts should be
examined AGAR. Mr.. Uhler and Mr. Green
mad little tilt aside, and Mr.. Uhler said.
They are not errors
The matter was finally referred 70 tho
Ing. eee-
Mr. Uhler. chairman of the finance COM
ml'tee. introduced resolution directing
MT James T. Bayne, the expert to take
charge OF the books and put them in prop
er shape for the clerk-elect, and it was
adopted- AS the books now stand, 1t is
SAID, no one could take charge of them
A complete new set will have to be opened.
To Regulate the Gas Office.
A resolution was adopted directing the
joint committee on finance and light to re-
port an ordinance at the next meeting of
council to regulate the manner Of settle
mentS of hp he
This Is to be the basis for throwing proper
safeguards around the office
There being further discussion the
erection OF new clerk was taken up On
the hrst ballot there were eight candidates
voted Tor, as follows: Samuel L. Monroe
John II. Strider. NJ. p. Vincent. M. RI per
~. j. H. Raines. j. j. Jameson A n
Thompson and Charles A Cogan. The
Young was spiritless up to the seventh bal
iot, at which time all of the candidates
had been dropped except Monroe and Stri-
der On the eleventh ballot r. H. Cox was
nominated by Councilman Green and re-
celved one vote The last three or four
ballots resulted alternately II to IL in favor
OF Strider and Monroe.
Several attempts were made to dissolve
the joint session. but without avail. After
Ihe seventeenth ballot had been taken
however, II was realized that no election
could be had, and the meeting dissolved
anu Doth boards adjourned to meet next
Tuesday night.
In the meantime the friends of both load
ing candidates are wire-puiling for all they
are worth. '
Police Court
In the police court this morning Mayor
Simpson disposed OF the following cases.
Andrew Jackson. charged with carving
concealed weapons. was fired s.: James
jones, charged with disorderly conduct
was dismissed; VIM Nicholson charged
Win dlsorderiy conduct, was fined $50
knights of Pythias Inspection.
There was largely attended meeting of
Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias. last
night After the routine business had been
transacted the company was inspected nv
Li>ut- Col X. c. Baughman of Richmond
Inc company put up an excellent insnec
tioh ana presented a handsome appearance
Funeral of VIM. warder
The funeral Of the late William Warder
whose death was mentioned in The Star.
took place this afternoon at 2;3O o'clock
from Trinity NJ. z. Church. The service
was conducted by Rev. L. i. Mcnougle and
was attended by a large rumber of the
friends OF the deceased
Brevities.
Mrs. Samuel g. Brent has issued cards