Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-16
Amount of Clerk E. T. Cooks Short
age Definitely Stated.
SAMUEL l. MONROE BIS SUCCESSOR
Councilman BireII Rises to a
Question Of Privilege.
GENERAL AND PERSONAL
Evening Star Bureau,
O@V 1A1f6 oesb
Bell Telephone No, LOG,

Bell Telephone No. LOG,
ALEXANDRIA, Va, February 16. 1893.
At an adjourned meeting of the city coun-
ell held last night Samuel L. Monroe was
elected clerk of the gas, to fill the vacancy
caused by the removal of r. Theodore
Cook. who was found to be short in his &C
counts. The selection gives general salts
faction.
When the council was called together a
message from Mayor Simpson, inclosing
the report of the joint committee on finance
and light, in regard to the figures of Ex-
pert Bayne in the gas Office matter, was re-
ceived and read.
The report states:
"At a meeting OF the committee on
finance and the committee on light, held
Jointly Thursday night. February II. 1898,
at o'clock, at the auditors office, for the
purpose Of examining the report of Mr..
James Bayne upon matters connected with
the accounts of Mr.. r. T. Cook, ex-clerk
OF the gas there were present George H.
Hinken, John T. Sweeney and c. N. Moore
of the committee on light and r. H. Hav-
Ell ner and L. E. Uhler of the committee on
finance. The report and accompanying ex-
city council Tuesday. February 8. were
carefully examined and the following order
was made:
True Shortage Disclosed.
1.-THE shortage or balance of 81, 266. rs is
correct If all the notes were accepted in
settlement of r. T. Cooks account, but as
is evident from the notes themselves and
the books in gas Office, some were given to
pay gas accounts and have not been cred
tied to the persons who gave them, such
accounts remaining open. These notes num-
bered on exhibits as Nos. 4, TO- IL and II,
amounting to SI2.42, are the property of the
city council and must be used to pay the
debts OF the persons giving them, and not
X. I. Cooks shortage.
1t is not clear that notes l. 2 and 3,
amounting to s63.02 have ever been made a
charge against r. T. Cook, and, if not, Mr.
Cook would not be entitled to that amount
as credit; but the committee has decided,
in order to bring about an early adjustment
of the account, to allow Mr.. Cook the
amount credit.
Notes Nos. 5. 9. 7, s. and ID not enter
ing into the books Of the gas office, Mr.
Cook, not being charged with them, is, Of
course, entitled to no credit. 1t Is therefore
ordered that the auditor return them to
Mr.. Cook leaving him to collect the same
These last referred-to notes amount to
$2O3 16, and with the amounts $72.42 and
$63.02 make $33S.60, the amount given in
Mr.. Bayne's report.
The Findings.
1.-THE committee therefore reports that the
amount due the city of Alexandria, as
shown by examination from June /, 1897
to January o. 1898. inclusive, is: Shortage,
81 ,266 70; notes and checks $685.. 80; al
lowed, s63.02 s275.5S due by r. I. Cook,
81, 542.33.
The joint committee reports that there
IS still due the city council from Mr.. Cook
81 ,542.33, subject to any addition that may
be ascertained in the future, should Mr..
Cook have Inadvertently failed to credit
any person on gas or coke account during
no al
1T is further ordered that q copy Of these
proceedings and conclusions be submitted
TO the mayor and a copy furnished Mr.. r.
T Cook"
The report was signed by L. E. Uhler, R.
H. Havener, G. II. Hinken, C. N. Moore
and j. T. Sweeney.
The $1,54233 is a shortage in addition to
the $1,566.S9, made UP and deposited with
the city treasurer by the ex-clerk's friends
some time since.
Balance Due.
Mayor Simpson stated in his message that
Mr.. Cooks friends deposited with the treas
urer yesterday afternoon s1,266.75, leaving
a balance due the city of $275.56
After the report had been read Mr.. John
view of all the circumstances in the case
Mr.. Cook should be given time in which to
make up his deficit, and moved that he be
given one year. This motion caused some
little discussion, as Mr.. Greene wished that
Mr.. Cooks personal note without security
be taken. Mr.. Uhler of the finance commit
tee suggested that the city should have
proper security, and moved to amend. The
motion TO accept note without security was
declared lost, and Mr.. Greene appealed from
the decision of the chair, but the chair was
sustained. 1t was decided to give Mr.. Cook
two years in which to pay the amount upon
condition that he give a note with reason
able security.
Question of Personal Privilege.
Just before the joint session convened Mr..
Birrell of the second ward arose to a ques-
ton of personal privilege. He stated that
since the contest for the office of clerk Of
the gas had come up 1t had come to his
ears that he was reported as not favoring
candidates of certain religion" and he
wanted to brand the story as lie.
II am here" said Mr.. Birrel, "to vote
for the best interests of the city of Aexan-
dria and of the second ward, without re-
gard to religion and any man who says
anything to the contrary tells a damnable
lie and can find me on the outside when
this meeting Is over, ready to stand up for
what l say.
The two boards then went into joint ses-
sion. Messrs. John H. Strider, Samuel L.
Monroe and DR.. Julius Dievelt were placed
in nomination for clerk of the gas. On the
first ballot the vote stood: Monroe, 10;
Strider, 10; Dievelt 1. This gave Mr.. Mon
roe the number of votes necessary to elect.
There being no further business, council
adjourned. and the ENHANCEMENT In the gas
office. so far as ex-Clerk Cook is concerned.
is closed.
Fined for Fighting.
Richard Harlow and Martin Quinn were
fined $3.50 each by Mayor Simpson in the
police court this morning for fighting yes
terday in the electric railway waiting
room, at the corner Of King and Wash
ington streets.
Attempted Robberies. :.
An attempt was made last night to rob
the drug store of Mr.. c. ]. w. Summers,
at the corner of Duke and Alfred streets.
The would-be burglars were scared off,
however, by Officer Wilkinson, who shot
at them twice He was unable to capture