Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-30
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
The Condition of the Local Gas
Works.
why the Plan Has Not Paid-Other
News of General In
teFest.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 500 King street,
Dbl fAlo@h@-@ THO

Bell telephone Io6.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. March 30. 1898.
Some weeks ago, it will be remembered,
Mr.. L. E. Uhler. chairman of the finance
committee, stated in the city council that
there was something wrong in the working
of the city gas works and in the manner in
which the accounts of that branch of the
eitys revenue were kept. He introduced a
resolution calling upon the clerk of the gas
to send to the city council statement
showing the exact condition Of the ac-
counts from June to January Is. On the
day that this report was presented to
council Mr.. R. T. Cook. the clerk of the
gas, mysteriously disappeared from the
city. This report showed it's face a
shortage of some 81 800. which amount was
made good by the friends OF Mr.. Cook al
most Immediately When the account was
examined thoroughly. however, Mr.. Cook
in the meantime having returned to Alex
andria, an additional shortage of some
81 200 or 81 800 was found. This amount,
with the exception of about $500. was made
good by Mr.. Cook. and the incident was
considered closed. A new clark was elect
ed to take charge of the office. The books
of the office were found In such tangled
condition that it was next to impossible to
do anything with them. An expert ac-
countant was employed and instructed to
straignten out the books from the begin
ming of the fiscal year to date. This he did.
When his report was submitted to council
there was an apparent shortage of about
$500. which included the amounts already
mentioned -s-
There had been so much talk about the
gas works not being on a paying basis and
bringing no revenue into the city that Pres
ident Snowden of the common council de-
termined to have further investigation
of the books Of the gas Office, in order that
o conclusion might be arrived at to just
exactly what the gas works have done
during L period of two years prior to June
!, 1897. So he introduced resolution di-
accountant should
examine the books and straighten them
out. balance them and put them in shape
for this period. This work has been coil
cluded, and the report of the expert will DE
submitted to the council at its meeting in
April, and It is stated that MIR. Bayne, the
expert. has found additional shortage
of 81 400. making a total of about 81 $40
that Mr.. Cook is short in his accounts for
period of two years and half, and it is
said that cursory examination of the
books shows a shortage prior to this period.
When Mr.. 81 Owden introduced this reSo-
luton in the city council it caused quite a
warm debate, the friends of Mr.. Cook APP
parently not desiring a further investiga-
ton of the books of the Office. Mr.. Snow
den stated. however. wTen he introduced
the resolution that it was not his inten-
ton to 'persecute OF prosecute Mr.. Cook,
as he did not believe that any money could
be recovered en- the bonds. inasrnuch as
the accounts of Mr.. Cook has been passed
upon by an expert examiner and the COM
mittee on finance had accepted them as
correct.
1t Is not believed that any steps will be
taken looking to the collection of this al
legged shortage. nor will any steps be taken
to oriminally prosecute Mr.. Cook.
From this condition CT affairs. found
by an expert accountant in going over the
affairs Of the gas office, it is now believed
that when properly conducted the gas
works Will bring in q good revenue to the
city, II once did.
Mass for Maine Dead.
Solemn reuuiero no reDOSe of
the souls of the gallant sailors who lost
their lives the United States battle
ship Maine in Havana harbor on the 18th
OF February. was celebrated in ST. Mary's
Roman Catholic Church At 8 O'Clock this
morning by Rev. Father Cutler
The flag the Young Mems Sodality
Lyeeum building has been flying at half
mast all day in honor of tie dead sailors.
Police Court.
In the police court today Mayor Simp-
son disposed of the following cases: Nelson
Hodge and James Peterson, two small
boys. charged with jumping on and off
trains of the Washington Southern Rail-
way Company. We're fired $3.50 each.
Sunday School Officers.
The Methodist Protestant Sunday School
has elected the following officers: Super
irtendent. Fl. NJ. Hantzmon; assistant su-
perirte H<ient. n. s. Greenaway; treasurer,
tHdTleS HlntZHlGil, secretary, Richard Hit
tenour; organist. Miss Bette E. Keys;
assistant organist, Miss Bertha Seiders.
The school is in prosperous condition,
having six officers. twenly-eight teachers
and I'D scholars roll.
Death of Mrs. Hogan.
Mrs Kate Price Hogan. wife Of Mr.
William Hogan, n well-known and highly
respected Alexandrian. died at her home in
Del Ray last night after a painful illness.
Hogan n 1onprhfar of he lat
r. Price of this city.
II. T. Cook Resigns.
meeting of the city democratic COM
mittee held in the office of the city
auditor last night. The resignation of X.
T. Cook as member of the committee
was received and accepted. Mr.. Cook had
for some time been secretary of the COM
mittee. Mr.. Fred Birreli of the second
ward vas elected to Till the vacancy in the
committee and Mr.. Gardner l.. Boothe was
elected secretary.
Suicide Still IN Mystery.
The body of the unknown stranger which
was found by Capt. Davis of the tug boat
ID. Boss Lenox Monday has not yet been
identified, although every effort is being
made by the police to do so.
I'VE, the jury. find from the evidence be-
fore US that the male stranger found on
the deck of the tug boat D. Boss Lenox
toll shot wound. apparently inflicted by his
own hand" was the verdict of the cor
oners jury in the case of the unknown
white man found dead tug boat at
Aitcheson's wharf at an early hour Monday
norning. as told i'll The Star of that date.
The evidence before the jury did not
throw any light the mans identity.
After being out short while the jury,
with DR.. Julius Dienelt foreman, brought
In the verdict as above
Probably r. y. Kaufman.
As stated Monday, the trousers worn
by the dead man were purchased from H.
Pelzman. Washington tailor. the suspen-
der buttons bearing his name. Inquiry at
the tailor shop by reporter for The Star
developed the fact that a pair of trou-
sers answering the description of those
worn by the dead stranger were made for
man, who gave his name P. J. Kauf-
man, and were delivered October T. 1897.
The MAJ who bought the trousers did not
give any address. but stated that he was
from the south and had just arrived In the
city.
In looking through the pockets of the
Gead mans clothes again yesterday, Cor
nr.Ar &c Ia