Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-10
Office Auditor Public Accounts.
Alexandria. Vs., May s. 1900.
To the Honorable City Council OF Alei

Alexandria. w., May 8. 1900.
To the Honorable City Council otAlex.
apdris:
Gentlemen:-In compliance with that
portion OF q joint resolution OF the Civ
Council passed April 24tb, 1900. as fol.
lows: sand the Auditor is hereby di.
rected to report by what authority the
payments have been made since the
resignation of the City Engineer
| have the honor 10 report that tbers
was and is now money Sufficient and
appropriations svai'sbIe to pay for
street cleaning, The o.. ! work done on
the street since engineers resignation.
That precedent for such payments
existed under exactly similar Cir.
cumstances when last year, following
Mr.. Dunn's resignation, the Mayer ard
the chairman OF the Committee on
streets approved bills and approved
pay-rolls a. shown by vouchers made
part of this report, is shown by the fol.
lowing clipping from the Alexandra
Gazette, Tuesday, May 9th 1899.
sEwRR WoRK-On february 2Slxt,bs
City Council ordered the placing of Ierr,
Gotta sewer beginning at Henry street. and
connecting with that sewer and running
through Whist is known as Grace Church a.
| ley TO Patrick street and thence north along
Patrick sir. ct to the alley on Patrick street
between Prince and King streets, which ser.
antes the property OF DIR. VIM. Gibson and
the Office OF DR.. Herndon and up said alley
about 100 feet For the constructor OF this
sewer 5000 was appropriated, the work hsv.
| ing been started just prior to the resignation
| Of Mr.. Z. y. Dunn. The work ND 10 ls,t
| Friday hsd reached Patrick street at its in.
| tsrsection with Grace Church alley, and mole
| than $500 bad been expended, 1926 for
labor alone. Yesterday the Auditor called
Mayor simpsons attention TO the matter with
| the comment that il was no business OF his
| (the Auditor) to interfere until the sppro.
pration WA exhausted, but it was not plain
lust how this work could be accomplished for
$500 or 81 900. Chairman Smith Of the
committee on streets informed the Auditor be
had nothing more to do With this work han
approving Nth tie Mayor all bills for stree.
WorE.
The carts now employed 90 streets.
the cartmen assisting 10 the collection
of ashes etc., the foreman who EMPLOYS
and keeps time OF workmeD, are e..
sctly the same persons employed q year
ago. In this connection 1t will not, |
hope, be Inappropriate for me to say
that the employ meDt OF street forces
did not rest upon me any more this
year than 10 1899, yet Temporary or
agreed upon measures for carrying On
street work were not then questioned.
would have immediate following
April 10Th, date of Mr.. Dunn's resigua.
ton, conferred with the chairman Of
| the committee on streets, as TO these
street matters, but deferred doing SO
owing to death 10 bis family, and
further, ] was informed just at this
period that Mr.. Grabill was going 10
accept position Of Engineer. 1t never
suggested itself to me that the chair
man of the committee on streets would
not sign psy-rolls, and / determined
not to be Influenced by street rumors TO
that effect, so requested the City Treat
urer TO present the payroll to Mr..
Smith, which was done, and LIE do
cIided to approve it. TIE Mayor then
authorized the payment, and | cor
sidered It sufficient authority in view OF
II the circumstances to issue warrants
In payment, more especially as the com.
mittse on streets had not offered or
made one single move to assume COT
troll,
With due respect TO the committee
on streets, / presume the resolution
was predicsted upon the idea thai there
was no lawful warrant for payment to
street forces. / have never. knowingly,
willingly drawn check unlswfully.
am . bonded officer, 81 is the Mayor
The finance committee, composed oi
n: an able and honorable, are charged
With making An examination of the
books, receipts and disbursements Of
this office, to examine and see tns'
there IL Q proper voucher Or every dol
lar of the peoples money for which
warrant 10 drawn and to whom II Is
psid.
Actuated by q feeling OF duty, re-
sponsibility and accountability to ne
people whose servant l am, / would
gladly have The City Council Instruct
its committee on finance not to pas
the pas roll for this street work, II 10
their judgment this ofice has oee4
guilty of even an impropriety, ana
will make good these payments out u
my own funds.
Very respectfully,
Eff PRICE,