The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-06
BROWNE VERSUS BRASHEAR.
THE LATTER CHARGED WITH vto-
LATING THE CITY CHARTER.
Mr.. Brownies Vote ON the Double
Header BiH Fully indicated.
A Lively Meeting.


IN the Seeotd ward last night at the cor
ner OF st. Emanuel street and Commences
aN enuc. He charged Mayor Brashear with
several violations of the city charter and
with diverting to other funds money that
should properly have gore to the street
paving fund, notably tie $4,000 premium
on bsnds issued fer street paving purposes
and $4,000 collected from the street rail-
way company for paving between their
tracks. and IN his indscriuinste dismiss
sal OF members of the rolice force and the
fire department for political reasons no
had repeatedly violated the terms of The
civil service provisions OF the charter. In
this connection he read the civil service
provision of the charter. which says tnat
men shall be dismissed only for cause and
1t does not specify political opposition as
sufficient cause for removal,
l1e charged that there was diserepan-
cy OF $4,000 between the reports oil tne
treasurer aud the auditor. the mayor liz
his recent message stated that year ago
the floating debt of the city was Soz,VVV'
on November To- 1899. the auditor submit
ted a sworn statement to the state comp
troller that the floating debt OF Houston
was at that time $l3S,365.70. With TINS
steady increase from the first OF the year
1899 10 November, 1893. yet three months
later, the mayor with his magic wand,
says presto change! and the entire foatlns
debt was wiped out.
But in the auditors sworn statement on
file with the comptroller at Austin ~ Is
stated that there Is a credit OF S3o,ouu
against the floating debt. and this sSo,oVo
constitute notes for money due by .ne
street railway company and which mas
no more right to so as credit against
the floating debt than would the S5uO,ooo
secured on bonds for sewer purposes
In connection with the opening up oil
Lyons avenue. in the Fifth ward, the may
ors organ having charged that MI
Browne could not produce the proof 10
show that he had overed to donate TO the
city free OF charge the land through nus
property sufficient to open the street.
provided the street was run through the
center of the block. he read statement
from Messrs.N Aubertin and McAughan
both of whom were then members Of the
council, representing the Fifth ward,
stating that they distinctly remembered
+ that Mayor Browne did submit such a
proposition to the street and bridge COM
mittee.
| Mr.. Perry Collier. the treasurer OF the
| legislative committee of the railway en-
4
| introduced to the audience and said he de-
sired to refute tAe charge made by Mayor
/ Brashear and his supporters, that Mr..
| Browne had voted against the interest OF
] the railway employees when he voted to
refer the double header bill to the railway
commission, The speaker was at Austin
all during the session of that Legislature
in the interest OF, this bill. He was there
as a representative of the railway en-
ployes, who opposed the double header
system. No man IN Austin rendered tht
speaker and the legislative committee o.
the railway employees more valuable ser
vice than Hon. John T. Browne. and II
voting to refer the matter to the railwa!
commission he had voted Just as the rail
way employees had requested and desired
him TO vote and ninety three other mem
bers of the Legislature have voted the sam
way in the interest OF the railway EN-
ployes Of the State. The speaker read
letter from one of the officers Of the Or
der OF Railway Conductors, No. Is, o
Temple. thanking Mr.. Browne for his yer,
valuable service at Austin in helping tn
railroad employees of Texas carry the bi!
along the lines decided upon by the repre-
sentatives of the employees who were en-
sneering the bill through the legisla
ture.