Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-09

Sueye were tuC& COIIInlttee VINO We're 10
do the checking thought that perhaps
1t was political investigate they de-
sired and asked time to see my attor-
ney. AT o'clock In. the afternoon re-
piled to them In writing as follows:
To b. r. Cummings and others
Feeling that the movement started by
you for further investigation of my
books is for political purposes request
that our communications be in writing
in order that there may be no misunder
standing between us. Therefore. will
you please make your request in writ
ing and i will give you my answer in
writing as soon as consult my attor-
ney. Yours respectfully,
= n. g. PIERCE.
Mr.. Cummings granted this request,
and replied in writing as follows:
f. G. Pierce, Mayor: What l and
other citizens have requested is simply
the priSilege of examining the public
records kept by you as mayor during
your term of Office including license
stub book, license register and dockets
|of cases, ..B. f. CUMMINGS,
For myself and others.
The next morning i sent Mr.. Cum
mings the following communication:
Mr.. b. F. Cummings, City Dear
Sir: In compliance with your request of
yesterday, beg to inform you that my
books will be at your disposal each aft
|ternoon from p. m. to . p. m. a my
office, room in the court house. Any
citizen who desires may look over my
books and i invite your investigation.
IL this investigation ia to be of a SEMI
public nature suggest that you ap-
lpoint one member OF the committee,
will appoint one. and these two will go
over the books and their report to be
final. If they are unable to agree then
they will call in a third party and a ma
ljority report to be final If this investi-s
cation is to be of a private or political
nature and the report is used for politi-
cal purposes would ask that some re-.
sponsible person sign the report in order
that may be protected from false
statements. Yours respectfully
:. FRANK G. PIERCE
I'm answer to the above communities
lstion Mr. Cummings decided that they
would make the investigation by them
selves, and have during the past few
days done so. Today I have heard ru
mors that they intend TO report short
lage of several thousand dollars and
| their findings would probably be pub
llished in the Saturday Times Republic
can. In view of the fact that such ru-
mcrs have been circulated among the
| citizens 1 feel that. in justice to the citi-
zens and myself the council should
make provision for a thorough and
complete Investigation of all my book .
and accounts An investigation carried
lon for political purposes and a report
Icompiled for political reasons can hard
lily be fair TO me or to the average fair
minded citizen.
Il desire to say further that 1t is only
because of said rumors that make this
Ire1uest My books have already been
Jchecked over by accurate and unpreju-
diced accountants selected BY the city
council. and these accountants have re-
lported everything satisfactory and cor
1lrect. If they are mistaken desire that
such mistakes be ascertained and COR
|rected at once. Respectfully submitted.
FRANK G. PIERCE, Mayor.
Some discussion ensued. in which MIR.
Benson said he was not able to talk in
ltelligently of the previous investiga-
tions of the books for the reason that he
5lhad not been member of the judiciary
Icommitte during his five years az q
l.membersof the council. He didn't believe
4 the examination would consume any
considerable time.
a Mr. Kreutzer said he was not aware
iof the presence of politics in the citizens
4 Investigations, as the mayor claimed
land was sorry the council could MOI
sIhave seen the fairness of the demands
slof himself and Mr. Fisher a week ago
Messrs. Benson and Kirby said the,
4 had been led to believe il would cos
4 $500 to igo over the books for six years
lbut now were convinced it would re-
sIGuire but few days.
4 DR.. Harris offered a motion that ths
a council take steps to secure an oiticia
investigation and that City Solicitor I
= ID. Evans be selected by the council
the mayor select representative ant
q these two select a third to act as a com
lmittee to go over the books. Mr. MIC
CURE revealed an apparent desire 7
have the matter fixed so the inyeSfiga
ton would be white-waShed by oppos
ling Mr.. Evans selection, he claiming
llthat the city solicitor was prejudiced
Or. Harris said Mr.. Evans would suit
q certain element ard that the book
would not lie. Mr.. Kreutzer made {
sly thrust at the judiciary committee
Z by remarking that 1t wos sticksr Z
sIn1nl to KNOW tfldS NIessSTSs. lilIiltiiIkS
!. Evans and others could find discrepan
: cies In the books in two DAYS when TIL
accountants could not in two weeks
!, Mayor Pierce said he would agree t
II Mr.. Evans selection and that he want
: ed the Investigation concluded before h
llwent out of office The Harris motion
-sIwas then adopted. The examination o
: 1.-THE books will not be begun until mex
!. lsweek, as MIR. Evans is in Minnesota ol
! business and will not return until Tues
t day. MIR. Evans will be a valuable mem
/ her of the committee, as he will be abb
TO point out the places where the citi
f zens' committee found its discrepan
q cies.
, REPAIRING GOODS FENCES.
Mr.. Good evidently believes his politi
d cal fences are in need of repair, and O
-lshis request DR.. Harris asked the coun
ll.cil to have an itemized report prepare
: and published relative TO the expendi
! lture of about $4,000 in street ard ale
improvements during the past year
,JCity Clerk Trotter was instructed t
make the report.
A Good Cough NJ edicine for Children
II have no hestitancy in recommend
i Ing Chamberlain's Cough Remedy,
says r. p. Moran, well-known an
/ popular baker Of Petersburg, Va. Nv
have given 1t to our children when trou
!, ble with bad coughs, also whoopin
~ -. 49,