The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-08-30
WHY DON'T
- Al DVA
THEY ANS WEIR?

What did the jaunt of a number Of thu
City Councilmcn and other city officials
to jamestown and Buffalo, New
York, cost The taxpayers of the city7
This is the question the public is much
! interested in and the question which has
been asked time and again on the streets
Since the officials started on their trip,
! Nobody knows, that is, some of those
| who took the trip and We're asked last
night what ii cost said they did not
know. Yesterday the report was current
on the street that the trip cost the city
$1,000. This sum was said to be mora
than any trip taken by city officials ever
cost before.
A man who is in position to know.
says the trip cost the city $1,000. II the
money drawn to pay expenses was all
spent. his is the story he told: THE
trip cost the city $1,000. The day before
the party started on the trip two checks
were drawn. one for 81, OO0 the other for
5000. The check for $1,000 was drawn to
the order of Clerk of Council William
l.. Hamann. The 5000 check was drawn
to the order of Councilman Thomas NJ
Monaghan :.
When asked by whom the checks were
drawn and who signed them this maH
said "I'he checks were drawn by Clerk
of Council Hamann, and signed by him.
Then they We're signed by President OF
Council Blaine, City Auditor Boughman
and City Treasurer Feaster."
When asked to further explain matters
the man said: This proceeding was of
the usual order on such occasions. The
money is not drawn by order of Council
as body. Some Of the members get
together and by a tacit understanding
agree to have the money drawn"
If this is the case, and the authority
of information is unquestionabe such
action Is illegal.
Knowing the interest Of the public in
the matter just at this time when tho
taxpayers are vitally interested In tho
matter Of public expenditures, The Sun
detailed q reporter to find ont the facts,
if they could he ascertained. Acting
upon the information furnished the re-
porter questioned all the officials whoHpsaas
it was reported had signed the chetKX
City Treasurer Fcaster was the first
one approached on the subject. He said
he had not signed any checks for the
pa. iSHL VI tAlTllSts VI iIle tIllb. w utu
the amount of the reported expenditure
on the trip was referred to and in the 4,
course of further conversation, Mr.. Feas.
ter said: Il did not sign checks for that
amount" When asked if he had signed {
checks for any sum he replied: NO not
for that purpose
MIR. Hamann was spoken to next.
'Ar. lamann, who was the treasurer
IN the trip he WAS asked
Il do not know" was the reply.
What did the trip cost Z" Y
why do you want to know that?"
Because | have been ordered to get
Information on the subject
81 cannot answer
Did You draw checks for S, 200 to pay =.
he expenses"
Il cannot answer
Th" n"St man approached was Coun-
ilman Monaghan.
What did the trip cost?' he was
sked II
Il do not know; you will have to ask
ach individual member e., ~
Then each person paid his own ex-
enses?"
YES"
Did not tn" trip cost the city any.
hingI
II would not like to say that"
'Mr. Monaghan, | am going to ask I,
NJ a point plank question. Was check
n 500 drawn to your ordcr? =
81 will not answer that"
"Thc matter was then broachnd to y
resident Blaine. a
"Mr. Blaine, what did the trip cost" &
as the reporters question.
81 do not know"
"Did you sign checks for $1,000 TO pay IVA
10 eXpcnses:'' 3
"No." 70 r w
did the trip cost the city anythiny?"
ut cost the city very little" &
Mr.. Blaine said that so far as he
lew no checks for the amount stated \ IS
ID been drawn, and that if they had "a
Ven drawn it would have Ind to have III
en cone by action Of CouEcil.
City Auditor John Boughman was then "a
ked about the matter.
"Mr Roughman did you sign checks
r the payment of expenses on the trip
the city otficialsi
''Yes."
How much?" sI
'fon will nave to ask the other people
out that Why don't you ask them?" g
II hav" talked to some of them about
] am talking to you now" %
We'll, if they will not tell you can
t say anything about it,"
This WAS the result of the reporters
est for information.