Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-09

tiles involved in the auditOFShip. THURSDAY
of last week Mr., West sent for me and
asked me about my connection with tho
tile company, and ! went over tho matter
with him fully. Nothing was said about
the authorship, but on Friday was In
formed that the Commissioners had trans
ferred me to the auditorship. When Mr..
West told me OF this stated to him tina.
it was question to which would nave 70
give very careful consideration: that 1t
would entail pecuniary- loss to me. as II
took the authorship, would feel that 1t
would be necessary for me to absoluteiy
sever all my connection with the Wasning
ton Asphalt, Block and Tile company
which was one Of the contractors for Dis
trict work.
II made this statement because feit that
as the head of the auditors ofnce, where II
would be necessary to settle possible ds-
putes regarding vouchers, 1t would pe
wrong for me to retain any connection with
a possible contractor. I had never felt that
this was SO, nor had any OF my supef1ors
while / was simply subordinate IN the
auditors office. Mr.. West urged me to ac-
cept the authorship and I agreed to give
the matter earnest consideration. Monday
I had further talk with the Comm1ss oner
and told him again that had not decided
that could agree to the transfer because
of the necessity of making forced sale OF
outside interests. Mr., West then told me
that the Commissioners considered that II
would be impossible for them to make any
contracts with the Washington Asphalt
Block and Tile Company, even though
remained on the board of personal tax as
SCISSORS. l told him that this put new
phase on the question and that at a meeting
of the company on Tuesday night would
take up the question with the company.
was again urged to accept the authorship,
and on Tuesday night I made an arrange
ment with the tile company by which
utterly and absolutely severed every and all
connection with the organization. This was
done naturally at a considerable financial
loss to me. I will state further and most
emphatfcally, that was never an applicant
for the position OF auditor; did not desire It,
and only finally agreed to accept 1t because
I understood 1t was the strong desire of the
Commissioners that the changes arranged
should be made. I am perfectly satisfied in
my present place and have stated to the
Commissioners that they cannot please me
better than by selecting some one else to
succeed Mr.. Petty"
MIR. Macfarland's Views,
The Commissioners are very frank about
the matter.
Il desire to say" said Commissioner Mac
farland. president Of the board, that /
never knew that Mr. Mckenzie was con-
nected with any corporation contracting
with the District of Columbia until Com
missioner Biddle informed the Commission
ers of the fact last week. The Commission
ers determined then that no contract should
be made with any corporation having a
District official among its officers or
among It's stockholders if we could ascer-
tain that such was the fact. Also, that Mr..
Mckenzie should be notified that If he re-
NAMED in office and did not retire from the
Washington Asphalt Block and Tile Com
pany 1t would not be given the contract for
next year. AS the company was the only
bidder and the bid was satisfactory and
reasonable. and as Mr.. Mckenzie, having
accepted the authorship. promised to leave
the company at an early day, saw no OBJ
lection to accepting the bid, with the under
standing that the contract must not be
signed until after Mr. Mckenzie was out
Of the company, If he remained in the serv-
ice Of the District of Columbia
Mr.. Vests Statement.
In Commissioner Vests statement of the
affair he reviews the course Of the Com
missioners in dealing with the suditur's
Office since the discovery was made Of Wat
sons defalcation to the extent Of $4,000.
While my mind was absolutely clear
upon the point that there ought to be a
change in the Office of auditor" said Mr..
West, because the stealing, which had
been going on steadily for nearly four
years must be prevented from happening
in the future, I realized that Mr.. Petty
had given the service Of nearly third OF
century to the District; that during all that
time there had not been the slightest impu-
tation upon his personal integrity, and that
there was not the least suspicion that he
had personally profited by Watson's thefts.
More than this. felt that Mr. Petty
was a man who had grown old in the serv-
fce being now between sixty-seven and
sixty-efght years of age Under these cir
cumstances, it seemed to me to be a wise
thing. II some other place could be found
for him, not to cut him off entirely. I was
very glad, therefore. when it occurred to
me that I could accomplish this object by
transferring Mr.. Mckenzie from the board
OF personal tax assessors to the auditors
office and put Mr.. Petty in his place. l
that Mr.. Mckenzie had very. gladly ac-
cepted transfer from the auditors office.
because he was not given an opportunity
to make needed reforms
Il consulted with a number of prominent
business men, and received the most hearty
assurances of Mr.. McKenzie's integrity and
capacity. All these facts were brought to
suggested the change, and. they agreed
with me as to its wisdom. 1 understand
that there is, In some quarters. criticism
for showing Mr.. Petty consideration and
given the reasons for my action, and ac-
cept the fullest share Of responsibility
for it.
about the time that this change was de-
cided upon, just a few days ago." continued
Mr.. West, 1.-The fact was brought to my at
tention for the first time that Mr.. McKen-
zie was financially interested in an asphalt
paving block company, which had large
contracts WIN the DlStr1Ct. Commissioner
Biddle asked me to look into TIE matter
sent for Mr. Mckenzie. thougnl that it
was new thing. but, to my surprise,
found that the state Of affairs had existed
for eleven years. the first contract with the
company dating as far back as 1892 Mr.
Mckenzie told me that all my predecessors
In office during that long period, as well as
the treasury officials. had been acquainted
with the facts. and had not interposed the
slightest objection.
Il told him I was not satisfied and that,
Whether he became auditor or whether he
continued as personal tax assessor, I
would not approve a contract with COM
pany with which he, as District Official
was connected, and that I felt sure the
Commissioners would join me in that ac-
ton He assured me that he had not
while acting as auditor, ever participated
In the payment of money to his company.
and agreed to resign his position as sec
retary He asked for a little time to dis
pose Of his stock. saying that a forced sale
would mean a pecuniary loss to him, and
that he did not believe II would be right
to make merely nominal transfer. I ap-
preciated this honest view of the matter.
''The matter rested there until yesterday
afternoon. when there came to my desk
for approval the acceptance Of the bids
OF the asphalt company. declined to act
upon them. directing NV aoerefnrv IN folI