The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-08-25
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MAKES
 REPORT ON BRIBERY CHARGES

pecuniarily in the purchase of the gravel
 pit. In their investigation of that ques-
 ton they received information from
 seevral sources that city officials other than members of the Council had been
 sought to be induced to use their influence with the Council or the members thereof for consideration, to purchase the Car ter gravel pit; and while 1t was not con- templated by the resolution itself. so tar as appears from the wording there of. that this committee was to investf- gate the action of any other city off, i ficial in reference to the purchase of the gravel pit than the Aldermen, 1t became necessary to investigate the action of othr city officials in order to ascertain
 whether those city officials used any ini- proper influence upon the Council.
 This committee has had before it a. number of witnesses. many of whom knew nothing of the source of the rumors upon the street attributing improper motives to the City Council. These witnesses were not summoned at random, but upon information in many cases that these wit nesses would be able to give the commit tee the necessary information for them to trace the origin of such rumors. The committee invited the cooperation of the citizens of Montgomery to enable them to ascertain all facts in connection witii the sale of the gravel pit. and although the examination of witnesses was con ducted in executive session. not one per. son other than Mr. John c. Carter ar- peared voluntarily before the committee to help 1t In its investigation.
 It was ascertained on MT. Carr's exam nation that there was a report that the City Engineer MT. D. w. Ford. and the Superintendent of Streets. MT. A. Camp bell Jones, had been offered at time prior to last April. the sum of $500 by MT. John c. Carter. for their assistance in the sale of his gravel pit to the citys It appears from the testimony that Mir. Ford was to use his influence with the Committee upon Gravel Pit by recom- mending to them the Carter gravel pia: that Mr. Jones was not to seek to in- fiuence the committee, as a committee. but he was sought to use his influence generally among his friends in the Coun- ciL It appears. though, from the sworn testimony of the City Engineer and the Superintendent of Streets. that they de- clined the offer made to them for their help on the sale of the gravel pit, and both of them testify that they have had no interest in the sale of the pit and that they have never sought to influence any member of the Council for It's purchase
 Mir. John C.. Carter. owner of the pit. appeared before the committee volup- tarily and made a statement at length upon his pit, and upon the alleged Of CTS by him of the sum of money men-
 
 denies most positively that any offer eve~ was made by him to Mir. Ford or to Mir Jones, or that any Alderman was to .rr ceive, or had received, any benefits or consideration for his assistance, or his recommendation. of his. MT. CArters gravel pit The commit- ftee reports back to the Council the evidence as stenographically taken, and M will be seen that every witness under- went close and thorough examination. particularly Messrs. Ford, Jones and Car ter. and the question is presented of an anirsnAtion hy one party that an offer was made to city officials and denial by
 the other of such offer. which makes it question of veracity between individuals the determination of which question Is not by the resolution referred to this Committee. We have. however, investi-
 gated with all the care that we are able to bestow, the conduct of the aldermen
 in reference to this gravel pit, and VIC are convinced that no improper influences
 were brought to bear upon the Aldermen in its purchase. the two members of the
 Committee voting against the purchase of
 the gravel pit and the one member voting for 1t, coming to the conclusion unani- mously that the reports in reference to the Aldermen being improperly interested
 were circulated by parties from what ap- pears to be a vicious motive.
 As to the advisability of purchasing this gravel pit, under the circumstances exist ing, some of which have been known to the Council, and some of which appear to
 have been disclosed for the first time in
 the testimony before this Committee, we shall have something to say further on,
 but as to the necessity of the city pur- chasing a gravel pit for it's own use. in- stead of buying gravel at a rate per cubic
 yard. for repairing its gravelled streets
 and maintaining other streets in the city,
 the Committee have come to the conclu- sion from the testimony, that it Is a
 matter of economy to purchase and own its own gravel pit. We quote an extract from the report of the City Engineer
 made October 1. 1901: 'In my last annual report mentioned that ] was investigat-
 ing the feasibility of the city owning it's
 gravel pit and gravelling the streets with
 the regular street force. find that this
 is entirely feasible, and from an econom-
 ical standpoint advisable. It is
 necessary that repairs be made to the gravelled streets immediately as they are
 badly worn. and gulleys are being washed | in them" We quote further an extract made from the report of the Superinten- | dent of Streets. at the same time: |" All | of said gravel streets are still in bad con-
 dition for the want of proper material to
 streets, namely. Houston. Washing
 ton, Bainbridge. Montgomery, Me Donough. Mobile and Bell. are
 sadly In need of repairs. and should have gravel to repair the same as soon | as your Honor and the Council can see
 the way clear to furnish same" Extract from the report of October 1st, 1902, ffo7a
 Superintendent of Streets: The gravel!ed
 streets are in very bad condition, and
 should be repaired as soon as possible be-
 fore the winter rains set in.
 have requested the City Engineer to also call your attention. and that of the Hon
 orable City Council. to the urgent neces- | sity of having material to repair these
 streets From these reports, and the
 testimony that has been brought before
 this committee we are of the opinion that the purchase of a gravel pit is not only | advisable, but it Is practically neces-
 sity. The Department of Streets have,
 m the last three years, been expending approximately $20,OOO a year upon the l streets within the city, and we are in- | formed that reports of other years show
 an excess over that amount. 4 large part
 of this work done and money expended
 was for the purpose of hauling earth and | dirt at great distance and at considerable
 expense the reports of the Superintend-
 ent of Streets showing, year by year,
 month after month, that the same places have been worked and repaired over and
 over again. If the streets be repaired with a fairly permanent material. while
 the initial cost will be about the same or
 possibly somewhat in excess of the cost
 of repairing with earth hauled, yet the total cost within a number of years, say