Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1904-05-28
A Vicious Attack Made on Ex-
Superintendent Halsey.
Suggests Editor Of Enterprise for Mayor.

fitzgerald has rather erratlc
mayor.
He has been reelected once
too often, with the result that
a right good citizen has been
spoiled. We have voted for him
each time he has been elected,
and he has some good qualities
yet, but his health is not good
and he is probably imposed on
by fool friends, who, in his pres
ence, magnify his importance
and infi1Seence him to do things
.,x-ar he would probably avoid if
left to himself.
At the last meeting of the city
council, the scene he created in
the council chamber was dis
graceful.
Without sufficient provo
cation he made a vicious
and unnecessary attack
on one of the most useful citizens
of the community. On this oc-
casion the mayor worked himself
into rage and brow-beat the
council until it was only too glad
to drop an important subject
without taking any definite &C.
ton thereon.
The editor of this paper, with
out any purpose to do the mayor
injustice, or even in unkindness,
has deplored his attitude OF
more than one matter that effects
the the city's material interests.
In Artie Jones little" paper,
The People, this week, he writes
the following very interesting
article, and one to which we
have, personally, not the slight
est objection;
Fitzgerald, Ga, May 24-l9o4
To editor of the People,
Will you kindly allow me space in your
paper in which to reply to certain libelous
articles which have appeared from time to
time in the Fitzgerald Enterprise. will
first call the attention of the people to an
editorial which appeared in that paper on
May fifth. In speaking of the change of
superintendent Of w. & L, Plant, the edi-
tor claims that Stephen Halsey was the
victim of a condition that is to be deplored.
The editor then admits that he knows
nothing in regard to his services, whether
they were good or bad nor does he care,
as that was not, as he admits, the purpose
of his able article, but it was simply to
lead the people to believe that the poor
boy lost his job because his politics were
not agreeable to the rotten ring at the city
hall. | will now give a few of the reasons
why the city council did not continue him
in the service Of the city after his term
of three months trial service had expired
Mr.. Halsey's services as superintendent,
began February 5rd, and during that
laonth, or at least the first part of it, he
gave fairly good service as superintend-
ent or seemingly so. About March first,
my physical condition was such that it was
necessary fer me to leave the city for a
tine. | was absent about two months.
AS soo7 as able, after my return, visited
the clerks Office and asked MIR. Rountree
how things were moving. His answer was
that every thing was going wrong in the
w. & L. department; that the expenditures
were twelve hundred dollars in excess of
the receipts for the first four months of
1904, and that one half of the appropria-
ton for 1904 had already been expended,
and that bills were coming in and no mon
ev with which to pay them, and the city
had been obliged to borrow one thousand
dollars in order to meet them. Upon
hearing this, appointed myself commit
tee Of one to investigate the matter, which
did, and my findings, which follow, were
promptly reported to the chairman of
/ We L, committee, and to as many Of the
n council as | could MEET previous TO frst