The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-06-23
Does Not Think Charges Warrant
ed Removal of Comptroller
Geo. 7. Morgan.
THE COMPTROLLER
WAS RE-INSTATED
Mayor Bliss Makes Another Sem
sational Charge.
SAYS He THINKS CITY HAS BEEN
SYSTEMATICALLY ROBBED FOR
YEARs-coUNcIL TAKES Ex.
cEPTIoN TO cHAReEANo CALLS
FOR PROOFS WITnfMNE xTrEN
DAYS.

At a special session of the Civ
Council which convened yesterday al
noon, City Comptroller Geo. T. Nor
gan, who was removed the day preyi.
Gus by Mayor Bliss upon three sepa-
rate charges, was exonerated and re-
fnstated in his Office.
When the council met there were
present Mayor Bliss and Aldermen
Bars, Ging1es, Hays, Maura, Muldon.
Reilly and Wright, constituting a
quorum The mayor stated the object
OF the meeting to be to hear the charg.
es which he had preferred against the
comptroller, these being for wiIlfuI
neglect Of duty by absenting himself
from the city; drawing warrants for
fraudulent claims against the city;
and not having his bond approved by
the mayor.
The meeting was an interesting
one, and there were large number OF
spectators In fact the hall was al
most filled, and at frequem intervals
the marshal was compelled to call for
order that the speakers might be
heard.
Alderman Muldon, who took a prom
inent part throughout the proceedings
was the first to arise. He asked for
the opinion Of the city attorney upon
the charges fled against the comp
tIoller, as to whether or not they were
legal.
City Attorney Jones stated that,
without investigating the matter, he
thought the first two charges, that of
drawing warrants for fraudulent
claims and for absenting himself from
the city without permission of the
mayor were sufficient cause for re-
moval. or rather were good charges,
but that the last, that Of not having
his bond according to law was not, in
his opinion, good charge
Mr.. Muldon then moved that the
| investigation proceed. Mr.. Morgan
entered plea of not guilty to all of
the charges, and the clerk proceeded
to read the first charge. that of viii
fully absenting himself from the city
without permission of the mayor.
Mr. Morgan in this connection stat
ed that he had gone to Mr.. Bliss,
shortly after his election as mayor.
and told him that he was going to
/ leave the city for his health, but that
he had secured G. L. Shines to attend
to his clerical work. Mr.. Morgan
/ also stated that he called upon Mr..
Reilly, chairman OF the finance COM
mittee, and asked the latter if there
was anything connected with his de-
partment that he (Morgan) could per.
| form before leaving, and was told that
there was not Mr.. Morgan contended
that he stood upon the same plane as
an alderman, and that while he had
notified the mayor and others that he
| intended taking vacation for his
| health. that he haGi the right to leave
the city at any time that he might
| choose.
Mayor Bliss Replies.
Mayor Bliss then replied to Mr..
Morgan. He said that he had met Mr.
Morgan in the Office or the clerk or
| tax collector and that the latter told
him he was going to leave the city
but did not ask him for permission to
do so. The mayor said he did not
think the comptroller had the power
| to appoint some one to act in his stead
| In fact no such authority was vested
| in him. If, said the mayor the comp
troIler had the authority to appoint
some one to act in his stead for two
weeks. he had the right to appoint q
man to serve one year, or In fact dur
| ing his entire term The mayor
thought that the absence Of the comp
| trollsr for two weeks was Sufficient
| cause for removal.
Those Warrants.
Regarding the charge OF issuing