The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-01
WARD WANTS INVESTIGATION Birmingham Mayor Ac- cuses the Aldermen. BuUlnRIc PAVING AGAIN He Goes After Messrs. 0'Neill and Bufnstt. Declares He win Net Appoint the Lat-
 ter |, Csnnittee. No Matter
 whst l. Drsusht

{. Birmingham, Sept. so.--(speciaI. )--- the warmest municipal light ever bee fore witnessed in Birmingham. was thrown today at noon when Mayor Ward filed letters with City Clerk J. c. Murray, asking for an investigation into the ofYlcial conduct of Aldermen John w. O,Neill. of the Second Ward. and R. D. Burnett. of the First Ward, as members of the City Council An official investigation is asked tempt ito hold up and practice graft in connection with an ordinance which proposed to pave sixth Avenue from Fourteenth to Twentieth Streets, North"
 It is also asked that an investigation be made into the character and com duct of R. D. Burnett, Alderman from the First Ward, and also an investf- gation into his qualifications to sit on The letter of the Mayor is as fol- lows:
 Birmingham. Ala. Sept 90, 1901. 'sTo the Hon. Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham, City:
 "Gentlemen--I hereby ask for anin- vestigation into the entire matter of laying the bitulithfc pavement in the city of Birmingham; also an oficial investigation into Alderman John w. osNeilPs alleged attempt to hold up and practice graft in connection with an ordinance which proposed to pave Sixth Avenue from Fourteenth to Twen- tieth Street, north.
 eff this investigation is ordered. suggest that committee of three from your Council be appointed by the May or. I further suggest that citizens committee composed of James Bowron, F. M. Jackson and Frank Nelson. Jr.. be appointed to act with the alder manic committee and help form its re- port. Said citizens committee Is given every privilege and right enjoyed by the aidermanic committee not prohib-
 sRespectfuily.
 George B. Ward.
 Mayor"
 The letter concerning Alderman R. D. Burnett follows:
 'sBirminghams Ala, Sept. 30. 1907 'sro the Honorable the Mayor and AL
 dermen of Birmingham. City:
 .GentIemen--As Mayor of the city of Birmingham I hereby call for an in- vestigation into the character and con- duet of R. D. Burnett, Alderman from the First Ward; also an investigation into his qualifications to sit on this board.
 Numerous aIIeeationeof graft of the grossest kind communicating since he took his seat on the board are being made.
 "For the infArmation of the public and in view of r past record, I wish to say that no matter which way this investigation results, I shall decline to appoint this Alderman on any com mittee. Respectfully.
 George B. Ward.
 Mayor"
 While Mayor Ward was off on his foreign trip a majority of the City Council took charge of things and up- set all plans of the young Mayor. John L.. Parker was elected President of the Council under the new municipal code adopted recently by the Legisia- ture and things in general were run with a high hand. Calls were made by Aldermen for an investigation into paving contracts, among others AL derman O'Neill asking that the paw ing matter be looked into carefully.
 Alderman O'NeiIl said today he was willing for thorough investigation into the paving contract and that 1t would result in some one being sent to jail He said that the Mayor was doing him an injustice and that there would be a turn in the affairs in the next few days.
 Alderman Burnett is out of the oity and could not be seen in reference to the charges. It Is understood that the Mayor intimates that Alderman Bur- nett is not living in the ward he rep resents.
 Several hundred thousand dollars worth of paving contracts have been given to the Southern Bitulithic Com pany. whose headquarters are in Nash vile, Tenn.