The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-08-19

CiTY COUNCIL ADOPTS REPORT
CENsURING PARK BOARD.

- Special Committee Unearths a
Whole Loe Of Crooked Work-WIrl
Make Further Investigation.
charleston. Aug. 11.---At the regu-
'or meeting OF the city council today
all minor matters were forgot by the
Hrge crowd OF spectators In the read
ins OF the reports from the board Of
Dark commissioners. from the COM
mittee on city afairs and the supple
msntary report Of the committee on
cry anairs City council moved that
shs report of the park board be re-
ncsived a. information and published
without the anidavits attached: that
the statements Of Chairman L.apham
and Secretary Jsfords be published
and that the report OF the committee
On city sRairs b adopted and publish
"a. The supplementary report was
tecsived ~ Information and ordered
Zoublishsd.
An adopting the report Of the sps-
c>n1 committee on city Affairs the re-
\ eenmendations contained were given
IN tDrce- They are. In bries. that
city eeuncif require that the park
r>ooard Immediately dismisss sec secre-
sAry. Mr. w. q. Jsnords. and that the
committee bs authorised to employ
an sspsrt bookkseper. II they require
H. 70 ascertain the shortage In park
board nnances which the committee
feels sx,sts: that the park board be-
required 10 cooperate with the special
Ccommistee In further investigation.
and that an questions put be answered
~ the park board members. upon
pain Of request by city council for
their individual resjgnations.
There was little discussion OF the
! various reports presented and read.
Mayor Rhett presided. After the read
nag of the minutes Of previous meet
ing In July. the report OF the park
board was read. In keeping with the
regular order. IL was moved and
carried that the report be received
and published without anidavits.
~ Alderman Pinckney. chairman Of
: the special committee. then read the
delayed report Of the committee on
city ansirs- II was adopted and or
6srsd publishsd. after some discus
s1on about publishing the testimony.
The supplementary report Of the
p1committss was then read by Alder
zen Pinckney. Il was received a. In
formation and ordered published.
The statements Of Messrs. Lapham
and Jsaords were not read. but were
ofdtssd publishsd. itEf
~ special meeting Of city, council
|'1n yuly an attempt was made by the
tpnmittss on city Affairs to, present q
rsDors which contained some -
charges Of irregularities in the man.
assment OF the parks Of Charleston.
City council refused to received the
report. but had 70 nied and made ac-
, csaBibls TO the members Of the park
board commission In order that they
might prepare . reply.
This afternoon the reports were
made public. A summary Of the re-
port Of the special committee on city
a6Rairs II - follows:
Tho Honorable the Mayor and Al
dsrmeu Of the City Council OF Char
lesion. o. c.:
The committee on city affairs. ap-
sointed by council to investigate the
various city institutions, boards and
examinations. commenced their work
" investigating the board Of park
commissioners. there having been GER
tain amdsvits placed In the hands of
the committee setting forth Irregular
issss In the management Of the parks.
The Irregularities set forth In these
afndavits when summoned up are an
follows:
The padding OF pay rolls.
The use Of employees paid by the
city on private property.
The purchasing Of farm imple-
ments and hardware for private use.
bills for same being paid by the city.
Purchase OF horss by the city. used
exclusively for farm purposes on pri-
vate farm.
Large quantities Of manure bought
for use on private farm paid for
by city.
Lumber owned by city taken and
resold to city. also to outside parties.
city not receiving any money there
for.