The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-12-15
FIRE Chief KEEPS OFFICE
COTNCTL VOTED FIVE TO ONE
AGAINST DISMISSAL.
An Expert Accountant Is Employed
70 Audit Books of City Officials.
Will Take a Census.


Will Take Census.
The session of the city council
Tuesday night was of more than u.s.
mol interest. One of the first mat
tors taken up were the charges J. A.
Sears had filed against w. P. Skel-
ton chief of the fire department, al
lnging that he had continually neg
lected his duties, and engaged in
other business contrary to the laws
of the city.
Attorney M. G. Edwards appeared
for Mr.. Sears and Attorney H. A.
wilkinson for Chief Shelton. About
twenty witnesses were sworn to show
that Mr.. Shelton had absented him
self from fire headquarters much of
the time, and that he had been en-
gagged in running a dray line and So
Letting insurance, and also in col
Letting for an insurance company.
Mr.. Shelton, in statement be-
fore the council, did not deny the
charges in the main, but made an
explanation that was satisfactory to
a majority of the council.
Attorney Edwards, in his remarks,
said both the evidence and the law,
which he read, made out a clear case,
and insisted that there was but one
course for the council to pursue.
Attorney Wilkinson said that it had
not been denied and could not be
disputed that the services of Chief
Shelton had been perfectly satisfac-
tory to the fire committee of the
council, and that the city now has
one of the best and most efficient
ire departments it has ever had
AT the conclusion of the arguments
of the attorneys the mayor and coun-
ell retired to another room for a
private consultation, and upon the
temperance of the body in the coun-
Gil chamber Mayor Marlin announced
the following decision:
I'VE, the City Council, by a vote
OF five to one, decide against the dis
missal of Chief Shelton under the
charges preferred, and he is retained
in the employment of the city"
Alderman McNulty, Hamilton, Da-
Wis, Stewart and Deubler voted to re-
tain the chief, and Alderman Lowrey
voted to dismiss him.
An Auditor Authorized.
After some discussion and tie
vote, which was bro!en by the may
or, Mayor Marlin was authorized to
employ an expert accountant at SIS
day to audit the books of the vari-
Gus departments of the city govern
ment
Aldermen Stewart, Deubler and
Hamilton voted in favor of and AL
dermen Davis, McNulty and LOwrey
against the employment of an au-
litor.
The New York Audit Co., which has
an Office in Atlanta, has been en-
pIoyed to do the work.
Mr.. l.. c. Matthews, southern rep
EeSentative of the company, was in
DAWSON Monday, and entered into
formal contract with the city. The
work OF examining the records Will
De begun on January 3rd.
1t IS understood that the books Of
me water and light department, the
olty clerk and the city treasurer will
be audited.
A Census TO BE Taken
1t was decided to take a city cen
SuS, and Mr.. w r. Cox was employed
10 90 the work at cost not to exceed
30, the members of the proposed
Aiks lodge obligating to pay the eX-
lenses. Under the constitution OF
me Elks lodge cannot be installed
IN town of less than 5000 inhabl-
lants, and the proposed census is for
me purpose of showing population
SSIuIllclent to meet this requirement.
me members of the proposed lodge
nave already been assessed and PAID
NE money with which to pay for the
enumeration.
Two w. nn,,,nuac