Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-13
Of JOINER
AND CUMMINGS
REVEALED
Fire Chief. at Inquiry. Declares
Predecessor "F0ur-fluShed"
on Hose Contracts.

The investigation of the city fire d.
r..-nant by the special committee Of
council has brought to light an old
fen. between Chief W. b. Cummings
and ax-Chief W. r. Joyner. Efforts
20 discount one administration by COM
-.r.s7ns with the other consumed most
If The time Of the first meeting of the
investigating committee.
II vas shown that the requisition
system of purchasing supplies required
n all city departments had never been
followed by the fire department. In
stead of asking the comptroner's de-
nsrrmeut to secure needed supplies, the
officials Of the fire department always
have gone ahead and bought them
without consulting the comptroller.
Mayor Woodward declared that such
corduct was illegal and it was ono uI
the principal reasons he had asked for
an tnya s;igatiOn.
Joyner Claims Hose Rebate.
Ey-Chicf Joyner explained to the
committee that he got a special ten per
cent rebate for the city on practically
a" hose purchased when he was chief.
Mayor Woodward's charges were based
on the fact that Chief Cummings has
received no such rebates When JOY
ner finished his testimony he asked 20
Be excused, saying that he lived out Of
The city,
u am going to say some things here
that may cause some one to want YOU"
declared chief Cummings.
Gentlemen" began Chief Cummings,
Il want to say that this ten per cent
rebate business is all a fake. The
amount was added on to the actual
price Of the hose to provide for a grand
tourdush."
He showed a voucher drawn just be-
fore the retirement of Joyner showing
that "a ten per cent rebate had been
granted. He said that when he became
chief the next month and asked for
prices on hose from the same company,
the Southern Betting Company, they
quoted him the same net secured by
Joynec without mentioning any rebate.
Reads Letters rs Proof.
He read letters from Nashville, CO.
um5ue and other cities to prove that
they had secured better prices on the
same grade Of hose from the same
company than Joyner had secured for
Atlanta.
Jus after Mr.. Joyner became may
or Doe sent for me one day" continued
. chief cummings. He had letter from
Il company that had bid on a piece Of
1ra apparatus, the price being $500.
We know you better than we DO
ca.af Cummings the letter began. If
be win accept our bid of 5000 and draw
h voucher for that amount we will mail
pin check for 500 and he can turn
q it over TO the city"
Chief Cummings said that last sem
fence implied IF you want to" clause,
land that he refused to approve the Did.
There was a clash between Mayor
Woodward and J. ]. Rafter, of the Fab
p Fire Hose Company. Rafter denied
That his company would make any ten
per cent rebate on hose to the city.
Raises Yeracity Issue.
Mayor Woodward declared that Raft
had told him he would make sucn
Fs5s'o and complained that he was UNI
be TO get any of Atlanta's business.
is question of veracity between
,hen." said Mr. Rafter.
n Mayo Woodward said he would pro-
a Witnesses to prove his statement.
Mr. Rafter later apologized for his
iemgnt about veracity.
The Investigation will be resumed
r.sht