Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-14
FEUD OF JOINER
AND CUMMINGS
REVEALED
Fire Chief. at Inquiry. Declares
Predecessor -Four flushed
on Hose Contracts.

The investigation of the city fire d.
rsrtment by the special committee Of
council has brought to light an old
seud between Chief w. B. CUMMINGS
and ex-Chief W. r. Joyner. Efforts
90 discount one administration by COM
rarisons with the other consumed most
of the time of the first meeting of the
Investigating committee.
It was shown that the requisition
system of purchasing supplies REQUIRED
Of all city departments had never been
followed by the fire department. In
stead Of asking the comptroller's de-
partment 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
conduct was illegal and it was one Of
the principal reasons he had asked for
an investigation.
Joyner Claims Hose Rebate,
EX-Chief Joyner explained to the
Committee that he got a special ten per-
cent rebate for the city on practically
all hose purchased when he was chief.
Mayor Woodward's charges were based
on the fact that Chief Cummings has
received no such rebates. When Jov-
ner finished his testimony he asked 70
be excused, saying that he lived out Of
the city.
81 am going to say some things here
that may cause some one to want YOU"
declared Chief Cummings.
Gentlemen" began Chief Cummings.
q want to say that this ten per cent
rebate business is all fake. The
amount was added on to the actual
price Of the hose to provide for a grand
fournush."
He showed a voucher drawn just be-
fore the retirement of Joyner showing
that 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
Joyner without mentioning any rebate
Reads Letters as Proof.
He read letters from Nashville, CO.
lumbus 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.
Just after Mr.. Joyner became may
or he sent for me one day" continued
Chief Cummings. HE had letter from
a company that had bid on a piece Of
fire apparatus. the price being $500.
We know you better than we DO
Chief Cummings the letter began. II
he will accept our bid of 5000 and draw
voucher for that amount we will mail
him a check for 500 and he can turn
it over to the city"
Chief Cummings said that last SEN
tence implied "ff you want to" clause,
and that he refused to approve the Did.
There was a clash between Mayor
Woodward and ]. J. Rafter, of the Fab
lie Fire Hose Company. Rafter denied
that his company would make any ten
per cent rebate on hose to the city.
Raises Veracity Issue.
Mayor Woodward declared that Raft-
or had told him he would make such a
rebate and complained that he was I'M
able to get any of Atlanta's business.
lit is a question Of veracity between
Us them said Mr.. Rafter.
Mayor Woodward said he would pro-
duue Witnesses to prove his statement.
Mr.. Rafter later apologized for his
statement about veracity.
The investigation will be resumed
tonight