Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-13
PROOF LACKING
BUT CITY GRAFT
RUMORS GROW
Continued From Page I

more IMAM II HOal|NA A0t AlAf A'tfAAN 80
tain joosters are undertaking "a
thrust upon it-and that 500 600 Ger
tainly IS going into somebody's pocket
who is not entitled to it,
Il understand, for instance. that the
company proposing to provide the
crematory has mad TO pay well over
1000 to parties undertaking 20 fl
nance their scheme That money, Of
course. comes out Of the pockets Of
the taxpayers!"
See Graft in Improvement Work.
II IS charged that certain members
Of Council after pacing city contracts
where tley wish them to 20, then
proceed to sub contract for them
selves Under those city contracts.
II is charged that much Of the tile
used in city sidewalk construction, is
provided by interested parties.
II is charged that there has been
graft I'm the buying from the city and
selling TO the city of much live stock.
the buying from the city being eff
aected az ridiculOusly low prices and
the selling to the city being effected
at exorbitant prices.
II is charged that fire hose has
been costing the city q premium that
never goes into the pockets of the
hose dealers.
1t is charged that electrical equip
ment for the fire alarm system has
been manipulated through the jug
Cling Of contracts In such wise that
the city is robbed right and left.
Tk.raaI
Il is charged that street contracts
have been lot Illegally and that in
ferior materials and construction re-
suit. because parties in authority arc
estopped from complaining by reason
OF the fact that they benefit materi-
ally from the use Of such cheap and
inferior material.
II Is charged that near-beer and
locker club permits are gragted ae-
cording 20 the interests some officials
have. In the granting OF the same
u these charges are true the grand
Jury IS the place where they should
be aired, and the forthcoming inves
tigatiou by the City Council can be
regarded as nothing more than a
mildly interesting incident in the
march Of events.
These are some Of the things that
are being talked around and about
Atlanta. with much vehemence Of
emphasis here and there. THESE are
the grand. gloomy, and peculiar sug-
gestions being constantly advanced 70
the dlscredit OF Atlanta officials.
But Proof is Lacking.
But where is the proof Of Il all,
OF any part of IT,
II anybody knows. be has not yet
submitted It publicly
Newspaper inquiry seems useless
The answer invariably lis the same.
The men who make the charges
talk knowingly. and wisely Wag their
heads in discussing the situation. But
IN the matter OF getting down TO
brass tacks, nobody gets down
The Mayor predicts that the
charges brought by Alderman McClel-
land will be "whitcwashcd.'
II the people win just watch the
lineup in Council says he, they
viii soon understand what ] mean
when say that these charges will
be WhiteWashcd Let them go ahead
with their farcical investigation i'm
Council There are enough OF them
banded together 10 override nay veto.
Anyway they have succeeded In COW
ering up their tracks rather cley-
erly In many instances. and they may
succeed in covering up their rascal
ity entirely But not IL / can help
ST."
Tie Mayor seems earnest enough
in his determination to round up the
guilty r there are guilty ones to
round az
Mayor Pryins Into Scandal.
UnQuestionably. too, he IS convinc-
ed beyond the shadow of doubt that
graft has been rampant within the
city government. and that the loos-
est OF business methods have prevail
ed in some Of the departments.
He is morally sure Of very many
more things than he yet is able 10
prove cOnCluslvely.
he is Losing into things deeper and
deeper every day He declares that
he an but has legal cases made out
in more than one instance TIC plain
~ IS determined 80 continue mis- work
Of nosing into things, even after the
recording OF the expected white
wash" as he calls IL. from Council
In this work Dee win bo aided boy
Alderman MCClelland. even though
that gentleman should retire from the
Aoermaric Board in May as now
contemplated.
Might Go to Grand Jury.
tllilu- cooperation lu Council. die
Mayor still would have alu right 10
81 kAANrA th hAA" AhNaLN .LA... una
mand the indictment eff such UeFeons
as he might find eutaurIed iu Grim
lnai raft and Irregularities.
III tbs me1ujisH sinister falh gueg
on and AtlanJ8's good maine is being
made the subject OF much sueering
dnC disagree able tali, abroad
Cuargt OF gr1.. yelled and iusiu-
Mating ia many Instances. frank and
outspoken in Others multiply and eX-
tan0 in cirCunlstantiai detail
Proposed LEGATIONS u Council
are being discreoitel iu advance 10y
parties who incline TO believe the
truth or charge. while those who
disCrediJ them see Ga Councils in
Vestigation the u1sSib', finish Of a
most unwelcome trpic of current COM
ment.
About the Only r1ckb1u0m con-
clusion that one may reach Is that.
eventually. the entire graft situation
must be submitted 90 the grand fur,
for Its consideration. o. the publ,
mind viii continue 20 WAIVER between
doubt and fear ll the one hand and
q feeling that things are an right Oh
the 0thei
EARTHQUAKE SHAKES TWO