The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-31


 After lengthy and somewhat heated discussion. in which all members of the
 board of revenue participated. resolu-
 tions were adopted yesterday by which
 the county is to pay Thomas Worthing-
 ton. who was employed to investigate
 the Newell contract, the bridge and road
 work of the present administration and
 the costs of the road work done by the county convicts, the sum of $500 for his services and expenses incident to the in- vestigation.
 The resolution was offered by l.. II. Pennington. following the reading of a letter from MT. Worthington in which he made three propositions to the county.
 First, that he should be paid s15 a day for his services; second, to devote the larger part of his time for two months to the work for the sum of $500 and l necessary expenses. and third, that foi
 the lump sum of $500 and incidental ex-
 penses he would make the necessary in vestigations.
 Following the introduction of the reso- lution of Mir. Pennington. wfich was
 seconded by MT. McGeever. pr. Love lady, president of the board, objected
 stating that he was opposed to the one
 man plan of investigation. He further expressed the opinion that the sum pro.
 posed was too much and offered ar amendment to the resolution that ths sum to be paid be S25O The amendment
 failed to get second. Dr. LoveiadS then put the motion of Mir. Pennington who voted aye, as did McGeever MT
 Bivins did not vote either way, neither did Dr. Lovelady and there being nc votes cast against the resolution Dr Lovelady declared it carried
 After the resolution was adopted MT
 Bivns stated that he intended to vote
 against the resolution and wanted his
 vote so recorded. The president ruled
 however, that he had had the opportunity
 and had failed to exercise it, and declined
 to allow his vote to be recorded against the resolution.
 During the discussion the authority oi
 the board to employ an investigator was
 brought into question and the attorney lOT lut boaiQ, w. D- ittiSt bafC II eh
 his opinion that they could do so under
 certain conditions The question of pay. | ing the warrant for such investiga ton came up and Cleon B. Rogers, coun- l ty treasurer, was called into the meet | ing. MT. Rogers stated that he would | honor the warrant of assistant engi neer, but not that. of an auditor Tho
 adoption of the resolution agreeing to thu
 third proposition of Mir. Worthingtor | followed:
 Letter to Worthington | Upon motion of MT. Pennington a letter | from the board of revenue to Thomas worthington of December go. 1914, ano | Thomas Worthingtons letter in reply | to the board of revenue of Jefferson county, was ordered to be recorded or the minutes in words and figures as | follows:
 Birmingham, Ala, December 20. 1914 "Mr Thomas Worthington, 937 First Ma | tional Bank Bldg, Birmingham, Ala. Dear Sir Confirming conversation oi even date with reference to certain reso- | lutions which were passed by the board | of revenue, and copies of which are at. 1 tached hereto, we beg to officially ad. l wise you hereby of your appointment by | the board of revenue to do this work. with reference to the compensation that you are to receive for the same, we
 would be glad to have you submit to us | in writing three propositions referred tc | in our conversation. one of which thu | board of revenue will accept. | We beg to advise that we will put | at your disposal all of the records il l our office, the engineers office and ths convict department office, and will fur
 nsh you any other data that we have | at hand, or which can be gotten III for you that will be of benefit in arriv l ing at your findings. Yours truly, HUGH MGEEVER, l 'President Pro Tem Board of Revenue. 1 lows:
 Reply to Proposals 'Board of Revenue, Jefferson County | MT. Hugh McGeever, President Pr, | Fem, City.
 Dear Sir: Your letter of even date | transmitting copies of certain resolution | of the board of revenue passed by tn board on yesterday, with reference t, the investigation of the contract betweer
 the board of revenue and A. T. Newel
 & Bros, for cherting the lower Colum biana road; the investigation of roat | and bridge work completed during you administration and now under construc
 tion in the county; and the investigation | of the costs of road work done by thu county convicts; and temporarily employ | ing me to make these investigations ant report thereon, is received.
 | 'T beg to advise you that I will accep
 this work, I to have free access to al the records and data of every character appertaining thereto. and that I be fur nished with any additional data relat | ing to the investigation which may b.
 necessary to arrive at the proper con | clusions.
 l "As compensation for this work mak' you the three propositions named below
 any one of which you have the right tt accept, and I am prepared to begin, a once. upon your acceptance:
 First. That l be paid fifteen dollari | (s15) per day and all necessary expenses
 connected with the work.
 | Second Or I will. for the period O l two months df such length of time b. ! necessary to make the Investigation