The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-29
WOrthington Selected to Make Investigation Fol
 lowing Gwin Charges
BIVINS AND LOVELADY
 DECLINE TO VOTE
Declare They Have Not Had Time to Investigate Qualifications of Worth ingtOn or Anyone Else-Letter
 From the Governor Made Public

GWln, county engineer, regarding the con-
 tract with A. T. Newell X Bro for ehert-
 ing the lower Columbiana road
 Motions offered by l.. II. Pennington
 were adopted providing for the employ
 ment of an expert engineer to investigate the Newell contract and to assemble data
 regarding the maintenance of county
 convicts on the roads and to make sug-
 gestions as to the installation of thor ough system of distribution of costs.
 Both these motions were adopted unan-
 imously, but when Major Cameron offered
 motion providing for the employment
 of Thomas Worthington for the purpose
 the board split. l.. II. Pennington. Hugh
 MT. Worthington. Dr. Lovelady and R
 R. Bivins did not vote maintaining that
 sufficient time had not been given them
 to inquire as to the qualifications of MT
 Worthington and others. There being a
 majority of votes, MT worthington was
 employed.
 In support of the resolution Mir Pen
 tion of this matter and court thorough
 inquiry into all the actions of the board
 want no partial or ones sided nyestga- ton and believe MT. Worthington both trustworthy and competent
 No Whitewash Wanted Tn voting for the resolution to employ
 MT Worthington Major Cameron aaid
 Tn voting for the appointment of ar engineer to check up and go over the Newell contract and perhaps others, dc so feeling that the man we suggest will
 act conscientiously and that his report will be truthful and fearless. We do not
 want any whitewashing. our motto
 should be. 1ew to the line, let the chips fall where they may Hugh McGeevei
 indorsed the statements of Major Cam. eron and MT. Pennington.
 pr. R. F. Lovelady and Rufus Bivins
 asked that the resolution be not passed at the meeting yesterday. as they wished time to investigate the proposition, anc
 made the following statement: w, wished more time to consider a number of men for the place. We did not know l this matter was coming up this morning We are not opposed to MT. Worthingt ton but just wanted time to consider other
 men qualified for the place in order tC secure tne Desl flldIl pOSSlDle.
 The board also received d letter from the governor in reply to the request of the board to send an examiner of public accounts to investigate the Newell mat ter. The governor suggests that the pub
 lie examiner can only check up the books and accounts of the board and ascertain whether they are correctly and properly kept and not to investigate the charges made by Mir. Gwin.
 County Engineer Gwin was present al
 the meeting of the board yesterday but
 took no part fin the controversy. Statements issued from the office of the board of revenue in regard to the actior taken yesterday were as follows: To Employ Engineer Upon motion of L. H. Pennington which was duly seconded, 1t was or
 dered by the board of revenue that ir
 consideration of recent charges of MT J. W. Gwin regarding contract let to A. T. Newell & Brothers for chert- ing a portion of the lower Colum oiana road, that the board of revenue em- ploy temporarily disinterested man who has had experience both as an en- gineer and contractor and whose abil- ity along these lines and whose repu- tation is well established, to go into thls contract thoroughly and report {, the board of revenue his findings, not only as to whether or not the con tract Is an advantageous one to the county, but also that he put himself In position to report to the board oi revenue as to whether or not tho amount of yardage supposed to be or said road as per the inspectors report | and the engineers estimate is on the road.
 Ordered further that the man em- | ployed to do the above work go into all of the road and bridge work com. pleted under this board of revenue, ol which may now be under construc. tion and be able to report to the board of revenue the cost, data, etc., on salc roads and bridges.
 Members present and voting ave be- l ing MT. R. F. Lovelady, MT. Hugh Me 1 Geever, MT. l.. H. Pennington, Mir. E; R. Bivens and MT. W. J. Cameron. There being no negative votes cas-
 the same was declared adopted" Convict System
 Upon motion of l.. II. Pennington which was duly seconded, 1t was or dered by the board of revenue that | man be temporarily employed to E, | into the system now in force by tn, | board of revenue with reference {, keeping the cost of maintaining thi
 convicts. and that he suggest the in stallation of a thorough and propei system of distribution and costs where | by the board of revenue may know at all times not only what 1t cost | the county to maintain the convicti
 but that they may know what 1t i costing to construct roads and bridge
 with them as against contract labor O. 1 force account.
 l Members present and voting aye be
 ing MT. K. F. Lovelady MT. Hugh Me Geever, MT. l.. H. Pennington. MT. R R. Bivens and MT. W. J. Cameron. l "There being no negative votes cast | the same was declared adopted Worthington Ordered Employed | Upon motion of w. J. Cameron. whicl was duly seconded, 1t was ordered tha MT. Thomas Worthington be employee
 temporararily by the board of revenue t
 carry out the work outlined in the tw' above resolutions relative to the Newel contract, cost of roads and bridges nov under construction and recently con structed, and the cost system and dat relating to the convict department. Members present and voting aye be ing, MT. w. J. Cameron, Mir Hugh Nc
 Geever and MT. l.. II. Pennington Members present and not voting be