The Washington times., 1915-10-01

the four commissioners. The purpose
was to have a tll passed by the legis-
lature authorizing the city to make "A
bond issue without subrnittins the aues.
This committee was composed OF
straightforward business men. The ad-
ministration sought to impress upon the
committee the need Of funds with the
in favor OF a 81 10000 bond issue with
out consulting the people. But the COM
mittee took q business mans view, and
said It could offer no advice without a
statement Of the city's finances.
Accordingly a statement was prepared
and submitted. 1t explained nothing.
except that It showed a poor method of
bookkeeping. The committee requested
another statement. but It also was un-
satisfactory. Thereupon the committee
two statements. both evidently wrong.
conflicting and contradictory. and re-
Guested q third with the evident pur-
pose Of accepting the best of the three.
Statement No. was OF as little use as
Commissioners that while they might
need the bond issue. there could be no
doubt that they first needed an audit
Of the citv's books. The Commissioners
in substance informed the committee to
20 hang. and that 1t would have no
further connection with q body that
wanted to know too much. Suggestions
for an audit and survey were caught up
by few citizens. but the committee
disbanded in disgust. believing that
the commissioners We're looking for
something other than advice.
Demand For Audit and Survey.
The demand for an audit and survey
would not down. To meet this. the COM
mlssioners appointed a new committee.
consisting OF presidents Of the national
banks. This superseded all others that
had annoyed the commissioners by
asking what had become Of the city's
money. The committee of bankers con-
ceded that the city needed money. 1t
said that 1t would agree to recommend
the bond issue without submitting 1t to
vote. as required by the charter OF
the city Of Nashville. provided the COM
missioners would agree to an audit and
survey by the bureau Of municipal re-
search OF New York. There was more
delay.
The Commercial Club. composed of
about 800 men. began to look around.
II appointed a committee with the title
OF committee Of public safety The
club. through its committee. found that
an audit and survey because 1t would
cost $4,000. The Commercial Club
thereupon offered the money. The city
attorney found that the only way the
city would have an audit was for the
competitive biddings. 1t was agreed
then that the bond issue would go through
without opposition. provided 1t carried
a provision that the contract for ar
audit and survey might be made. The
| fastening bond Issues on the taxpayers
aggregating over a million dollars. but
the audit feature was not included.
The people again t. * uD .he ny 70,
n.sto nj 70 kr<
where their money had gone. Bids were
advertised for an audit and survey
opened and dismissed. but the demand
| became stronger. At one meeting of the
favor the audit and survey and two
| with the mayor. would oppose it. The
vote was passed round several times
until all the commissioners had gone
! on record favoring' .he audit and sur.
vey.
City Tax Receipts Disappear.
Finally the contract was advertised
and let to a New York concern The
auditor telegraphed that he would Re,
gin work on Monday. This was Satur,
day and the next meeting of the com,
mission was no: until the next Tuesday
A hurry call Tor a meeting was sem
out. The city comptroller. Miles Burns
was charged at this meeting with Tho
| disappearance OF cny RECORDS SHOWING
the tax receipts for the past three
years. and he was summarily dis
charged. and 81 .0oG was offered for III.
recovery of the books. Burns was sur
prised anG angered. He declared he hac
| told the commissioners of the disappear
| afice months before. Burns secured al
Injunction against dismissal, and begaI
\ to tell all he knew. The commissioner.
| then suspended Lyle Andrews, vice
mayor and commissioner of finance
| Charges If incrimiDation became rife
West assistant city comptroller, anc
scion of distinguished Tennessee fam
lily, had not been seen for several days
| The commissioners ordered a man hunt
backed by big reward for the arres
! Of West.
BY this time popular excitement raj
high. Former Comptroller Burns, ant
, his friends. employed Harry S. Stokes
a young lawyer, to represent him. Man,
! citizens assisted Stokes. not that the!
desired the exoneration of Burns, bu
turn The searchlight on the city's af
fairs Stokes enlisted two fearless youn,
men, w. c. Cherry and J. G. Stephen
! son, who had more nerve and tim
1 than practice. and began his campaign
1 of municipal housecleaning. A bin ii
4 equity was filed. tying up all city worl
and funds. and asking that a receive
be appointed. Chancellor Allison order
ed that testimony be taken by a specia
commissioner on the application for ;
receiver.
/ While the commissl loner was gett,n,
ready to begin his hearings, n recall
petition. signed by twice as many name
as were needed to oust the city OF