The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
1t Is the Second Time That
the City Has Sought a
Receiver.

NASHVILLE, Temp, July s-Jus'
forty-s'x years ago Nashville set tn.
then record for the world In putting the
municipality In the hands OF a receiver
To-day Its citizens contemplate the re.
moval OF objectionable officials by the
more modern plans of recall and ouste,
proceedings. AS preliminary steps three
officials have been indicted in the City
Hall scandal.
y The storm broke first on June ~
when an attempt was made by the Mayor
n city commission to remove Comp.
troller Miles Burns from office for the
responsibility In the loss OF importan,
city books that were necessary in an
audit and survey OF the city by James
Cameron and staff Of New York.
This suit WAS resisted strongly. II
was brought by a citizens banking COM
mittee, which had decided that the mu-
~nic!pallty should call "A halt on eXpendi-
lures. The ins!stence of the citizens had
the effect OF revealing that Nashville had
.A ' q VI NtAt hbN
to "A lax system prevailing for half
a score of years.
by some sort OF reasoning never made
quite plain a bond issue WIS secured 10
pay of this Indebtedness TO the banks. The
ISSUANCE OF other bonds, all TO the ex-
tent OF about $4,000. 900. without the
vote OF the people. so aggravated the
public mind that the city officials were
not allowed to rest until the audit was
authorized.
TAG books Disappear.
Before the examination Of the affairs
OF the city could commence the long
suspicion and unrest of the citizens over
City Hall conditions came to IA head
with the reported theft of the ad valorem
and privilege tax books for 1911, 1912
and 1913 and the loss also OF the cash
and revenue receipt books for the
larger part OF 1913. This latter pariod
covered the campaign in which the pres
ent city commission secured its election.
The significance OF the loss OF the
privilege tax books relates to a period
In which the city saloons were operated in
violation of tho State laws and while
there was much suspicion and scandal
lous talk.
The loss OF the books for the cam
paign period Of 1913 was accounted for
by Comptroller Burns when he charged
In a bill IN Chancery that City Finance
Commissioner Lyle Andrews had made
An expensive campaign which he
financed out OF the city funds with the
c~onnivance OF J. Il. IDoc) West, Jr,
Assistant City Treasurer.
Mayor Howse began the move to dis
miss Burns, because he, as Comptroller,
was responsible for the safe keeping OF
the books. Burns hurrledly secured the
services OF Harry :. Stokes, who prom
ised he would disclose things that would
curl the hair OF the city commission"
Mayor Presses Charge.
Needless OF this. the Mayor and the
commission were insistont and were
only prevented from Diminishing Burns
by proceedings in the Chancery Court.
Burns not only told In these proceedings
the story Of Commissioners Andrews's
campaign. but showed that he had rome
months before 10 the heads Of the city
government with the story OF the disap-
pearance of the books and that all he
got was n promise 10 look into things
and caution from some TO remain quiet.
Burns reported that his life had been
threatened, but he proposed to tell the
people everything, The Mayor pressed
the case and Burns was arrested with
Andrews and West All three were
charged with the larceny OF the books
and indicted. Burns and Andrews had
TO civ bond 10 answer TO the criminal
court, West left for parts unknown.
and In thought TO be in Australia or
New Zealand.
Andrews, who is a brother-in-law Of
Burns, broke silence after his indict-
ment to say that the charges OF Burns
we're false, likewise any other charges
OF w~rongdoing made by his fellow COM
missioners, but he only lightly resisted
his removal from Office by the Mayor
and the remaining commissioners. A
member Of the Nashville bar. Park Mar
shall. was placed In his stead at the head
or the Department Of Finance.
R~ceivcrship Sought.
Burns and his counsel, Harry Stokes
and Judge W. c. Berry. had been active
In another direction. and in n separate
move In the CAancery Court sought a re-
ceivership for the financial afairs OF
tho city. This action was aired in court
last week. but no one could be found 10
join Burns in the effort to repeat the
receivershlp of Nashville otNk6e.
However. such startling revelations
were made that Nashville became
aroused, and lawyers and citizens start
ed the movement to recall all Of the
city officials.
Burns charged that in the letting OF
street contracts and the playing Of
favorites Nashville had been d~efrauded
of between $1,000, 900 and $4,000, 900.
he alleged that Mayor Howse had
spent city money In the lower Broad
way section by building there n use
less city market to boost Howse's prop
erty.
Taking up such charges, the law
yers and citizens committee. acting
independent of the bankers committee.
circulated petitions for a recall OF the
Mayor and the Commissioners. More
than 1000 names were signed on the
first day.
Ouster Proceedings Started.
Fearing the recall might meet with
legal entanglements. "ouster" proceed
ings were begun against the Mayor and
the Commissioners This motion was
based IN the law passed by tho recent