The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1916-03-03
To the Citizens of Marietta

munlcation of Mayor Brumby pub
hshed under date of February 25th.
We do not propose to get into any
newspaper discussion with Mayor
Brumby or any one else. His state
ment, however, contains some mac
curacies to which attention should
be called. We wish, therefore. to
state a few facts.
The Board of Lights and Water
Works consists of three members
elected by the city council and two
eX-officio MEMBERSHIP MAYOR and
one member of council DR.. Rambo
and the undersigned are the three
long term members of the Board
We three have served the CITY since
the latter part Of 1909, more than
SIX years and have received no re-
muneratiCn whatever for our ser
vices. We have handled this city
business put in our charge according
to our best Judgment and tried to
protect the interests of the city in
every way possible
We three became members of this
Board during the administration of
Mayor Dobbs We served harmon
iously two years with Mayor f. H.
Clay, two years with Mr.. J. ]. Black
as Mayor, 2 years again with Mr.. f.
P. Dobbs as Mayor. During this entire
time there have been no differences
between the long term members of
the Board and the ex-officio men,
bers.
During the entire period of the
existence of the Board of Lights and
Water Works the treasurer has been
the eX-officio member from the coun-
ell Every check signed and every
voucher issued has been signed by
the member Of council, and the chair
man of the Board only countersigns.
When the Board was first organized
Mr.. Mack Fowler was treasurer in
1909; in 1910-1911 Mr.. j. J. Black
was treasurer; in 1912-1913 Mr..
John p. Cheney was treasurer; IN
1914-1915 Mr.. n. NJ. Mayes was
treasurer. When the board was re-
organized January |, 1916, Mr.. Jas.
H. Groves was elected treasurer.
In other words, the finances of the
Board have always been in the hands
Of the members from council and not
a single check has ever been signed
by any one else. All, the time the
different mayors and councilmen who
have been eX-officio members of the
board, have cooperated heartily with
Dr.. Rambo and ourselves in our eff
forts to protect the property of the
city and increase it's value
The present mayor is the only man
who has ever been a member of the
Board of Lights and Water Works
with the entire Board We suppose
he has his reasons. We do not care
10 discuss them here, except to state
that he has done everything he
could, apparently, to discredit the
work of the Board and cast !eflec-
items upon the other members Of
same, both past and present. This
is his privilege if he chooses to eXef-
else it.
AS to whether the city has been
illegally raying money to the B3acd
f1r lights and fire protection, W. G.
n1t care to enter into disc J&siun.
I'M: j matter to be settled cise-
where.
Col. d. w. Blair has been the at
torney for the Board Of Lights and
Water Works since the first of jan
nary, 1910. He has been consulted
by the Board on any and all occa-
sions where any legal advice was nee
essary, and his advice has always
been followed. We have made no
move without fully investigating it
in advance.
Mayor Brumby says in his state
ment, 1T is generally believed that
the Board is heavily in debt" etc.
Mayor Brumby knew when he pen
ned this the exact amount the Board
owes and what interest we are pay
ing, He could have given the fig
,.,1n ba bod RI
Mayor Brumby states that none OF
the audits have been made public.
Every Mayor and one member OF the
council from each adm anistration has
been on the Board all the time, and
known everything that was done and
been a party to it, There has never
been any division of opinion as to
what should be done.
We do not doubt that the different
MAYORS and treasurers of the Board
have kept each council fully inform
ed as to the affairs of the Board.
During two administrations, those Of