El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-28
CHA5. \. BASSETT REPLIES To
QUESTIONS AND GIVES REASONS
FOR SUPPORTING MAYOR DAVIS
Challenges Members Of OmdOrf Committee To Show
That He Ever Received Any Favors From Ad-
ministration IN Taxation or Other Matters.

calamity that could happen to the
city is 20 turn the affairs Of the city
and county over TO the DeGroff and
Orndorff families.
Now. as TO the insinuatlng cues-
lions propounded: I take pleasure in
stating 10 the taxpayers and TO my
fellow citizens among whom / and
my fOrebears have resided much
longer than any OF the Orndorff fam
lily. the following facts:
First, as to "skimming the cream
am in the lumber business; I
own real estate with Improvements
thereon in the city OF FL Paso. and
am an official OF the state National
bank, and I will ask you gentlemen
TO state how one interested as I state
] am interested, will be in a position
10 skim cream from the municipal
milk pail?" The tax assessor and
tax collectors records OF this city
show that for the year 1913 my taxes
are SIS. 900.27. and I challenge YOU,
OF anyone else supporting Mr.. Burt
Orndorff'E candidacy, TO show that
any discrimination has been made in
my favor IN the matter OF valuation
or reduction Of taxes, or that any dis
elimination has been made In any way
in any particular.
In reply TO the other insinuation or
charge that my tax valuations were
TO state that this Is utterly false and
IN proof Of my assertion I submit the
following
During the year 1916, through d
mistaken over taxation, I paid into
the city over $500 more than should
have paid The matter was taken up
with AR. McSain and the city council
and instead OF repaying me my $500
il was agreed that my valuation Tor
1918 should he reduced TO the extent
CT the mistake made The following
statement from Afr. McSain I offer in
confederation OF this statement:
Mr.. Davis and city councilmen
allowed Bassett $4,000 lowering
in tax assessment on my state
ment that Il was fair and equit-
able.
(Siened1 VIM. P. 3. AIcSain"
With reference to the third cues
ton intimating that I have a three
year contract to sweep the streets Of
= PasO at $50 per day. This is IN
correct and false As for the fore
DING inuendo, Mr.. NcAfee owns the
street sweeDinE machine. I have no
interest therein and never had, and
Mr.. McAIee is not an employe OF
mine. but is the assistant cashier IN
the state National bank, Of e Paso.
Tex OF which ] am vice president
However. I do say that this street
sweeping machine was brought to the
board OF aldermen and they were told
and 7 challenge them TO deny Il. that
the machine could be purchased for
$4,000. They declined to make the
purchase on the grounds that they
were afraid the city could not operate
IL and Mr. Lea. on april Il, 1917, en-
tered into an agreement with Mr..
dcAfee to do the work and NJ.
Charles Davis carried out the agree
ment that Mr.. Lea made and I chal-
ienge Mr.. Lea TO deny It. At my Of
flee for the benefit Of AIr. Lea and
his board Of aldermen. IL they care
TO deny this. may be found copy Of
e. he city council Of April IL, 1917. when
Mr. Lea was still mayor. Proceed
ines quoted below
Regular meeting Thursday, April
l., 1917.
Mayor Tom Lea: aldermen =
A. Fisher, ". G. jolly. J. P. o.
Conuor and R. B. Stevens; absent
none.
CLERK read the following com
April 2. 1917.
TO the honorable mayor and city
council OF Il Paso. Tex:
In reference 70 entering into
a contract for the cleaning OF
paved streets Of FL Paso. I here
by submit and offer to do this
work al a price Of 1919 cents per
1906 square yards. subject 10 the
conditions already discussed in
regard TO the minimum area 10
be cleaned daily. As market con-
ditiDns are unsettled and as the
price Of fuel enters large,y into
the cost Of operation, some pro-
lection oCainst unusual cost OF
fuel would be-necessary TO avoid
operating at a loss on account
OF conditions over which there
was no control. However. the
above price would hold unless
fuel reached a higher price than
it has reached IN the past four
or five years. In view OF the
fact that the city IS put 70 no
expense in furnishing the ma
chine and assumes no liability
other than paying for the work
as done at the agreed price. feel
that no bond should be required
Of me in entering into a con-
Respectfully.
fSigned) 'R. ". McAfee."
sOn motion duly made. seconded I
and carried. the resolution was I
authorizing the city attor- /
ney TO draw contract and bond IN the I
IRE original letter quoted above 1
hears on the side in mayor Lea's I
handwriting this notation; "ResO-
luton authorizing city attorney 20 I
draw contract and bond TO be signed ?
by mayo--bond $4,000. Tom Lea, .
April Il, 1917
With reference 10 the fourth cues
ton; I have contributed to Mr. Da- 1
Tis's campaign; and n the public de- /
slres to know what my contribution 7
Is, I VIII gladly tell the amount II 2
Is no such sum as $1,000. nor IS 1t half
thereof I shall gladly tell the pub
lie, as above stated, II the public,
through a proper medium desires 70 /
know I viii tell the OrndOrff cam I