The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-20

county attorney and board requested
Clerk Macgibbons to serve an attach
ment on him, IT will not" Mr.. Macgib-
bon said. "This Is not in court and
have not the authority to serve any at
tachment." Mr.. Reese consulted va
rious law books but finding nothing
to substantiate the demand, the mat
ter was allowed to drop. Mr. Whittle
was present at the afternoon session.
Mr.. Macgibbon when questioned said
that many Of the bills presented and
approved by the commissioners differ
ed from the usual form Of his exper-
fences as clerk Of the court. Mr.. Mac
gibbon said that at various times he
had urged cooperation from the board
in having some systematized method
OF handling the county bills and moro
especially having bills presented, re-
ceipted for. The orders given attached
TO the bills presented and o. KID are
the only records the clerk has. The
O. X. doesn't amount to hill Of beans
he said. Mr.. Macgibbons said that
the commissioners would sit in regu-
lar meeting and approve bills they had
never seen before, that 1t was their
custom to approve bills "hand over
fist" Commissioners Gates and So
derlind asked the clerk that as clerk
OF the Circuit Court and -officio
members of the board If 1t was not>his
duty TO advise and counsel with the
board and as auditor to closely watch
all bills approved. Mr.. Macgibbon said
that he had been and would be glad
TO suggest or to advise with the board
and that he-had on numerous occasions
but that each time he had always been
ruled down or his suggestion passed
over. He said that, IL he held up every
small bill of more or less irregularity
resulting from the lack of system prac-
tIced by the board that few bills would
ever be paid. Mr.. Macgibbon in an en-
counter with the old board over the
payment of some bills he protested
reused quite controversy and gained
the title OF "the watchdog OF the treas
ury." Several members of the old
board are members OF the present
board.
When Mr.. Gilmore, chairman of the
board. asked Mr.. Macgibbons If 1t We're
not true that at the beginning OF his
term he had not gone to him and re-
quested, him to counsel and advise him
TO the regularity of things, Mr.. Mac
gibbon said that he believed that he
had but that he did not see any reas-
on why, as a special favor to him (Gil-
more) he should specially counsel and
advise with him in his office but that
in board meetings and suggestion or
counsel he might make or give was al
ways turned down. He said that on
tAn a 4. n
attorney to refer to.
Robert Stout, counsel for Commits
sioner Wentworth reminded the board
that no trial. was being held but that
charges Of laxness made by Commits
sioner Wentworth based on official
records Were to be'proved or disproved
by any explanations the board mem
bers might make.
Commissioner Wentworth making a
statement said that the county's busi-
ness had been running pretty slack and
that It was his desire to have things
put on an organized, business basis.
He repeated his assertion that he had
asked the board for an investigation
and that no action was ever taken.
Commissioner Gilmore. answering that
statement said that the board had not
acted because Commissioner Went
worth would not specify any partic-
ular charges or mako them in writing.
The charges were taken up in their
order an filed by Commissioner Went
worth and published. Each commits
sioner held copy and answered them
verbally or with q written statement.
Commissioner Gates made no formal
abatement OF denial or explanation. IT
have seriously considered these charges
since they were made" he said, "and
thoroughly going over them have
no guilty feeling OF conscience and
still feel that have kept faith with
my constituents and true to my oath
OF office" Tie said in, answer to CUES
ton by counsel that purchases Of sup
piles for his camp had been made from
n store in which he had an interest
He said that ne advised his men from
making such purchases knowing that
he would be likely criticized but that
they had gotten some supplies from the
store and that he o. k.'d the bills. q.
q. Hardy, foreman of his camp made
a statement substantiating Mr.. Gates
remarks and saying that the purchase
OF supplies had been made against
Gates expressed wish.
In statements made by M. d. Me-
Arthur. county road supervisor, In an
swer to expense accounts filed by him
and approved by the board. he said
that he had not itemized the bill but
could itemise his accounts II the board
wanted him to and said that he would