The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-29
MP[OYE OF CITY.
FACES CHARGES Of.
COMMISSION CHIEF
McLendon Investigation OF
Several Items in Moore'S
Pay Rolls Before the
City Board


larities IN the pay rolls of George c.
Moore. street commissioner. has been
conducted for several weeks by spe-
cial detectives acting under orders
of d. Z. McLendon, president of the
city commission, and may reach Gull
mination Friday, Mr.. McLendon an
ncunced Thursday.
Commissioner w. E. Dickson, under
whom Moore works, said Thursday
that he would present witnesses to
the commission Friday to testify that
the person for whom the alleged
checks were drawn has been actually
working for the city, in an effort to
refute evidence said by Mr.. McLendon
to have been obtained by the detec-
tives that Moore has since September
I, drawn approximately 800 a month
for a person supposed to be working
in the garbage department, who is
in reality not employed.
President McLendGn, however, said
Thursday that the records show that
no resolution confirming the employ
ment of the person for whom Moore
is said to have drawn salary has ever
been presented to the commission
and that Investigations of detectives
revealed that he has not been work.
ing.
Conference Friday
McLendon' said that he had recon-
mended Moore's dismissal to Com
missioner Dickson several days ago.
conference was held Thursday
morning with no action being taken.
President McLendon said that he
would insist on the matter coming
to head Friday morning, although
other commissioners expressed the
opinion that the return of Commits
=sioner w. L. Harrison would be
awaited before definite action was
taken. Commissioner Dickson, 1t Is
understood, will endeavor TO prevent
the matter from coming to vote
before Commissioner Harrison re-
turns about January 2.
The investigation has been under
way for some time, Mr.. McIendon
declared. He said his suspicion was
1lrst aroused when he noticed on the
September pay roll the name of a
person whom he did not know was
employed by the city. Subsequent in
vestigation. revealed, according to
McLendon, that Moore had appeared
at two banks and drawn money or
checks, signing the name of the
other person, and declaring that Ut
was. he.
Moore's Statement
Moore declared that the person in
question had been regularly employed
since September 1, working between
the hours of $3.50 and and o'clock
IN the morning and between and s
O'Clock in the afternoons and that II
was inconvenient for him to g1, to
the bank. as he slept during the dav.
he admitted that he had probably
told the paying teller that his name
was the one on the checks in order
TO avoid confusion, but that he had
not persisted in claiming to be the
person. He maintained that he had
not acted unusually, as other de-
partme1t heads draw money on
checks for their employees when II
IS not convenient for them to call
at the banks.
MeLendon said he had found that
IN other departments such is done,
also signs his own name after thar
81 his employe. He declared, how
ever, that even this practice would
De eliminated, and that it had been
going on without his knowledge.
PRESIDENT McLendon said that ac-
tion was postponed Thursday at the
request of Commissioner Dickson
VINO said he wanted to conduct an in :,
vestigatiCn in his departm him
self. i'iih-
Jnvestisation by Taylor
inVestigation revealed that tho
porson VINO presented and indorsed
a check of tho supposed emnIova -.
tho garbage department was verv
similar to Moore in appearance. az,
cording to McLendon. Last weel,
wnen pay checks were being cashed
Marvin Taylor, city comptroller. was
stationed at the bank upon which tha
checK Tor the alleged employa was
ura"n, and concealed. awaited the
appearance of the drawee. McL,endon
stared. Moore appeared, according to
mcLenoon. presented tho check and
Ihoorsed IT, stating that he was the.
person 70 whom it was made. The
,IoTey was paid ever to Moore. Mr.
.nc,'enaon said he had information.
ana Iaylor then came from bis con
cealment and confronted him a.
cordins to McLendon. Several weeks
ago an employe of the comptrclIer,a
department. was dismissed for mis-
appropriation of funds collected for
sanitary improvements.
1t may be charged that the nrez-
ent administration Is extrayapsn,
ard even that its finances arc inef-
iiciently administered" he said. re-
1erring indirectly to deficit In the
senerai lund OF the city of approxi
mately 100000 created during the
past year, but If it is In my power
70 prevent 1t, it cannot be said TINT
handled"
Commissioner w. B. cloe said that
he did not know of the Situation
untii the conference Thursday and
tnat other duties prevented his re-
naming throughout that meeting
lie declined to comment further.
MIS- Mary Echols, commissioner
OF health and education, said she was
OF the opinion that no action womb
be taken on this or any other mat
yer until Commissioner Harrison re-
HELENT MAN SHOT SIX
1lMEC. ADM Alann-a-eA