The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1952-10-23

Nobody can deny that there have been differ
ences-serious at hmes-betveen the Mayor and the
members of his Council, but those differences have
bearing this present tragic situation and am
that the five members of the Council will be guided in
making their decision the evidence presented at
tonights meeting.
But was one hundred per cent wrong
1t became apparent that although the meeting called
for the purpose of plan enable the city take
urgent projects that provided for
the cys 1852 budget least member of the Council had
seriously solving this problem, but using the meeting
severely citse only Mayor H. L. Mills but also
City Auditor Robert Tner and City Engineer Claude Williams
Hardly had Mayor Mills concluded reading statement in which
he outlined the financial of the city regards its 1852
budgets named toag $780, 100000 that provided
for the 1862 budget but urgently needed and then proposed
bond issue for that be amoized in by
simply raising the from so So when Council
Roy Knight and read the amazing have
heard from the lips of elected city official in Hageown,
or anywhere else.
Knight stated that he didn understand the financial sua
city further that he had been unable
proper from either the Mayor the City Auditor
py overlooking the fact that elected official of the city he
had the highland also his dutto get those facts tor HIM
self by examining the books of the which him
all times and then by the simple method of addition and sbstrac
ton get the facts that he said withheld from him.
Mr. Knight then told the City Auditor that he didn't believe
that of the figures that the auditors reports
and followed that by accusing the City Engineer being
of of the proposed projects because he said
Mr. Williams formerly member of the firm that interested
in that particular project
When heard these charges felt that Mr. Knight would
follow up his by calling for the Of these
gentlemen since he obviously didn't either of them but this
he failed to do
Mn Knight then made committee be appointed
investigate the financial position of the city and that the
Of former Mayor Richard H. Sweeney, former City
Attorney Francis H. Un former City Engineer Charles W. Stump
and Ellsworth Roulette president of the Ncodemus National Bank
In fairness these four should be stated that Mr. Knight said
that he had only asked of hem former Mayor Sweeney they
would such a committee
| WhenM 6nav
oning his sharply criticised Mr. Urner which the former
City Attorney sharply replied and from then obvious
that the old that had hoped healed
reopened, but also aggravated
After discussion from taxpayers of the West regard
projects badly needed much
city Councilman j. Frank Elliott defense of the Mayor
City Auditor and City Engineer and stated buny Council
Knights motion carried then the members of Council
ought to resign such motion admission that they
incapable of performing the duties for which they
Councilman Luther Broom then made amendment
Gilman Knights motion which called for appointment of
miee investigate the c finances but left the Council
later date the members of such The notion
amended carried with Councimen Broom Helane jennings
and Knight voting yes and Councilman Elliott voting no.
And a result of this fasco. many taxpayers forced
to continue without getting city benefits and the
H needed improvements the light plant and sewerage disposal
plant must be indefinitely postponed.
After the meeting learned that Knight
had kept the motion he made from the members
of the Council who first heard of when Knight reading it,
In fact Councilman Broom told that after Knights
and moionand the urore that followed made the
amended motion that struck the by
Knight order bring end the meeting any further
damage done.
Further than that glad be able report that
members of the CounciBroom Knight Elliott Helane-Ien
nngs unable be present Tuesday night and on the
of Luther Broom to appoint any committee
but to get at the facts themselves
This just as should be- but the pity of they didn't
decide do its months when Mayor Mills to the
abridged 1876 financial which all the members
Council received stated plainly that he the City,
of the rapid growth of the community either have to heavily
the tax rate float bond ISSUE the urgently
projects facing the Council 10 be undertaken.
Had they needed Mayor Mills warning then and Immediately
started find for themselves the city stood as far s
finances concerned last Thursday terrible meeting