The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-17

discovered, and his making an improper
use of the yard and buildings of the works
as of like character, and we recommend his
discharge and the appointment of some
competent person to perform the duties
assigned him, if they cannot be done by
the foreman. We also recommend an
amendment to the ordinance so as to
require some check to be placed upon the
mrestrained handling of money by the
clerk, which renders his position tempting
to dishonest man and unpleasant to any
other. ll
1t may not be amiss to add, notwith-
standing the number of surplus hands,
"yard hands, ;" "coal-shed," '.repairers,"
and others, the appearance of the works is
by ssa !,
NO MEANS CREDITABLE TO THE MAN.
AGEN1ENT.
Rubbish is scattered about without any at
tention to cleanliness, and there is no one
who visits the works without being salts
fled of the justice of this statement. 5d
In conclusion we have to say that
although a strict Interpretation of the
duties of Superintendent as they
should be, and consequently all that
we complain of, should justly be
charged to him yet, with full knowledge
of the circumstances by which his Office is
surrounded, and the defects in the ordinance
relating to the Gas Works, he is RESPONSE
BILE for very little. The Inspectors De-
partmenti is made separate and distinct in all
respects practically, and the fact that the
Superintendent's bills for gas have been
rendered and paid regularly, is proof that
L. =, - ,.ax.,, = A., f,,,,i :, -, ~
though the number of unnecessary hands
which we find on the roll is no doubt owing
to the pressing demands Of members Of the
City Council andothers who urge the claims
of many whose best Recommendation is
that they have no employment, and the
city works are considered place of refuge,
and .se'' - y7as
THE GOOD NATURE OF THE SUPERIN-
TENDENT
causes him to Weld to such applications,
when we have no doubt his Judgment
would cause him to act differently.
With this report we offer the following
resolutions
l. Resolred, That the Inspector, Mr..
james Melton, be invited to resign his
office as Inspector, and that the Superin-
tendent be instructed to arrange with him
for settlement Of the claims of the city
for gas bills unpaid by him, and all others
which he may have in his office. aai & i
2. Resolred, That w. F. White be, and
hereby is, discharged peremptorily.
3. Resolped, That the Superintendent be
instructed to discharge at once three service
pipe hands, the bricklayer and the carpen-
ter, the men in the coal-shed, and one
weighing coal, and the two colored servants
at the old and the new works, and that in,
future the foreman of fireworks shall attend
to Weighing the coal. .5ss &
4. Resoloed, That the Superintendent
be instructed to notify Mr.. Otis Deane that
his services will not be required after the
LIST of September next. 81
5. Resolced, That the committee instruct
the Superintendent to dispense with the
services of Mr.. Bell, the clerk, and to al
low the committee to fill the vacancy thus
made, if they think proper. y q
6. Resolued, That the subcommittee be
instructed to continue their examinations,
and report at such times as may be to
them most convenient.
7. ReSolred, That none of this report be
spread upon the record at present except
the resolutions. ..nl
(Sgned) GEO. BARGAMIN, ..
Chairman.
All Of these resolutions were adopted
save the fifth (relating to Mr.. BelD, which
was laid upon the table until the next
meeting. 'f,
When the fourth resolution was under
consideration some discussion arose, and
MIR. Knowles, the Superintendent, being
ocfroI hv IF tho 70
If he could dispense with Mr.. Deans SER
vices, and he replied promptly in the affirm
alive.
Simple justice to Mr.. Knowles requires
that we should add that he was present
during the whole Of this session of the COM
mittee, and before the report was read he
made the most
sATIsFAC GLORY APOLOGIES
for his conduct at the former meeting of the
committee and before the subcommittee
and the same was accepted as satisfactory.
1t should also be stated that the members
Of the committee assured the superinten-
dent that if he would at any time inform them
that he required the services of any of the
men whom he had been ordered to dis
charge that they would be returned. The
reason for making these discharges, as given
| in the report of the sub committee, we
think should be satisfactory. but we will
| give others as we proceed. AT the same
meeting some changes were made in the In.
| spector's department, which will be stated
definitely in another part of this report. The
Council being familiar with the fact that
MIR. MELTON ~
sent in his resignation and then withdrew
| it, the reference of the case to the Mayo
and his decision thereon, reported at til,
last meeting of the Council, we will not g
into further details regarding it in this com
munication. His Honor saws, :" hay
not found, nor have | reason 10 suspect
the slightest evidence of corrupt purpos
in these derelictions."
By reference to the report Of the sub
committee the statement there made tina
Mr.. Melton used the gas belonging to tn
city (Which statement can be verified b,
an examination Of the books kept in til
Office, without paying for it, strikes thi
committee as hardly justifying the mild
ness Of bis decision. This matter woul
not be referred to if it were not for the fac
that the late Inspector, availing himself G
this statement of the Mayor, had prevaie'
upon many citizens to unite in petitio
to the Committee on Light asking them t
replace him, which the committee, with a
the facts before them, refused UNANIMOUSLY
and have elected Mr.. John G. Pryde (wh
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