Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-05
FIRST EDITION.
The Water Department Inquiry,

| BERs UNABLE TO oAGIEE-REsoLU11oNs OF CEN
SURE AND pnAIsE REcoMMENDED-AcTIoS OF
COUNCIL.
From the special committee, (Messrs Burke
Bickta and Underwood,) appointed to inquire
into alleged abuses in the Water Department
whereby 6 per cont. lis withheld from the en-
ployees, majority and minority reports were pre-
pented to Council, last evening. print below
both reports, with the material portions of the
Testimony adduced by the committee, emitting
only that portion which has no bearing on tho
matter ut Issue. The following III the
MAJORITY REPORT
which is signed by Messrs Burke and Under
wood.
A. J. Maxwell stated that he had voluntarily
signed tho paper at the request OF Mr.. Hyde, who
said he did not wish any one to sign against his
Will also signed the name of A. j. Cank at the
direction Of Mr.. Hyde, Caulk being absent from
tho works ut tho time. Heard no complaints
among the men
liobert Stewart considered himself able to give
tho amount he subscribed was requested to
sign by Mr.. Burton ; had he been asked by an
outside party would have given what he was
able.
w. II. Baker sad that he signed under protest
for fear of dismissal, and found all employee
who did not Lnsw that he required to con-
tribute uati Informed by tho witness on 26th
OF anuary witness received notice that his SER
vices wond not be needed after ono week, but
Oh the 2Sth requested to give a written
resignation thought he was charged with keep
pend upon his rengushmeut of that business !;
had heard other mon complain of the collection
OF the per cont and thought it not right.
NJ Farley voluntarily signed the paper, and
considered himself justified in so doing had
heard of no complaints, and had never been
asked before to sign such paper.
John Gill signed the paper when asked by Mr..
Burton Of his own accord, but would not do 30 il
he had been working anywhere else did not
wish to be the only one who did not sign could
not afford to give the money had heard of no
complaints.
A. j. Caulk said that he would not have ac-
knowedged his signature as signed by Mr.. Max
well had no not feared dismissal, as he was not
able to give the money had heard Gall Baker
and Max well complain would not have given
the mo ney had he been elsewhere employed.
Patrick Hany was requested to sign by MIR.
| Burton and did 80 from fear of dissniissal was
afterwards informed that the money would not
have TO be paid.
j. G. Smith voluntarily signed the paper at
| request OF Mr.. Burton and had heard of no COM
plants but did not converse much with employ
eeB.
Fisher Ames also signed voluntarily, although
unable but would have given the money under
| other circumstances
JOS Hyde said that he had suggested the plan
and that Mr.. Burton had drawn up the petition,
all the men signing without objection. He de-
MED the statement that the employees did not
get their fnll wages, and denied that Mr.. Bakers
discharge resulted from this affair. Asked Ba-
ker for his resignation polite way of getting
rid OF him, although had no fault to find with
him, he being faithfully at his post
". W. Wilson and ]. I. Quigley subscribed
willingly, and had heard of no complaints.
p. i. Wilson signed without asking and with
out fear of discharge.
Thos Brown put his name down for fear of
discharge, and would not have given If employed
| elsewhere.
Samuel b. Bays signed without being asked
as he thought that he must do so and would
not do 80 il the matter was to do over again
| had heard Mr. Baker say ho intended to have
his money back again.
III cumming up their report the committee
ga that each witness was examined separately,
no one being present at any of the examinations
but tho committee and tile witness. 1t will be
seen from tho evidence that some of the men
state positively that they gave the per cent
from fear of being discharged. And almost all
of them had cases of charity in ornear their own
families to whom they would have preferred to
give the money thus withheld. The testimony
goes to show that one man CA. J. CaullS) did not
sign the first paper as he was at home sick and
had not been at work for sometime previous.
The committee. further, while approving the
extension of help to the poor, hold that no CO.
ercive, measure should bo employed to extort
money from the poor laboring man who holds
his place at the pleasure of theiChief Engineer,
or his employer, whoever he may be.
IL is therefore recommended that Chief En-
| gineer JOS. L. Hyde be censured for the course
| he has pursued i'll this case, thus affording him
pretext TO discharge some of his men without
sufficient cause, and who according to Mr..
Hyde's testimony were good faithful men always
at their post of duty and capable of dlscharging
| their duties, especially tho fireman The COM
mittee also recommends that the Water Commit
; tee be censured for allowing the Chief Engineer
who is subject to their orders, to make
himself conspicuous as tho LEVER aid collector
of tax upon the employees of the Water De-
} partment The contempt shown by Mr.. Charles
Burton, Jr., Registrar, in not. appearing
, before tho committee, deserves and should re-
ceive, the committee thinks, the unqualified con-
/ dcmnaton of this Council as the committee
wero but the representatives, of this body and
, | should have received at least the respect of an
, officer holding his position by tho votes OF this
Council.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Mr.. Bickta presented tho following minority
report
| my duty as a Councilman, cannot approve OF the
report of the majority of the committee appoint
ed for tho investigation, and respectfully offer
this as a minority report.
} The committee met at the Council chamber,
I January 29th, and Feb. LIST. and examined the
following witnesses
A. j. Maxwell, w. II. Bowman, w. w. Wilson,
/ j. T. Quigley, p. Haney, M. Farley u. Taylor
5 Wilson, W. II. Baker, A. j. Caulk, ]. G. Smith,
8 Fisher Ames, II. Stewart, j. Gill, L. Il. wilson,
! and Joseph Hyde.
After Il thorough examination, nothing was
Q ascertained that any irregularities had been
practced Oh the part of any official or employee
. of the Water Department..
: Not one of the witnesses. seemingly or in the
slightest degree, gave any evidence that the act
of contributions to assist the poor and hungry OF
1 our city was forced measure ; but on the other
y hand was voluntary act on their part, alter
o being solicited by the Chief Engineer and Regis
trar and the amounts 30 donated as per vouchers
: presented to tho Committee by Chief Engineer
J. Jos. Hyde.
n Therefore, respectfully offer the following !:
a Resolued, That the act of the Chief Engine or
and Registrar in their efforts to assist the poor
d and unemployed with the necessaries OF susie
nance, be and the same is hereby commended
that Council approve of their action, and that
the charges pending be and the same are hereby
| dismissed.
o ACTION COUNCIL.
y Motions for the adoption of each report hay.
II ing been made, Mr.. Mclntire said he deemed i!
o important that all the members should examine
l. the reports carefully, and as there was no hurry
I, in this matter he moved that the consideration
:, of the subject be laid lover two weeks and the
y reports be printed for the use of the members
II Mr.. Burke arose and said that mon had come
/ to him voluntarily with complaints of othel
n abuses in connection with the building OF the
N new basin, aud asked that his committee be in
I. strncted to investigate these abuses also.
10 Mr. William NJ. Candy objected to the print
I'd ing of the evidence as reported by the majority
to as he had reason to believe 1t was not the evil