St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-08
S0MERS HAS HIS SAY.
He Answers the Charges Preferred
Against Him by a Third Street
Contemporary.
A Sweeping Denial, Supported by Figures,
Of All Allegations of Wasteful Expen-
cultures and Incompetent officials.
Mathematical Computations on Which the
Charges Were Based Shown to be
FauIty-Talk With Fuller.

N%--N~'
The following is the result of an interview by
a GLOBE reporter with Mr. Somers, the engin-
eer, and Mr.. Fuller, his assistant
Mr.. Somers was first questioned as to the
charge of his com plicity in the preparation
of an amendment to the charter, the object
of which, it is alleged, was to make the
election of the engineer hinge on two
thirds vote of the council and board OF
public works. AS the total vote of the bodies
named is eighteen, it was claimed that by
securing seven votes Somers would be en-
abled TO defeat the election of a successor
and by creating deadlock hold over him
self
With regard to this charge Mr.. Somers
stated that the only amendment to the city
charter affecting the department of which he
had any knowledge was that OF making the
term of Office of the city engineer two years
in place of one, which, he claimed, would be
OF great benefit to the public and desirable
without regard to the person to be elected;
and that greater benefit would result in max
ing the term four years, as the uncertainty
Of the one-year term seriously interferes with
the preparation for new work and the COM
pletion of work in progress. He said further
that the method of election requiring a two
thirds vote of all the members elect Of the
common council and the board of public
works is the same as has been in force for
the last four years, and the theory that
deadlock could be made by seven members
of the joint convention is absurd, as the con-
vention can adjourn to meet from day to
Il mt h. al e
With reference TO the charge Of
INCOMPETENT ASSISTANTS
In connection with which the names of II.
il. Fuller, William Coulter and w. r. Sache
are mentioned, Mr.. Somers states that Mr..
Fuller has served as assistant engineer since
the organization Of the board of public works
in 1872, and has proved competent and
given good satisfaction.
With regard to Mr.. Coulter, Mr.. Somers
states that his first acquaintance with him
was while he was employed as inspector Of
the city sewers under the city engineer in
the year 1881, and his having been employed
ever since is sufficient proof OF his com pc
tency.
In regard 10 Mr.. Sache, referred to as q
printer, Mr.. Somers states that Mr.. Sache is
not and has not been connected with this
department since tue 1st of January, having
gone into business for himself much to the
regret of Mr.. Somers, who considers him
one of the most competent inspectors he
has ever had.
Concerning the charge that the force Of the
Office has been diverted to the use of build
ing society Mr.. Somers said that he knew of
no way in which the department could be so
used. He is and has been for a mum Der of
years secretary of a prosperous building So
cicty, but his connection with said society
has not in any way affected the business of
the city.
Concerning the charge that valuable pro-
files had been carried from the vaults and
permitted to lie around promiscuously, Mr..
Somers emphatcally denied that such was
the case, and the reporters attention was
called to carefully arranged boxes, in which
the profes are kept under lock and key and
guarded with the utmost care.
In regard to The charge that Mr.. Fuller neg
lected his duties in not attending the meet
ings of the board of public works, it is stated
that such attendance is not part of his du-
ties, Mr. Somers being the only member of
the board whose attendance is required.
THE SALARY QUESTION.
In regard to the alleged list of salaries
given in the article in question, Mr.. Somers
said that in many instances the figures are
so put as TO deceive the reader into the belief
that the salaries quoted prevail all the wear
round; when in many instances they are
only a relative basis for few months paw
In referring to these figures he states that in
Guided in the list of salaries as forming part
of the cost of the engineering department are
those Of two street inspectors who are simply
foremen of the street force, and the engin-
eer and fireman of the steam road roller
The inspectors each receive 81 900 year.
the engineer of road roller 81, 200, and the
fireman $3.50. As the office of the street in
specor is fixed by law, and the salary fixed
ut the rate of $75 a month, the above state
ment as to salary is just double the correct
figure As these inspectors are simply fore
men of the street force, it would be Just as
fair 10 have added the wages of all the labor
ers employed on the street force as part of
the engineers office The engineer and fire
man of the steam road roller, who are only
employed during the summer, are just as un-
fairly made to appear part of this expense.
There'are also included two permanent in
spectors that are only i'm aginary.
EMPLOYEES AND PoLIIIcs.
The serious charge is also made that the
force of the engineers department is openly
employed q lever TO influence local politics
With regard to this charge Mr.. Somers re-
pudiates it as wholly and maliciously false.
In speaking of this charge he said, ~ am
not politician, and have never attempted
TO influence any of the employees of the de-
partment TO further political end -
In regard to the insinuation that real
estate bargains had existed between Mr..
Somers, Mr.. Fuller aud Chester Hitchcock.
with the Interior object of procuring the I'M
provements of certain streets, Mr. |
Somers says the only possible foundation for
the statement is the fact that j. p Gribben,
II. II. Fuller, f. L. Somers and himself did |
some years ago purchase tract OF land from /
Mr.. Chester Hitchcock, but this purchase /
was completed and the land sold before he /
was appointed city engineer
Regarding the statement that Mr.. Folsom |
was charged Sl00, which is made to appear rs
grave and malicious attempt at gross in
justice on the part of the city SIS represented /
by the city engineer, II was said that Mr.
Folsom carefully forgets 10 state that after
threatening the city engineer with all manner
of vengeance (of which the article in the ?. /
7. is a parO on account of this charge,
he appeared before the board Of public works /
with bis attorney and had careful hearing, l
but failed to establish his claim, and that he
also appeared before a committee of the COM
mon council, was duly listened to, and that
he was again refused the 500 of the city's
money,