San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-14
ONE MAN
WORTH A DOZEN IN THE COUNCIL.

Session Yesterdays Roller Schas-
SEES Alley, School Board, City Cart
Jobbery, the $4,000, Another
Veto Another Meeting To-
day-LarRe Attendance.
After the council had seated them
selves the clerk called the roll and
found all the members present, except
Alderman Bergstrom, Alderman Belk-
nap being absent ON leave. The minutes
were then read, corrected and approved.
The mayor then read with apparent re-
luctance the following communication
which started q small breeze in the
council room:
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned, resi-
dent Of San Antonio, most respectfully
represents to your honorable body that
he is, and for about fifteen years has
been practical engineer and machinist,
that by request so to do, he has person
ally Inspected the city steam roller
touching the alleged defects in material
and workmanship in its manufacture,
and after careful examination OF said
roller, begs to say that in my judgment
both the material and workmanship are
first class; but that the condition OF said
roller at time of examination ia indeed
bad; but that the alleged defects errOne-
ously charged to poor material and
workmanship are in fact directly at
tributable TO very unskilled manage
ment by those having charge OF the
steam roller.
That the report of the committee APP
pointed by your honorable body TO IN
spect said steam roller was not, nor Is not
supported by facts and is incorrect; that
said steam roller has been very greatly
abused and mistreated, that Oftentlmes
a small boy ha, been left in charge OF
said roller while being operated; that al
most every day said boy would be ieit
in charge more or less, during which
time said boy would allow some OF his
companions TO try their hand at engIn-
eering. which management has directly
caused and produced the defects fraud
ulently charged to bad material and
Workmanship in manufacture. Respect
fully. Il. +. WILLIS,
Engineer.
The mayor was asked by Smye who
had ordered the investigation, and re-
piled that he did not know, only that
the communication said 1t had been Or
dered by some alderman. Smye moved
lUAI IL UOl ItJ0lNShs LAWN "O'h H''''
that while he had nothing to do with
the paper he had something which he
wished to present. He was chOked of
by the mayor who told him he could
bring it up under new business" lie
said he would and sat down. Gallagher
thought all citizens had right to petit
ton the council and that this COmmuni-
cation ought to be received. Smye said
il was not q petition but complaint.
The investigation was unauthorized and
was the result of some sinister
motive. Mackey wanted to know
who Willis was and ii he was
an engineer and machinist. The
mayor replied he did not know him.
The city engineer is now investigator &
this street roller matter with view to 3
law suit. Mackey-Has Willis referen-
ces or credentials? Mayor-NOne what
ever, here. If you adopt this you will
virtually whitewash the roller. Lock
wood said it is the duty of the council to
receive complaint even from the hum
best citizen. Here is a complaint made
of considerable gravity and he moved
they receive it and call it up at some fu-
ture time. Mackey-If he is an engineer
let this come up. If he is not. why drop
it. Smye said 1t was an examination and
not complaint and he moved to reject
it. After some further discussion, Dege-
ner's motion that it be taken up in I'M
finished business was carried by the fol-
lowing vote. Yeas-Degener, Gallagher,
Lockwood. French, HambletOn, Meal
lister, Mackey. Nays Sohreiner, Smye
and Conner.
~ have communication from the
city physician said the may or, lin re-
Spouse to the resolution as to who owned
and drove the scavenger carts" He
then read the doctors reply TO the effect
that the carts not being appointed or
hired by him, he was not aware who
they were or who the carts were driven
by.
Lockwood asked if anything had been
received in regard to this from the street
commissioner.
The mayor said yes, and read the fol-
lowing list of carts and their drivers in
the employ of the street commissioners
department: