Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-02-01

nIshed it would not be responsible for it
tendent of the plant. to whom Mr..
O'Donnell was an assistant, had made
the same complaint of him to the commit
tee. Every expert that has come here
has left the plant in good condition and
was hardly out of town before it was all
wrong again. This expert now here, Mr..
Knapp, says the machinery is not in fault.
The trouble with the light Of last night
and the night before. this expert says,
was because O'Donnell did not key up
the boxes. The results of Mr.. O'Donnell's
superintendencY, themselves, make the
charge of incomretency against him.
Mr.. Craig urged that there were no
charges against Supt. O'DonHell, and a
city officer could not be removed without
charges.
Mr.. Bell-Then l will make them.
Mr.. Bell then remodeled his resolutions
so as to make them read as follows:
WHEREAS, great complaints have reached
the Council of the unsatisfactory working of
the Electric Light plant; and whereas, there
is reason to believe that the trouble is due to
the incompetence of the Superintendent of
the Electric Light;
Reso5oed, LIST. That the Superintendent of
Electric Light be suspended until further Or
ders of the Council.
3D. That the Committee on Electric Light
be instructed to take charge of the plant and
have the same run by the expert now here, till
further orders
3D. That said Committee be instructed to
investigate and report to the Council what is
the cause of the trouble complained of, said
report to be made to meeting of the Council
to be held on Wednesday night next.
Mr.. Craig opposed this resolution. AS
for the McNett letter of 1887, he said, the
Council was estopped from considering
the charges in that, because it had elected
him Superintendent since that letter was
written, and with full knowledge of it.
THE VOTES.
Mr.. Bells substitute to suspend Mr..
O'Donnell pending an official investigation
OF his competency, was defeated by the
following vote:
Ayes-Messrs. Bell, Butts. Tams and
Weller
Noes-Messrs. Armentrout, Bargamin,
Berkeley. Craig, Crimmens, Crowle, Nc
Quaide, Summerson-8.
The resolution of Mr.. Bargamin to fur
Tough the Superintendent for go days to
90 to the company's works and learn at
his own expense, was then adopted, only
Mr.. Bell voting in the negative. 1t reads
as follows:
Resoloed. That the electric machinery of
the city be placed in the hands of an expert
for the period of sixty days at price agreed
upon by the electric light committee; and
that the present superintendent, O'Donnell
be allowed leave of absence for entering the
factory of the Thompson Houston company
for that PERIOD for the purpose of perfecting
himself in the handling of the machinery, to
be at his own expense and without salary
from the city during that time, and shall re-
turn for the purpose of entering upon his
duty with a certificate of proficiency from the
company if such certificates are awarded I'M
der similar circumstances.
MORE MACHINERY.
Mr. Tams offered resolution appro-
priat1ng $500 to exchange the present dyn-
amo for one of more power, to be put in at
once.
Mr.. McQuaide opposed it on the groand
that if we intend to ascertain who was at
fault, Mr.. O'Donnell Or the machinery,
we ought to let the expert run it the 60
days with the same machinery Mr.. O'Don-
nell ran it. That was the only way Mr..
O'Donnell could have fair play.
Mr.. Bell can't see what difference
the new machinery can make from your
point of view. You have refused to in
vestigate Mr.. O'Donnell, and you turn
over the city's property to him in any
event competent or incompetent.
Mr.. Craig took the same view as MI
McQuaide.
Nj. Tams' resolution was adopted, only
Messrs. Craig and McQualde voting in the
negative.
Mr.. Weller explained that if be had
listened more attentively to Mr.. Tams'
explanation, that the dynamo Mr. O'Oon-
nell was operating. Was loaded with more
lamps than it could carry, he would not
have voted for Mr.. Bel's resolution sus-
pending him.