The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-16
MAYOR AND BOARD.
Ronald Sends a Letter to Public
Works Commissioners.
SOME MORE PALTRY CHARGES.
The Mayor Will Meet the Board in
conference Experimentation
Of the Accusations.

Inc mayor has invited the members of the
poaro OF public works to meet him in confer
ence as to the provisions OF the ordinance regu-
iating the board which recently passed the
council before he signs it
A discussion took place upon the refusal of
the city council to pay the bills of two of the
engineers OF the water department for overtime.
superintendent Valid had submitted the follow
ing communication:
Gentlemen: l beg to call your attention to
matser which has been in an unsettled condi-
tion since took charge of the water department,
ana witch through the recent action of the hon.
orao!e city council is becoming more compile
Gated. refer to the insufficient force of epgin-
GERS employed at the Lake Washington pumping
station.
Early in last November the council was ap-
ship for the station. That could have been done
without any increase in the amount of salary
then paid, AID which amount has since been
paid up to and until the present city council re-
fused to pay for overtime
While the old city council did not create the
additional assistant eDglneership / asked ior, il
shift uaprovided for by ordinance and sane
TONED it by honorably paying for the work SO
performed.
Overtime has been made until the 10Th inst,
the last pay day. when the assistant engineers
declined to continue because they had not been
paid for the work performed up to the lst inst.
This placed this branch Of the department in
more aggravated position.
regard it as incumbent upon me to give eli
ficient service, the pumps must run continuous
~, without cessation pay or no pay, sufficient or
insufficient help. / have, therefore, no other
recourse but to order the chief engineer to tenn
porarily fill out the shit unprovided for, and
let h S other duties as chiefremain unperformed.
No man can perform both. This order, while
strictly in compliance with the wishes of the
new city council is directly in opposition to the
best interests, as well as the proper and economic
management. OF this branch of the department.
II places NE in a compromising position, Tor
TO heed the authority in power is to disregard
the interests am placed here to protect
The Lake Union plant is now being moved to
its new location, the pumps are being repaired,
they must be planted the boilers set aud the
plant fixed for permanent service. The old
pumps at Lake Washington must be thoroughly
overhauled in order to utilize their full effi-
cheney in the coming test. Certainly no person
conversent with such matters and who is I'M
biased Will contend that all this work shall be
done by contractors, without being held i'll
check by q trusted and competent person in the
city's employ to protect the city's interest Who
then shall perform this duty other and better
than the chief engineer under whom the work
was commenced; but he, the city council by
implication demand, shall stand regular eight
hours watch. This allows him no time to over
see the stations. LOOK after supplies, repairs, and
to attend to the manifold duties of chief Of de-
partment whose plants are fully seven miles
apart.
The duty of chief engineer. by common Gus
tom, Is not confined TO running shit for or at
certain time he is practically on duty and
subject to call at any time, day or night. when
ever an emergency arises.
Gentlemen, l firmly believe that If the honor
able city council were thoroughly familiar with
the requirements in this connection, that not
only speedy relief would be granted, but that
their action in disallowing overtime for work
honestly performed would also De promptly re-
scinded.
would therefore ask your honorable board
to lay the matter before the city council so that
definitely shaped course may be adopted at
the earliest possible moment.
Prompt attention to this matter is OF vital
Importance.
1t was resolved to send the report to the city
council with recommendation that the coun-
Gil allow pay to the engineers for the time they
had already worked, as they were clearly en-
titled to the pay.
Several petitions for grading of Division street
and Lincoln avenue were received and referred
to city engineer for report
The mayor sent in the following communities
ton with the remark that one of the men who
had made the complaint was badly under the
influence OF liquor at the time, but the mayor
thought an investigation ought to be made.
Mayor Ronald's letter is as follows:
SEATTLE, April IA, 1892.
While no formal complaint has been made to
me, yet certain persons, thinking that am the
one TO whom such should be made, have laid
before me, instead OF before you, the following
facts. which submit to you for your action. as
your best judgment may dictate. / do not
know anything about the truth Of the matter
further than what is shown by the records in
the comptroller's office:
Ii is represented to me that one William Mis-
ner during the month OF August, 1881, lost not
less than seven days, but was allowed thirty
one days time and paid accordingly; and that
he is a resident OF snohomish county, having
farm there, where his family now reside.
know nothing about the truth of the above,
excepting that the comptroller's records show
that he was allowed for the month OF August
thirty-one days time, and paid accordingly.
The above information was furnished me by
Andrew Lee, 523 Kinney street, and by W. II.
h
state to me that the same matters can be at
tested to by John Christopher, on the corner of
seventh and Virginia streets, and by Mr.. Helms,
corner OF South Twelfth and Weller streets.
They also state to me that the same William
Misner, during the month of January, 1892, lost
eleven days time. The comptroler's records
show that he was allowed twenty-six days for
the mouth of January, 1892.
These gentlemen say in addition to them
selves one James Fiemmirg, who believe is an
emp!oye OF the city, can testify to the iast-men-
toned fact
Before closing. permit me to further state that
have been informed that there is man in
your employ in and around the city barn, where
the horses are confined. who if reports are true,
Is liable 10 burn up the barn aad lose the stock.
1t is represented to me that one Dan Douohue
is in the habit of drinking little too much at
times, aud on last Christmas day got drunk and
carclessly caused fire to break out upstairs
over the barn, which made such Roadway as to
put out In order to conceal this from his en-
ployers he purchased some wall paper and pa
pered 1t over. There were nineteen horses in
the barn at the time of the fire.
am informed that the above fact is substan-
tiated by james Fleming, Andrew Lee, and also
by Pat LAWN and Ed Fitzgerald, the last two
named who stopped the fire.
As | said before. gentlemen, do not know
anything of the truth OF the above allegations,
aud feeling that under the circumstances may
have been approached with this information
when you would not be, thought ii wise TO
submit it to you for such action as you deem 1t
best to take.
Mr.. Alexander said tie accused, Donohue,
was a steady and reliable man, that the only
time he had not worked and been paid was
during part OF two days when the mans child
died The fire spoken OF was the mans rubber
coat catching fire at the stove some time late
last year. One OF the men making the accusa-
tious, which relate to last August and December
has been employed until April ,, when be was
discharged after several complaints Of drunken
ness.
The board, nevertheless decided TO call wit
nesses to be heard at O'Clock today.