, 1892-07-08
THE CITY COUNCIL.
Efforts to Gust the Present City
Engineer.

Mrs Lemon Asks for an AuVestiga-
tIOn-COunciIman SickeIs ssdOes
not want the Peoples money
Wasted''-miscelIane Matters.
The city council voted to reduce the city
expenses by dispensing with two members
Of the police force, and it is likely that
reduction in the number of electric lights
will follow. Much of the evening was
taken up in endeavoring to SHOW that the
present city engineer was not qualified to
fill the office. Councilman Sickels wanted
an investigation, but the rest of the coun-
Gil seemed to be pretty well satisfied with
Mr.. Lemon.
In discussion of the Sixth street grade,
which had been brought to the attention
of the city council by R. B. McCausland,
Mr.. TalcOtt said that it was now claimed
that the grade had never been established,
but it was fact that Dud Henry and
other engineers had made surveys, and the
prOhles had been filed in the office of the
city engineer. IF Mr.. Lemon or some.
body else" said Mr.. Talcott. ,'basn,t
burned them up they should be there
now"
Mr.. Ford stated that if there were anv
charges OF lncompetency against Mr. Lem
on, they should be formally presented so
that an investigation might follow. Mr.
Phlpps agreed with Mr.. Ford, but did not
believe that any charges had been present.
ed.
Mr.. Sickels declared that Mr.. McBratney
was IN possession of charges against Mr..
Lemon, which he failed to report. He said
that he himself charged Mr.. Lemon with
being incompetent last year. Il had to
spend, as chairman of the street commit
tee" he continued, "several hundred dol
lars in patching up mistakes of Mr..
Lemons. II the city engineer has all he
can do at present, why not employ man
Tor the sewers Mr.. McBrAtneV said the
engineers bill for June would be light. but
1T amounted to $I10. A majority of the
sewer committee wants another engineer.
II Is only courtesy to the committee to let
1t employ the man it wants. Besides. with
the wages now paid we can employ one
engineer part OF the time and another at
other times. 1 don't believe in letting one
man pull the teat for all it is worth"
AT this instance, Mr. Ford said he would
like to have an opinion from Engineer
Miller, to which the latter replied: II have
worked a good deal with Mr.. Lemon TODAY
and l haven't found anything out of the
way In fact he seemed to be entirely com
petent to do that class of work His lines
were as straight as tiddle-string"
Mr.. Ford said that it was due Mr. Lemon,
that an investigation should be held and in
this, Mr.. Lemon who had arrived during
the debate, agreed. He wanted a thorough
investigation and a fair showing, and would
render any assistance he could in the in
YestigatiOn.
Mr.. Phipps said he was satisfied that Mr..
Lemon had been blamed for things that he
Is not responsible for. l feel like Mr.. Ford.
and will vote to remove Mr. Lemon if an
investigation proves that he is incompe-
tent.'
Mr.. Ford here called for the business be-
lore the house, and it was voted to pay
Engineer Miller his installment of $3.50.
Mr.. Sickels voted against the bill, with the
explanation: 81 have voted against all
these bills because [ believe the expense
for the new plans unnecessary. 1 have no
feeling against Mr.. Miller, but have got
conscientious scruples against spending the
peoples money"
Mr.. Sickels occupied the chair and after
the discussion had quieted be said that an
investigation must now be had as Mr..
Lemon had demanded it. He suggested
that Mr.. TalcOtt make a motion, but Mr.
Talcott answered that it was not his affair
and there the matter rested.
Among other matters before the council
was a resolution which was introduced by
Mr., Ford, as follows:
WHEREAS, the existing circumstances
solutely require that the expenses Of con
Quoting the city's affairs should be re-
duCed and,
WHEREAS, There are now more policemen
In the employ of the city than are neces-
sary; therefore be it
Resolved, by the city council of the city
Olympia, That the services of two police
men be dispensed with from and after the
10th day of this month, and that the CITY
marshal report the names of the two dis
charged at the next regular meeting of the
council.
The resolution was adopted, Mr.. Talcott
voting against it. Mr. McBratney was ab-
sent.
Mr.. Phipps said thatas soon as he could
get around to it he proposed introducing a
resolution reducing the number of lights
MT. Slckels urged him not to be in hurry
1t was resolved that $4,000 be trans
ferred from the sewer fund to a special
fund to be denominated the sewer labor
fund, for the payment of labor performed
upon the sewer system now being put in
by the city of Olympia.
Police Justice Rathbun reported the COL
lection Of $50 during June
City Engineer Lemon submitted esti-
mates placing the cost of graYeling Main
street from Second to Third street at
$178.75, and from Fifth to Sixth at $2I5.
George ID. Scoheld's warrant fO- plank
ing Columbia street was ordered drawn on
the general fund.
George B. Lane and eight others sub
mitted a proposition to convey to the CITY
land for street along the Westside shore
on condition that the city will grade the
proposed street and charge the cost of
grading out of the general fund The mat
ter was referred to the street committee.
Warrants were ordered drawn for the
following bills;