The record-union., 1893-10-26
AN INHARMONIOJS BOARD.
Four Assistants Appointed to Canvass
the Water Users.
Trustee Conklin Leaves the Board and
Declines TO Vote on Their
Appointment.

The Board of City Trustees met yester-
day morning for the purpose Of consider
ing the matter OF raising the Y-street
levee.
City Surveyor Boyd was in attendance
to give his figures to the board.
Trustee ConkIin thought that If the
board would stop at Twenty-second or
Twenty third street it would save the
city's money.
Trustee Green thought the upper part
OF the levee might be made foot lower
than had been contemplated.
The Mayor asked Mr.. Boyd if taking
the gravel away which is already there
would not cost about as much as to leave
it and put other gravel on top OF the
levee when finished.
The board were all agreed in the idea
that taking up the gravel would weaken
the levee and that it would be better not
to disturb it, as there would not be at the
outside more than $4,000 extra and would
give a solid, secure levee.
1t was decided to raise it all along up to
Thirty first street and make a thoroughly
secure levee there for many years to
come.
The bid of James Touhey for 80 cents
per yard for earth, and 81 80 per yard for
gravel, was then accepted and the con-
tract ordered signed.
''Now, Mr.. Touhey," said the Mayor,
''you want to get right about this, as it
wants to be done Immediately. How
long will it take you-siXty days ?"
Touhey thought he could do it in that
time and would start in Immediately.
That's right said the Mayor. "Get
your bond signed right away and we Will
f~ Thara
want work, Get your teams here in the
city instead of going outside for them"
II think" said Trustee Green, THAT
there will have to be some riprapping
done above the Pioneer Mill, which will
cost about $3.50"
''Well, have it DONE" said the Mayor
'There is plenty of money. After all this
work is done there will be about $4,000
left out of the 100000 voted for the
levees."
City Surveyor Boyd stated the R-street
sewer contract, which was let on Mon
day to William Snarr, would necessltate
laying the pipe across private lands and
asked that the Clerk notify citizens own
ing the land that MI Snarr was entitled
under his contract to enter such lands
and lay the sewer across them. The
Clerk was directed to notify the citizens
to that effect.
Then came some music in the air and
an open rupture in the board.
+. Hartman stated that in order to
Aroperiy expert the books Of the Water
= orks it would be necessary to divide
the city into four districts and appoint a
man for each district to make a thorough
canvass of water users. It would cost,
he thought, 50 per day for each man.
Mayor Steinman said that such good
results had followed the action already
taken that he favored appointing the men
as Mr.. Hartman suggested.
Ct,,y,
slider all this unnecessary. | think all
that has been done unnecessary, and that
there is no occasion for any such action.
In three months from now there will
probably be an entire change in the sys-
tenn Of collecting water rates, just about
the time all this work will be finished.
The expense should not be incurred
merely for curiosity. 1t is my depart
ment and | think l am capable of run
ming il. | have not been consulted and
nave opposed this action from the first,
as I can see no good results 10 follow. Ii
the collectors are not doing their duty it
is all right to discharge them, but no dis
honesty is charged against them and this
viii accomplish no good.'
atHartman said that he proposed to put
the books in such shape that the new col
lectOrs could have their work plainly laid
out for them and could go right ahead
with them, but Mr.. Conklin did not think
he could.
well, this has shown good results so
far,' said MIR. Steinman. Il don't want
to discharge the collectors till l find out
that they ought to be discharged. There
is one thing certain-the collectors have
no right to fix or alter rates or TO COM
promise and accept part payment in
full"
AZ have never heard of their doing such
a thing" said Mr.. Conklin. ''If they
have done so I know nothing of it."
well, one Of them at least has" said
the Mayor. "a gentleman. whom I can
produce if necessary, told me that when
the collector told him be WAS two years
in arrears he asked him (the COLLECTOR
why he had not presented his bill before
and refused to pay it. 1t amounted to
S24, and the collector said, We'll, give me
half and call IT square, No collector has
any right to do anything Of the sort or to
offer any compromise"
''If any such thing has happened" said
Mr.. Conklin, Il have never heard of it,
We'll" said Steinman. that is what
the gentleman told me. move that the
four assistants be appointed as asked for
by Mr.. Hartman"
IF you two men are going to run my
department you can do it," said Mr..
Conklin, getting up and taking his hat
Il am not going to stay here 10 be in
suited any longer"
The Mayor put the motion, he and
Trustee Green voting aye.
How do you vote, Mr.. Conklin?" said
he as the latter was passing out OF the
gate in the railing.
II am not here" said Mr.. Conklin, and
passed on out.
II think you had better vote" said the
Mayor, and declared the motion carried
Henry Newhaus, Henry.:O Brien ,Wes-
ley Rose and James Doty do not live i'm
the precincts for which they are placed on
the election boards, necessitating the sub
stitution of other names.
Sid Howell was appointed Clerk. vice
James Doty. for the tirst precinct of the
First Ward; NJ. 5. Hyams Judge, vice
" esley Rose, for Precinct of the Sixth
Ward; Louis Caitaro Clerk, vice Henry
Newhaus, for Precinct l Of the First
Ward, and Frank Jenkins Clerk, vice ".
r. OBrien, for Precinct of the Second
Ward.
W. L. Schilling's initials, which were
wrong, were corrected.
The Mayor called attention to the pro-
visions OF the election law, which state
that officers appointed on election boards
must serve under $500 penalty, unless
excused, and stated that those who did
not wish 10 serve must present their ex-
cuses to the board next Monday, or no
attention could be paid to them.
The beard then adjourned.