Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-09
MR.. KNOWLES ACTION
Superintendent Of the Cas- Works Asks
for Foreman WalSh'S Resignation.
HAS THE RIGHT TO DISMISS.
City Attorney Mcredith's Opinion
Ipon This Mntter-BoOk-keepc
Meredith Also Asked to Retire
Facts tbout Needed Repairs.

MI. W lilail - huNNi'Ff fNlN'
Of the city Gas-Works. has asked for
the resignation Of Mr.. Thomas O. Walsh
foreman Of the Lower works. and Tor mat
Of Mr.. John i. Meredith, book-keeper
and clerk Of the department The latter
has already complied with tn request
90 far as he Is concerned. but the former
has not. However, II the resignation OF
Mr.. Walsh IS not forthcoming between
now and September 18th. superintendent
Kn.wles will exercise his prefogatlVe, ana
remove him, as he has already appointed
Mr.. william J. Mays, one Of the assist
ant gas-inspsctors. TO the place, to en-
ter upon the duties Of the position on
the date mentioned.
This Is in effect what superintendent
Knowles told Dispatch Exporter who
called upon him at his residence, No. z
east Canal street. last night The Super
intendent spoke in no uncertain terms
about the condition OF affairs at the gas
works. and said be proposed TO new
straight 10 the line, which meant the
b 81 results 10 the people Of the city
Of Richmond. lie could not tell what
other removals or changes might become
necessary, but said 10 matter what they
were. h would not hesitate for mo
ment to make them
INTERESTS OF THE CITY.
When asked his reasons for requesting
the resignation OF Foreman Walsh, tn
SUPERINTENDENT said II was very essen
tial fof him 10 have a. man in that place
who was thoroughly competent. ana one
in whom he had confidence. He dii not
feel that Mr. Walsh was such man. OF
he would never have allowed the WORKS
10 have gone 10 pieces as ne had. IN
this connection Superintendent hn0wies
referred 10 a large number OF repair
already made AT the lower plant, anu
producad q list Of other needed repairs,
showing that the works had evidently
been sadly neglected in the past. here is
the list Of u, eded repairs sent IN 10 th'
Superintendent By Foreman Walsh j"
july:
AT lower purifying house purifiers need
painting, one box needs repair lis, an
boxes need painting at olH pun s','7
house. next 10 eugine-foom, new lyN !.
and new floor needed, two new NhN,S
ana new window-glass wanted al frl ,.lI.
house window glass ne" rt'il'-' 49,
and some brick work needed III th5l'.c
room piastering ana painting cJndeis -
scrubber and troughs need paAhuh5' ga,
holder needs painting, anu tI','o.,'i
ana porch repairing. New roof W1hte'
on steam shed. repairs 10 io'l OF ga
eruith-eh0p needed: gas-cOal shel 70 ~
renaired. SLATE, roof adjoining retOrt- house
needs repairing. four new buck stoves ~
ret0rt wanted: puriiyinS-nOust nrsur
painting and stating, So ne" ~, nj
~ retorts wanted; I new taf-tahk, anu
a cover over tar-well needed. one s"iht lii-
lamp IN front OF b0ier-room wanted ,
new rails on tTestle would make lt-s n.
nee. ssary 10 move the cars anu ids , ~.
not least. q new scrGDber "ouiA De "iOn''
well invested.
IL BAD CONDITION.
Superintendent knowles said he found
both the Upper and the Lower works IN
very bad condition. but that he proposed
10 out them in good order at the low
est uOssitie cost 20 the city lie
could not tell what this would be. but
he hardly thought It. would reach ne
sum Of $3.50. although more than this
sum could be wei spent upon the works.
1 considerable amount had already been
expended TN necessary repairs, ana Il
would be- his policy only - make such I'M
provemerts as were absolutely essential
TO the proper maintenance n the plant
Superintendent Knowles said that he had
made an the repairs already made With
out the employment of any outsiders.
and added that n II were May, instead
of August. he could put of a number OF
men and run the works along just as
satisfactorily as they had been con
ducfe1 Ee is IN for reform IN this te.
p8rtmert. and declares that he viii not
remain at the head 81 the gas-works
unless be- can conduct them IN man
ner which viii rebound 20 tho best in
,erests Of the tax-paying citizens Of Rich
monl
HAS THE RIGHT TO REMOVE.
Speaking Of his power TO appoint and
remove suborInates in h.s department
the Superintendent handed the Dispatch
man the following opinion Of the city
Attorney In this connection;
RICHMOND. VA. July Il. 1915.
To the Committee on Light:
Gentlem n.-Auer an Examination of
charter - ~ the city Ordinances. per
tanning L. the gas-works. cannot ma
that any authority IS given To your COM
mittee 20 gppoint any oihcer or employee
connected with the Gas Department *
cert the Gas Inspector and his deputies.
/ am also 81 the opinion That under sec
ton of that chapter the appointments
of f0remen and also Of the clerks ana
book keepers AZ the gas-works lie with
the Superintendent. subject 10 the ap-
proval or disapprOVal OF the Committee
on Light Not having th- power 10 ap-
point those employees. you have not, by
Nor does the ordinance give you any
EXPRESS power such power only resides
I'M the Mayor the Council and the Su-
periuteudent u the Gas-WOrks. The bill
clerk in the Auditors office ! DO not
include in the above opinion.
G. Y. MEREDITH.
city Attorney.
II is under this opinion that Superin-
tendsnt Knowles proposes 10 act.
Mr.. Walsh seems - think the Superln-
tenlent is not treating him fairly in re-
questing his resignation or practically dis
/ charging him when he had passed through
the investig alton and had been eYorerated
/ bv the Committee on Light. the CITY At
/ torney. and the Council When asked to
resign he Intercepted Mr. Knowles az q
/ rs reasons for removing him. and says
I the Superintendent replied that outside
/ pressure demanded H. Foreman Walsh
I claims that Superintendent Knowles al
/ mi;ied 10 him thar he walsh was a per
| fec'ly competent man.
Mr.. Merediths resignation IS 10 take
] effect September 18th. His succ sssJr has
I not yet been named.
I
TWO FUNERALS YESTERDAY.