The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-03

The investigation of the city engineer
began this forenoon at the city hall. Ii
is tased upon charges brought by Henry
G. Clark of the Providence Coal Company,
and the Alderman who presides over the
deliberations Is Myron II. Fuller Of the
Providence Coal Company.
Mr.. Clark was represented by his attor-
ney, Arnold Greene, and occasionally
stuck in an'oar himself. The statements
were merely a rehash of the effusions
with which Mr.. Clark has bored Stare
and city committees for years, and to the
effect that Mr.. Shedd had refused to
allow the Providence Coal Company to
violate the harbor laws by building be-
yond the line; that Mr.. Shedd has no
right to be city engineer and harbor COM
missioner; that Mr.. Shedd isn't q resi-
dent; that Mr.. Shedd's department il in
an awful state any how, and furthermore
that Mr.. Clark could run the department
to much better advantage.
Mr.. Greene briefly enumerated these
points ana eFoss-examinsd-- -Air.-- Shedd.
He also called upon Mr.. Charles e. Simp-
son of the Henry C.. Clark Detective
Agency, who testified that he went to
Woonsocke. on the steam cars and there
discovered the name OF Mr. Shedd In the
city directory. The excitement In the
committee room was intense when this
statement was made and one might have
heard a pin drop when Mr.. simpson
finished his statement.
Mr.. Shedd made few informal state-
mepts but will answer the charges at q
subsequent hearing.
Attorney Greene apologized for his
client in these words "Mr. Clark is an
neither, and am interested in nothing.
Therefore i could save the time OF the
committee by presenting the case for
him. That is my only reason, gentlemen,
for being here.p
Then Mr. Greene and his client aud his
clients detective withdrew.
During the hearing some one had pro-
duced a copy OF the Engineering News OF
May u, 1896. which contains an article
on the Morrison-Jewell Filter Plant and
in it is the statement that the plans were
prepared by the consulting engineer,
Edmund 3. Weston, M. A. nj. Soc. {. E.,
OF Providence.
MIR. Shedd was asked about this
and he stated that he knew
nothing of Mr.. Weston's connection with
the matter until he saw the printed mr.
ticle. He intimated that be strongly dis
approved of it himself and thought that
an investigation would be proper. Com
missioner Robert Il. Smith expressed the
same opinion and Mr. Weston was called.
He frankly acknowledged that he had
not only acted in this instance, but in
Others, as a consulting engineer. He also
stated that the outside work had been
done in time due him from the city Is q
vacation.
The opinion was then expressed by the
Investigators that vacations are intended
for rest and recreation and Mr.. Weston
was called TO account for not recreating,
according to ordinance.
in his own defense Mr.. Weston said
that he held the highest degree in engi-
neering both in this country and In Eu-
rope and that he had a reputation at
home and abroad as an expert. Under
those circumstances he could not afford
TO give his entire time to the city OF
Providence Tor a salary which is less than
$1,000 year.
1t did not occur to the committee that
il Ia a benefit and an honor to the city to
have a man in it's employ whose services
are sought for in other states and other
countries, but after Mr.. Weston retired
uncomplimentary remarks were made be-
hind his back.
The inferior bench then adjourned sub
jcct to the call of Judge Fuller.