Evening journal., 1897-01-01
HARTMAN ON CHAMBERS.
HE PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO THE
S. AND S. PRESIDENT

MR.. KNOWLES, AND DEMON
sTRATEs THE INCONSISTENCY
OF THE STREET AND SEWER
MAN.
This morning an Evening Journal
reporter called upon City Solicitor Har-
man and asked him for an expression
of opinion regarding the refusal of
President Chambers. Of the Street and
Sewer Department. TO sign the check
drawn as compensation for Horace G.
Knowles professional work I'm the
sewer lien case. He said
81 had decided to say nothing about
this matter and were it not for the
fact that Mr. Chambers had assumed
a very illogical position, and made
statements that were untrue. ! would
have adhered to my original resolu-
tion. ! have often heard and read of
officials, whose term of Office had
about expired. having very sudden
spasms of seeming virtue, and OF as
suming the role of sef-cOnstituted
guardians (?) of the public treasury
and | now see that Mr.. Chambers Is
not unlike some of those spotless, sim
less, exemplary officers But he. him
self does not seem to know why he
has acted so strangely IN this matter.
"A few days ago, his reason. as
given I'm the public press, for so act
ing, was that was Mr. Knowles law
partner. and that / would receive one
half of his fee. The day after that he
shifted his position and gave a differ
ent reason. namely that had taken
in associate counsel without asking
the permission of his deprtment--and
after had stated / would have none.
If you would interview him again per-
haps he would assign another. and
very different reason. and so on. ad
in finitum. But then this is very much
like Mr.. Chambers. for anyone who
knows him will tell You that he pos
sesses a very restless, nervous tenn
porament, and mentally, is just a little
bit criatic. But ! wonder If Mr.. Cham
bers thinks what very Inconsistent
position he has placed himself I'M?
When Mr.. Knowles sent In his bill for
services i'm the Wilckens aud also in
the Seward damage suits, Mr.. Cham
bers not only voted for il. but he him
self, presented IT; and not only that
hut spoke in favor Of il in language
that was at the same time both vigor-
GUS and eloquent. He did himself
credit lie made no objection then
AiiNAA WI ANliVNitn WIS lily law partner.
and that / would receive one-half of his
fee nor did he breathe word about
my employing assistant counsel with
out consulting the department of which
he is president Yet, now all is
changed! Consistency thou art
jewel.
AS to my saying | would not en-
ploy assistant counsel in the English
case, / never said anything of the kind.
] simply took the stand that would
not permit that department Tor any
other department for that matter). to
dictate to me whom | should employ.
but that would exercise my own judg-
ment about the matter since ! alone.
and no one else, was responsible for
tlle a1fafts c0nnecied With my Office.
tBst ad 'eN ptessy told botH MI Sim-
( mons and Mr., Chambrs. who -cal4ed TO
see me (and with whom ! had a very
pleasant talk). that / intended to asso-
ciate Mr.. Knowles with me in that
case, and no one else. Mr.. Chambers
replied that Mr. Knowles was all right,
but that he was young and ineXper-
fenced. ! replied that / had made my
mind up In regard to this matter. and
that was the end of IT, And / made
the same statement TO the reporters
OF the public press at that time. and il
so appeared i'm the Every Evening of
Friday, April n, 1896. under the head
ing of 'Harman & Knowles for the
city IN the Evening Journal of Sat
urday. April is 1896, and in the Morn
ing News of Friday, April II. 1896 In
the News il appeared as follows:
MR.. HARTMAN AND A SUIT.
City SolicitorH Harman has decided to
conduct the case of English VS.. the
City before the Court OF Error and Ap-
peals this month with the assistance
of his partner, Horace c.. Knowles.
The Street and Sewer Department
suggested that, as the case was an inn
portant one, Mr. Harman secure the
services of Bradford & Nandegrift. or
some other counsel TO assist himself
and partner. but he declines to do so.
feeling that they are capable of attend
ing TO the case. The case involves the
validity of the sewer lien law. and AT
least $4,000 is involved
These statements appeared i'm these
papers a month before the trial of that
case And / followed mp an / said by
having Mr.. knowles present when
received any Information from the Of
hcers OF that department. I'm regard TO
the facts OF the case and bv taking
him with me TO the office of Mr. Hat
ton, engineer of the Street and Sewer
Department, when l wemt there to col
iect data, and otherwise prepare for
that case. More than this. Mr.. Knowles
assisted me in that case and sat up
with me in our offices working on il
IN after midnight no less than three
times. So much for this matter
won't charge Mr.. Chambers with
Intentional falsehOod-hur his state
ment is not true. AS 7 said before. his
mind is slightly cratic and this NAV
account for what he has said. AS 1
feel charitably inclined. I prefer to put
II this way. ] could say a little more
10 the point. but I think ] have said
enough to show that Mr. Chambers is
foundering around on slippery ground
Had | taken i'm with me the firm that
was suggested the city would have had
a bill to pay ot $4,000, and not a penny
less. And any lawyer at the bar will
tell you so. The department itself.
think Will be frank enough to admit
this fact Mr.. Chambers ought to feel
heartily ashamed of himself. and touse
t..t4