The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-03
WON'T STAND THE EXPENSE.
ENGINEERS UNWILLING TO PAY
FOR TELLING WHAT THEY KNOW.

VAR. Thomas Says the Engineers
should Not he Required to Pay for
Doing the City Good Turn-Al-
derman Owens Believes the ResO-
luton He Suggests VIII Protect
the City-How Supervising En-
gineer Chapman and Alderman
hrOusISoR view the situation.
If the City Council passes Alderman
Owens proposed resolution requiring En-
gineers Craig. Thomas and Sugden 10
pay for the unearthing of pipe and con-
struction which proves to be all right in
the house drainage investigation, it may
have a dampening effect on the investi-
cation.
The engineers do not view the action Of
Council favorably. They will not hesitate
so far as disclosing facts in their posses
sion are concerned. but they do not pro
pose to pay the expenses of the
investigation. If the city desires the ben
eft Of their observations which, they say,
were made in a casual but reliable way,
they are willing to disclose what they
know for the citys benefit. But on the
other hand, if the city wishes to discour-
age them, they will have nothing to do
with the matter.
THE proposition by Alderman Owens for
us to pay the charges of looking into
these charges is monstrous." said Engi-
neer Thomas yesterday. IF 1 see a man
losing his money, and inform him Of the
fact viii he then charge me for the in
formation l have given him? We claim
the city is not getting the right kind of
work on the house drainage system, and
offer to prove it. Must we pay the city
for this privilege? AS for myself l am
perfectly willing to let the matter go be-
fore the City Council, and if the board
sees proper to demand money of us for
Offering this Information, then [ shall
have nothing further 90 do with it.
1T has been charged that the engineers
are insincere in their action, that they
are seeking jobs" said Mr. Thomas.
why, bless your soul, 1 do not want a
job l do not wish to engage myself 10
any man. What / have said in connec-
ton with the house drainage work is the
truth and IL the city don't want to hear
the truth, then it is time to let the mat
the construction of the house drainage
system, saw very little of what went on,
but l saw enough for Council to consider"
Alderman Owens was seen in reference
to his proposed condition on which the
investigation will be conducted. If the
engineers mean business, he said, let them
agree to this. Ii is not his purpose, he
said, to choke off the investigation, but
simply to keep the city safe from useless
expenditures, and GO make the engineers
reasonably sure Of the charges they make.
Council does not desire to be digging
through The city hunting trouble. II the
engineers know where 1t exists, the con-
struction and pipe will be unearthed,
thoroughly examined, and il found in faul-
ty condition as charged, then l shall favor
the city paying for the work. But if the
places they charge are faulty, are found
properly constructed, say let the engin-
GERS pay for the trouble of looking into
the matter. They should not prefer charges
unless they know them to exist
Supervising Engineer Chapman, under
whose direction all the work last year was
done. is not worrying himself about the
turn things have taken. He as engaged daily
looking after the work, which is progress
ing rapidly When the hearing begins,
however, he will be ready to answer all
questions in rela lion to that part of the
work completed.
IL want the engineers to tell what they
know about defective work." said Alder
man Krouskoff. II should not like to see
the work hindered In any way, but if there
are facts ii viii be beneficial to the city
to know, let us have them. Truth is mighty
and win prevail; that's all we want"