Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-06-18
1R[ u[ IS PASSED.
Council Proceedings Enlivened
by a Vigorous Passage
at Words.
Friction Between City Employees
at Sewafe Disposal Plant
the Cause.
Council Donates 500 to the
Forty.ninth Regiment Band.
Other Proceedings.
The lie was passed several times at


The lie was passed several times at
the council meeting Monday night. most
of the time in polite manner but
once vigorously and direct The trouble
arose over conflict of authority be-
tween city employees and conflict of
committee and the council as n whole.
Messrs. Harris and Mcclure, those COM
yades who have fought side by side in
many an aldermanic battle We're found
opposing each other vigorously, and the
session was the liveliest one held since
the new administration assumed the
reins OF city government
Several weeks ago the council, in COM
mittee of the whole, agreed to employ
Gus Wahlberg to act az foreman or SUI
perintendent or boss of the concrete and
cement work being done at the sewage
disposal plant, at a salary of 500 per
month. When the work commenced
trouble commenced. eliminating in the
row at the council meeting. Superin-
tendent of Mains r. q. Mack, who has
had general supervision of the sewage
plant, objected to the manner In which
Wahlberg was mixing and laying the
concrete and told him II was not ac-
cording to specifications. After Consult
ing Engineer Marston. Chief Engineer
Merrill of the Glucose Sugar Refining
Company, Chairman Mcclure and Mr..
Benson, of the special committee, in
spected the first work they also protest.
ed that the concrete was not properly
mixed and Mr.. Mcguire, with Mr. Ben
son concurring, issued an order to Mr..
Wahlberg to the effect that he was to
work under the directions of Superin-
Aendent Mack. Monday night DIR. Har
ris, the third member of the committee
sprung resolution to rescind the order
of the two members of the committee
placing Wahlberg under the superinten-
dents direction, and 1t was this resolu-
ton that brought on the war of words
In the council chamber. the doctor
claiming that two members of the com
mittee sought to override the whole
council.
The resolution Brought Mr.. Mcclure
to the defense of his action, and while
admitting that Mr.. Wahlberg's ability
as a cement man was unques-
toned, he claimed that Wahlberg
either did not know anything regarding
concrete or for some reason refused To
follow the specifications. MIR. Mcclure
said that since Mr.. Mack's Instructions
as laid down by the engineers had beer
followed, there had been no trouble and
the work was satisfactory. During the
chairman's defense of his action Mr.
Wahlberg, who sat in the rear of the
council chamber, interrupted him sever
al times by saying: THAT ia not so
That is not sol" MIR. Mcclure insisted
every word was true and Mr.. Wahlbert
reiterated that it was not true 80 vigor
ously that Mayor Jones was compelled
DO caution him to be quiet.
Dr. Harris also became indignant al
some of Mr.. McGuire'a statements, es
pecially that in reference to every
thing being harmonious. Harmony eS
listed only when Mr.. Mack was not pres
ent, he said. and he gave it as Wahl
berg's statement that trouble had oc
CURED that afternoon at 4 o'clock. whe
Superintendent Mack visited the plan,
Mr.. Mack, who was in the room at tn
time, at this poin, exclaimed. "Docto
he's q damned liar" DIR. Harris make
q distinction between the different way
of calling man a liar, and while h
did not resent Mr. Wahlbergs polite in
ference that Mr.. MCGUIRE was tellin
an untruth. he turned upon Mr. Mac
and gave him scoring, saying he wa
surprised that city emrloye would us
such language before the council i
open meeting. He also declared that til
superintendent shouldn't assume tn
authority of the entire council. FINAL
the storm blew over and a vote Vas Ia
ken. resulting in the adoption of tn
Harris motion to- revoke the con-
mittee's action, Messrs. Benson, Kreu,
ger and MCGUIRE voting asains
1t and Messrs Fisher, kirb,
The result was not accepted very grac,
fully, Mr.. Mcclure saving that unies
there was some responsible supervisio
OF the work satisfactory results coul
not be obtained and the committs
would receive the blame.
City Solicitor Van Law reported to II
council that Judge Burnhnm had mad
ruling in the carse of Mary f. Gei
against city, an action to restrain TIL
levying OF an assessment for the cor
struction of a cement sidewalk In :roi
of her property at the corner of Churc
street and Third avenue. The result ";
victory for the city, the court holdir
that the assessment. may be levied. bi
not unul the work Is made satisfa,
tory.
The council is DESTROYS of having
sidewalk laid to the Soldiers Home. al
q committee of four consisting OF Ha
rls. Kreutzer, Fisher and Henry, ";
selected to confer with Commander
Horton and the board of control to s.
cure their cooperation and have II
state build a walk thru portion of Il
grounds provided the city will build Of
on Ninth street to connect with 1t.
A report was received from City FL
glneer Bremner on the cost of tw
routes for proposed sewer on Ea
Linn, Fifth avenue and Frederic
streets-one route to entail an expen
Of 1915 and the other of $1,000. NJ
kreutzer tried to secure favorable a
tion, but Messrs Fisher. Harris al
other representatives from differel
wards opposed. on the ground that the
constituents had been asking for sey
ers for two years or more. and there
not money enough in sight to bui