The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-05-20
II am
Regularly qualifed?"

Regularly qualifed?"
II am"
s'Then you ought to carry this COM
plant to the board Of state factory and
tenement inspection"
"What comes after them 2" asked
Gordon.
"Nhat?'
What is the next public body to
WHICH I shall be referred after the fac
tory and tenement inspection body de-
nics its responsibility in the mat.er?"
The man gra7ely stared at Gordon.
Don't let it keep you awake to-
night" said Gordon, in deep disgust as
he went out, and as it was too late to
call IN the state factory and tenement
inspection body he won't back to Hope
House, where he made an attempt to
give a humorous account Of his after
Moons experience, but dlsmally failed,
as he could see by the look on Miss
Andrews face.
He went down to the city hall next
day and found that the state factory
inspectors met at regular sessions on
the 1st of the month. From all the
knowledge he could gain he concluded
that the delays he would have to en-
dure before that body would consider
his complaint would be so annoying
that Tommy Randall would have bis
/ double decker all built and inhabited
| before the red tape had all been un,
wound from the complaint filed with
the department.
He came back to Hope House and
had a conference with Miss Andrews.
81 am perfectly satisfied as to this
administration" Gordon said, speaking
with repressed indignation. They are
all set Of political thieves. What do
they care for humanity? So far as !
can learn there has never been con-
viction during the whole Of the present
administration for violating tenement
house ordinances. There have been
numerous complaints filed at different
times, but they have all been treated
with the most insolent contempt or po-
litely entered In some department,
there to lie untouched. But there Is
one course open to US now, and I'm
going to take It."
:"Of course I know what you mean.
You can carry a complaint directly to
the city attorney, have Tommy arrest
ed and bring the case into the police
court. Do you know how many times
we have had Tommy arrested"
Gordon shook his head in surprise.
"Within the last eight years, for one
thing and another, Tommy Randall has
been arrested as many as fifteen times,
with no result except failure On our
part to convict. Do you wonder that
we women in Hope House have given
up arresting Tommy"
'It seems to me the person to arrest
| is the mayor" growled Gordon. "Be-
fore God, he is guilty If ever man was"
"Arrest Tommy and bring the case In
julius Chambers court According to
the statute law, the jurisdiction OF
Chambers court extends to all cases IN
Waterside district Chambers has ney.
er had a case Of this kind. From all
that we know Of him so far he is not
afraid Of Randall nor in any way IN
detted to him"
Gordon gravely assented. He was sit.
ting in the library, where his view
| through the window extended down
Bowen street to the end Of the burned
district. He could see group Of work
men laying out foundations for Tom
my's first double decker.
The sight suggested a plan to Cor
don, and he went out and walked over
to the place.
Tommy Randall was at the farther
end Of the lot, but as Gordon came up
he walked over to the street and said
with cheerful insolence.
"Fine day for building, Mr.. Gordon"
Gordon went down to the end OF the
lot. The basement excavation had been
made, and the masons were at work on
the foundation wall.
Gordon came back to where Randall
still stood.
"Of course you know your rear end
line for this building runs fifteen feet
farther south than the law allows?
Tommy Randall was chewing bit
| Of pine splinter. He spit out the piece,
then turned toward John Gordon.
els this your building that's going
up? Don't you worry about me. !
know what I'm doing"
Then to Gordon's surprise Randall
came up close to him and said In what
was intended for bluff, hearty man
| ner: "Say, Mr.. Gordon, what's the use
Of quarreling with me over this little
matter? OF course know that tech
nically the ordinance isn't lived up to,
but it is practically dead letter any
| how. None Of the contractors ever pays
any attention to it What difference
does it make anyhow? I mean to put
up a good building, and the people
know my rents are fair. No one ever
complained that Tommy Randall ever
| SCISWGu Glu lOl lCAt w UASh ~ "eAS A~e~A y
to get. Live and let live is my motto"
Gordon looked him In the eye.
"Mr. Randall, you know or ought K
know that this double decker you are
putting up here is death trap anc
| that the law distinctly provides for this
space at the rear of the lot to give the
tenement dwellers sufficient light and
air at that end Of the building. After
you have got your building up 1t viii
be fire trap like old No. 1e. You de
Gberately violate not only the ordl
nance in regard to rear space, but yor
are planning to violate other provisions
Of the building acts in regard to light
ing areas and metal staircases. I've
seen your plans, and they are nothing
more nor less than copies Of plans Of
No. 81. I'll have you arrested unless
you change the ground plans Of this
building"
"You will, eh?"
Tommy spit out another piece OF
| en1inter and contemntnousiy started