Arizona republican., 1904-03-05
ATTACK CITY ENGINEER
Claim Made That He Is Holding Too
 Many Offices.

The fact became public in political circles yesterday that a complaint against City Engineer O. C. Thompson had been filed with the surveyor gen. eral, and by him forwarded to Wash inStoC. the complaint being based on the ground that Thompson is holding a federal as well as municipal office. that the duties of the latter office in terfere with those of the former. and that holding the dual position is con trary to civil service rules.
 It was impossible vest terday to asceI- tain the name of the party making the complaint. though it is known the com plainlng party is an attorney MT. Thompson refuses to discuss the mat ter, saying he desires to make TO statement until the Washington al1- thorities have rendered their opinion, which is expected to be forthcoming in about ten days.
 For some time past Thompson Ia been in the federal employ holding a position under the surveyor general He has also been filling the offica of city engineer. The mosc important Of the charges that have been brought against Thompson are. that his duties as city engineer interfere y:itk the proper performance of his federal duties.
 IL was stated yesterday that Thomp- son had received letter from the sur v'yor general inquriug as to his duties as city engineer, and, if so, to what extent they interfered with the duties of the federal office In reply to this, Thompson forwarded a letter to | hr q l,1 holding of both offices compelled him to neglect the affairs of either. and Thompson's letter of denial. together with the complaint against him have | been passed up to the Washington au- thOrities for consideration.
 Tn political parlance, the question now to be settled is, what prompted the filing of the complaint against the city engineer. The friends of the en- Giueer claim that it is the outcome of | the little cement contract, anent the laying of gutter on Center street south Of Washington, which racked | the brains of the city council several weeks ago. It will be remembered | that in this matter Engineer Thomp- son took a decided stand. and his friends
 HOW claim that some of the disappoint- ed ones are seeking revenge
 | The history of the cement contract which is said to be causing all the | .resent trouble can be told in a few words. The council called for bids for
 the laying of 800 feet of gutter on Cen
 ter street. The two cement contracting firms of rle city put in bids, but FlGi- ncer Thompson advised the council
 that the bids were exorbitant, and
 upon his recommendation the b.dz
 were rejected, and an advertisemnt in- serted for new offers
 Thompson then prevailed upon a third contI actor to bid upon the work. and when the proposals were opened, the
 third contractor offered to do the work
 for 1.55 pr lineal foot. while the two
 others stood out for the flat rate ol l $2.00. The contract was awarded tC | the lowest bidder.
 l Engineer Thompson then undertook
 to assist the successful bidder in get | ting cement with which to do the work | but the two dealers in cement in tn:
 city refused to sell to the contractor
 The engineer then prevailed upon a 1 third firm to enter into the cement bust
 ness and this firm ordered a carload
 of cement which is due to arrive her,
 in a few days.
 ThompsCns friends now asssrt thar
 are seeking revenge, but their appears
 to be no foundation for their assel- tiOns, except mere suspicion.