Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-06
OFFICIALS SUSTAINED
Rejection Of Charges Against
Electrical Department..
RESULT OF HEARING
REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF
MEssRs. ALLEN AND FISHER.
The Commissioners Declare That the
Accusations Are Groundless and
Decline to Comply.
RESULT OF HEARING

| The District Commissioners held a board
session late yesterday afternoon in the
reception room of Commissioner Macfar-
| land, when they listened to charges pre-
| ferred by Lawrence s. Nicolai against
| Electrical Engineer Walter c. Allen and
Thos. Fisher, the inspector of street light
| Ing. Mr.. Nicolai, who for large part of
| the past fifteen years has been identified
with street lighting in the District as
contractor, charged Messrs. Allen and
Fisher with Partially in their admins
tration of the business Of their depart
| ment and also that they had discriminat-
ed against the complainant as a con-
tractor for street lighting
The hearing began at 80 o'clock and
continued until pm, and at the close
| the Commissioners indicated that the
charges against Mr.. Allen and Mr.. Fisher
had. not been sustained. Mr.. Nicolai dis
played considerable spirit during his pre-
sentatfon OF his side of the case and evil
denced personal enmity toward the off,
Gals of the electrical department in varf-
Gus ways. AT one point in the hearing
Commissioner mcfarland was obliged to
remind Nfcolai that in presenting matters
to the Commissioners and in referring to
ofc1als he must use proper language
Mr. Nicolai occupied about an hour in
settlng forth his grievance against the
declared that Messrs. Allen and Fisher
were not proper persons to be in the Dis
erict service and claimed that Mr.. Allen
s s to turn down his bid for
street lighting In 1902, although it was
the lowest. He insinuated that the off,
Gals had wfnked at collision of lighting
companies to monOpolize street lighting
"a au .ne District. He also charged that Mr..
anen hao written letter to Baltimore
omcial which defeated the Commandments
that city Hsh'ihs III
After Nicolai had concluded the presen-
asion oI ms charges against the officials
Mr.: Allen was given an opportunitv To
make statement. He said he would lea Va
l, 10 the Commissioners to decide as to his
character and disposition. He adni+taS
that he had told Mr.. Nfcolai that he Ala
not care to have any business or personal
dealings with him, but denied thar he had
eyer declared his intention of defeating
Nlcolafs prospective contracts Mr.. AIlen
produced documents to show that in 1000
the bid OF competitor of Mr. Nicolai was
ing. ZIG"
Mr.. Allen stated that in 1903 after II woe
found that Nicolai's bid was the lowest. he
recommended that all bids be rejected and
tnat the Commissioners readvertise for
proposals. He said he did this because he
did not think Nicolai could fulfill his con-
tract at the price offered, and because it
was considered that the candle power had
peen placed at too high a standard by the
had been having great deal of trouble
with Nicolai with reference to his former
contracts for street lighting
The Commissioners, he said declined tn
concur In his recommendation
After further discussion, in which the
commissioners participated Mr.. Allen con-
tlnued his defense He said he had merely
written to the Baltimore official in "a
spouse to request from the official for in
formation relative to Nicolai and the sery
Ice he had given the District In the let
ter MI Allen said, he merely stated facts,
to the effect that the service given by
Nicolai was the worst the District ever
mad and most unsatisfactory.
Mr.. Fisher stated that Mr. Nicolai seemed
to take delight in thinking he was being
prosecuted by the officials of the electrical
department. He stated that the officials of
that department had found it almost i'm
possible to conduct business with him he
cause OF his violent manner of discussing
matters.
Mr.. Nicolai charged that the officials of
the electrical department We're unable to &C
count for several thousand street lamps that
had been used several years ago and be-
longed to the District. The officials of
the department denied the charge and said
that the lamps were stored in the supply
house of the department.
After Mr.: Nicolai had given the history
of street lighting in the District for the
part fifteen years and had made various
yelled charges against former officials and
Commissioners and had commented upon
many subjects in general, Colonel Biddle
asked NICOLA what he desired the Com
miSsioners to do.
What do you want, Mr. Nicolai? asked
Colonel Biddle. DO you want Mr.. Allen
and Mr.. Fisher removed from their posi-
tons; do you want to look at the specifica-
lions for bids for next year; do you want to
be assured Of fair treatment in the future
or what do you want? l have been listen
ing to you for about an hour and have been
unable to ascertain from what you say Just
what you want from the Commissioners"
Il want fair treatment said Nicolai.
You want Mr.. Allen and Mr.. Fisher dis
missed, suppose?'
Yes he replied "They ought not be
kept at the head Of the department. L
don't think they are proper persons for the
positions.
II will state" said Mr. Macfarland, that
has ever complained to the Commissioners
about Mr.. Allen or Mr.. Fisher, or who has
ever raised question as to their integrity"
Mr.. Nicolai then went on to complain
that the officials declined to have any deal
ings with him personally, to which Mr..
Macfarland said:
"Your manners are so violent, Mr.. Nco-
lai, that it was found impossible to do bust
ness with you personally, and as 1 was re-
sponsible for your getting the contract for
last years street lighting / personally ar
ranged that you should be represented be-
fore the department by counsel and by an
agent"
Commissioner West questioned the Off
Gals and Nicolaf relative to several mat
had talked on general subjects for quite a
while the hearing was concluded.
1t Is understood that the Commissioners
from all the facts in the case and from
the circumstances as officially known to
them. will sustain Messrs. Allen and