The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-02-18

ENGINEERS OFFER TO AMALGAMATE PLAN
First Indications Surrender Come From ater Com.
mission filter Hot Fight Between Engineers--Con1-
n1ittee Resolutes AlOdy From Uater Meter Gang

battle of the engineers lasting three hours before
the council committee of the whole last night resulted
finally in offer the part of the water commission
forces to meet the city engineer in executive session
OF the council with view to gamatng the plans Of
Mr.. Gill and the water commission
This offer amounted to a surrender in sense. In
another phase it used to back up the declaration
sprung early in the evening that Engineer Gill had
fscated portions of the water commission plans which
added to his own.
This accusation made by Engineer Otto Weile who
openly declared that Gill has sprung new deal
lie has changed his plans to conform to ours.''
Mr.. Gill strenuousy denies this statement, but it
was looked upon by some easy way of bringing
about joint meeting, the accusation passed gen
orally
AS expected the water commissions friends set out to
follow te Spokesman Review cry of politics. but this
quickly sllenced by refutations which convincing
There were some scenes amounting almost to disorder
during the progress of the meeting and time Pres
dent Boyd forced to tell noisy partisan who sat
among the councmen to take his seat and remain quiet
The committee of % made haste to get out from
under the burden of the tall tower last nj ht and in
resolution adopted at special meeting of the committee
protested againt being classed with 'he water meter
gang pedging that the committee would not work for
anything which would be hardship to the taxpayers
The action of the committee backed up the former
resolution to eliminate water meters and left the Spokes
manReview delegation and others of the water meter
gang suspended high and dry in the air
Nelson W. Durham editor of the Spokesman Review
and Thomas Hooker business manager of the Chronicle
there the paid representatives of W. H. Cowles
to look after the water meter schemes but they
permitted to inject their water meter views into the pro-
ceedngs. In fact open declaration in favor of water
meters before the 200 300 people assembled in the
Gil chamber last night would have resulted in decidedly
exciting scene.
The battle between the engineers practically vic
tory for the city engineer which followed in the wake of
the utter defeat off the water meter question The fact
that of the commission engineers caused it to be
nounced that Gill and the commission could get together
ANAL gamation Of the plans taken as an indca
ton that the fight really over.
1t was also taken indication of reluctance on
pass the plans
Councilman Fred Badwin's proposition made at the
last minute, helped to clarity the atmosphere and point
way toward a speedier settlement Of the battle He
proposed that the council meet in executive session for
two three nights next week. have all four of the engn-
eers Gill and Mcintyre and Waller and Weile present and
to discuss the plans without interruption and with view
Of bringing the hostile sides together This plan sprung
by Mr. Roberts after conference with the commission en-
gneers met with great favor and finally agreed upon
The dates for the meetings will be announced as soon
Professor Waller is able to send word what nights
he spare in Spokane.
The belief now is that the two plans will be amalgam
ated although there is still considerable sentiment
among of the councimen in favor of calling in Col
Symons or Engineer Tanning to pass the plans.
An amalagamation, however, will result in pacifying
the engineers and bring about speedier settlement OF
the question.
When the meeting called Mr. Pratt