Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-05
OUR LETTER BOX.


OMAHA. Sept. ITO the Editor OF The
Bee: 1 find that quite a number of well
informed people have been misled by the
false statements made by Mr.. John T.
Gathers about our present administration,
and particularly about the inspectors,
whom, he says, ARE appointed to draw
their pay and do nothing but attend to
politics." AS these charges are made by
man who was known to be a republican
up to the time of the primaries last year,
when the republican party refused to nomi-
nate him for state senator, they carry
more weight with the general public than
charges made by our democratic oppo-
nents. AS l am one of the parties charged
with the fraud of drawing pay for services
did not render, and as 1 know that 1
never drew dollar from the city, or any
body else, that 1 did not earn, 1 will not
allow the statement to go unchallenged.
The office which 1 hold-that Of permit
inspector-was created by the passage Of
ordinance No 1852, which became a law
May %, 1889. 1t has been filled ever since
under all administrations, democratic as
we'll as republican, and there have never
been less than two permit inspectors. but
there have been three and four, when there
was not near as much work as there is at
present. When the office was filled by
Johns A. P. A. associates, when John was
high muckamuck" in the order, he did
not raise his patriotic voice to protest
against the robbery of the taxpayer.
The ordinance provides that no person
or corporation shall make an excavation
in the streets, alleys or public grounds of
the city without permit" and no plumber
can get a permit until he has license,
and files a bond in the sum of $500, 10
protect the city against accidents. The
plumber is also compelled TO keep a de-
post of $50 in the city treasury to pay
for any pavement he may disturb and
| pay 81 for each water permit and 81 for
sewer permits The permit money is more
than the cost of inspection. 1t Ia the duty
| Of the inspector to see every water and
sewer pipe that is put in the streets and
see that they are up to the standard pre-
| scribed by ordinance, and plumbers are
! not allowed to cover up any pipes until
! they are seen by the inspector. II the in
! spector should neglect his work he would
leave several gangs of men idle waiting
for him, and he would not hold his job
very long under City Engineer Rosewater
| 1t is the duty of the inspector to measure
| the cuts made in the pavements and have
| them charged to the proper parties. AL
| trenches must he maintained for a yeaI
after they are made by the parties making
them, and It is the duty OF the inspector
to see that they do so. All bursts in water
pipes must be promptly attended TO by
inspectors. the water shut or and owners
| compelled to repair. A separate record is
! kept by the inspector in books prepared
for each kind of permit, namely: Sewer
water, gas, water works company, electric
light and telephone. The inspector must bC
! on hand whenever work is to be inspected
whether It be Saturday. Sunday or at night
He takes care Of half Of the city, gets NJ
| horse hire nor street car fares
take personal pride in the enforce
ment Of this excellent ordinance because
helped TO make IT, and my name is on the
back Of II as president OF the city council
I believe all the other charges made by
this disappointed politician and bogus re
former are equally untrue.
MICHAEL LEE.