The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-05-28
RUSH INTO PRINT.

AS VIII DC llOtCu, tllc Sity CiSiiCSI Ia
an explanatory communication in this IS
sue, expresses the opinion that The
Caucasian, i'll its article of Sunday, May
26, ON "The Mayor Asked for Permis-
sion," is unjust to the mayor and that
the motives of the official head of the
city have been misinterpreted.
The article was suggested from the
fact that since the present mayors in
duction into office his frequent requests
for permission to do that which is strict
~ within the prerogatives of each com
mittee, has attracted attention and has
led to comments in public.
1t is presumed that each committee
should know, and each do know, what
is required of them, and therefore it
would seem that if committee le5ires
any special authority, that such request
could be submitted by the chairman of
each committee to the Council for con-
sideration.
In so far as may be recalled, without
an inquiry into the record, we know of
no instance when the predecessors of
the mayor have requested of the Council
permission to do anything which could
be and should be done by each commit
tee, but the mayors predecessors have
recommended, or offered suggestions for
the consideration of the Council AMI of
the committees, directed to the welfare
Of the community.
1t has not been intimated by The eau
casian that the mayor has not been
guided by high sense of duty, nor has
he been inisrepre but it will not
be questioned that the mayor, uninten-
tionaliy perhaps, has indirectly, if mot
directly, Swallowed committees and Of
fci:is of this city with his official per-,
sonalify, which may be ascribed to an
over-zeaT in the discharge of his ft1nc-
Lsians~as the head of the municipality.
IN the article in question, no refiec-
ton was intended on Engineer Dortch,
who has rushed into print in his defense
and as champion of the mayor, who
is well able to take care of himself, in
tellectually and otherwise.
1t may be recalled that not long since
the mayor requested permission to en-
ploy additional counsel in case which
the city attorney had well in hand and
which has and Is receiving the careful
attention of this official
This permission to employ additional
counsel to do that which the city attor-
ney can do and should do, suggested an
expenditure OF money which is unneces-
sary, il it were not reflection or dis
credit against this official.
When the mayor asker for permission
for the bridge committee and himself
to do that which this committee can do
and should do. there was presented an
outlay OF money which suggested on the
part of The Caucasian the query:
Gould not the city engineer give all
the plans aud specifications necessary 7"
This query is answered by Mr..
Dortcli IN the fourth paragraph Of his
communication
II Mr.. Dortch is not competent be-
cause of any lack of lnowle age and of
experience in this special branch of the
engineering profession etc, he should
have admitted this with candor. but in
his own words he comedies that pre-
vious to his locating in Shreveport, that
he held the responsible position of bridge
engineer in the city Of Cleveland, Ohio,
for six or seven years and he s(there-
fore qualified 10 speak with the lsnowl
edge of the subject
II was this information The Caucasian
possessed, and approaching the ability
of Engineer Dortch which led TO the
query: sa&S
What Is the matter with the city en-
gineer I Is this official TO be discredited
BY the mayor Possibly he is not an
expert architect Y
Having acknowledged that he is quail
fled. he leaves on the mind. by infer
snce, that he is indisposed to interfere
in this matter, which is all-important to
this community, and as subordinate,
his position may not be disputed, but it
Is equally plain that as long as Mr..
Dortch IS il the employ OF the city, and
being thoroughly competent. it would be
a waste 81 money and the rankest of
nonsense . secure plans for the Shreve
port bridge across Red river from some
expert IN St. Ions or other center at
cost Of hundreds of dollars when all the
engineer and bridge talent requisite is
located IN tbs city and already in the
employ OF the city
Tay-A1IJs or Asrx~ arsrrrNrr r-xv