The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-05
MAYOR SCH|LL|NCER
SNUBBEO W|THERBy::
A CLASH FOLLOWED
His Honor Refuses Light, Heat
& Power Company Repre-
sentative Opportunity to
Address Council.
STARTLING ASSERTION
MADE AGAINST REPORT.
Claimed That Notwithstanding
Annual Report of Light
Plant Is Above Signature of
Parry, 1t Is False.

An exciting clash occurred last ev-
ening after the adjournment Of coun-
Gil between Mayor SchnHnger and +.
r. Witherby. because the mayor
turned down" Mr.. Witherby's request
TO ddress the council. The Snub was
plainly evident 10 everyone in the
council chamber and Mr.. Witherby be
came very angry. Striding up 10 the
mayor he demanded in a low tone
what he meant by such treatment.
'ArC yOu afraid to have me address
the cOuncil?" he said.
The mayor IamcIy remarked that
had Mr. Withcrby asked him for the
privilege Of taking the floor before
council went into session he would
have extended this courtesy to him.
81 cant have every Tom, Dick and
Harry 'butting into a council meeting
and asking the privilege OF address,
ing me body" said Schilingcr.
Mr.. Witherby remarked that it was
Impossible for him TO reach the c0un-
ell chamber before council went into
session and it WAS for this reason
alone that he had asked the privilege
of the floor after the session opened.
Under the same conditions hundreds
of people have been granted the pri-
vilc2e of addressing council so it was
impossible for Mr.. Witherby. not
withstandins the explanations offered
by the MAYOR. to view the incident in
any other light than direct snub.
SarteI to the Rescue.
W. II. Bartel was the only council
man who came to the rescue of the
chief executive while Mir Witherby
had his batteries trained on him. Mr..
Bartel wanted TO know why the Light,
Heat & Power company desired to Sc
cure the municipal plant if, as Mr.
Witherby stated. the municipal plant
was not a profitable investment?
IF we secure the municipal plant
we will make it a profitable invest
ment," replied Mr.. Withcrby
If you can make it Il profitable in
vestment why don't YOU do so now.
You people are part owners in the
plant, being tax payers here" replied
Mr.. Bartel
If you will guarantee TO operate
the plant Just as | dictate ! will tell
YOU how to make it good paying
business" replied Mr.. Withcrbv. Mr..
Bartel muttered something about mot
knowing whether he could do that"
and then retired from the firing line.
Calls Report False.
Mr.. Witherby produced a copv OF
the last annual report of the financial
condition and read the following from
st:
During the past year a strong COM
petition has been waged by our COM
pany by which patrons of the CITY
plant who are large consumers Of eIec.
tricity have been offered prices or
have been allowed TO name their own
prices, admittedly so low as to be less
Than the cost of manufacture. Such
prices have in no case been met by
the Municipal plant the board of
works, who have it in charge believ.
ing II not only to be unbusinosslile
but also unjust 10 other patrons. 70
meet the competition. Althouch the
patronage of some of our largest con
sumers has thus been taken away
from us, the loss has been much more
than made up by others who have
without solicitation come to us he
cause OF their loyalty to the city and
its interests"
Ihat statement appears over the
Signature Of City Controller Parry and
Is supposed TO be a correct and truth
ful statement. Right here. open and
above board, I wish 10 charactprizn
ii as utterly false said Mr.. Withorbv
He stated that as one of the largest
taxpayers in the city he asked for tho
privilege of going over the books OF
the municipal plant, adding that if he
was permitted TO do SO, he could pro,
ouCe names and figures showing that
the municipal plant had undcrcut the
rates OF the Light. Heat & Power com,
pany. Before leaving the council
chamber Mr., Witherby turned 10 the
mayor and said thar right now ne ask
Cd the privilege OF addressing council
ar It's next session. You will he per
hitted 10 do So" said His Honor.