The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-11-25
COUNCIL GETS ITS OWN
HANDS DIRTY BY TRYING
INVESTIGATE AND WHITE
WASH AT THE SAME TIME,
so THEY SAY.

Councilman Dalke went after
Superintendent Merritt of the
crematory department last night,
and as the result, of the wordy
pyrotechnics ensuing, the weight
of the investigation of the depart
ment has been shifted to the
shoulders of the mayor.
Everything first appeared love
ly; the warning elements in the
department had kissed and made
up, judging by the report of the
special council investigating COM
mittee. 1t referred casually to the
fact that there had been lack of
harmony in the department, which
had been Strengthened out, and
the elimination of two men which
would save the city $3.50 month.
Then Councilman Ostrander re-
quested that the superintendent
give the council an explanation.
Merritt had prepared manu-
script, which the clerk read. II
was a complaint charging that the
superintendent powers had been
usurped by the board of works,
which hired and fired the men
without consulting the head of
the department. Merritt said it
was unjust to hold him respon-
sible for the department unless he
was given complete charge and
the power to hire and fire"
Councilman Dalke jumped to his
feet. Il am sorry now" he said,
"that the investigating committee
submitted such report. AS chair
man of that committee | wish to
say that we could have submitted
quite different one but did not,
believing it to the best interests
of everyone that the differences
be patched up. Now that Mr. Mer-
rift has seen fit to criticise, l want
to say right now that Merritt for
the last few months has been
negligent.
THE reason the investigating
committee cut two men off the de-
partment was because we found
they were kept when there was
no work for them.
Merritt has violated the ordi-
nance by paying some men as
high as $3.50 a day, and the ordi-
nance places the salaries at $2.75.
He had no authority to pay more.
l have more confidence in Com
missioners Witherspoon, O'Brien
and Wetzel than in Merritt. Mer-
rift usurped the authority of this
council by paying higher wages
than the ordinance approved"
Merritt replied: Il consulted
the board and the corporation
counsel about these matters, and
was told that under the circum-
stances it was all right
Dalke: why didn't you make
a report to the council about it,
even after circumstances forced
themselves upon you?"
Merritt: Perhaps l was negli-
gent in that respect"
Dalke: Yes, you have been
negligent for the last few months
Councilman Schiller then arose
and blamed it on the mayor. He
said: Something is wrong. l
had hoped the investigating COM
mittee would make a full report.
We are losing sight of the main
issue-that the crematory depart
ment suffers. Someone must be
made responsible. l regret such
a state of affairs. l move that the
report of the investigating COM
mittee, and Merritt's report be re-
ferred to the mayor and board of
public works. This council should
have their recommendations espe.
cially the mayors. He is abso-
lutely responsible. If the crema-
tory department is bad, let us
hear from the mayor who is re-
sponsible for all officers"
Councilman Mohr said he want
ed Merritt to explain an alleged
graft in the sale of bottles he
heard about.
Councilman Baldwin interposed
with: mr.. Schiller has struck the
keynote. If such friction exists IN
that department am surprised