Evening journal., 1908-03-03
WATER BOARD WANTS.
INVESTIGATION, TOO
Commissioner Ford Makes Lengthy Statement
Setting Forth His Position as Member
of the Commission

lenge for anybody to accept. II you
are not ready to answer, I will answer
for you. Never was there a Republ-
can removed from office in this depart
ment without just cause and then by
the unanimous vote of the board"
Il have no knowledge that Mr.. Knox
wants an investigation made Of this
department. and 1 don't believe that he
does, but If It is wanted. offer plan
which viii bring such an investigation
about.
Get the president OF the American
Water Works Association to appoint a
commission of three eminent engineers
to come here. sit in the Council chamb-
ers, hear the charges made by Mr.
Knox, and if they are sustained. that
President Shaw. Of the board. and
Peter ]. Ford resign as members OF
the board, and II Mr.. Knox's statement
is not true. then let him resign. For
If his charges are true. Mr.. Shaw and
myself have no right 70 be members
of this board. and II they are found
not true. then Mr.. Knox has done us
a great Injustice and should resign"
Mr.. Ford spoke of Arthur II. G. Gar
rett and David Lindsay, when they
were members Of the board. particular
ly of Mr.. Garrett. who he said always
had the interest Of the city at heart
while a member OF the board. Il chal-
lenge any man to come forward" said
Mr.. Ford, 'and show that Mr. Garrett
did not do his duty" Mr.. Ford spoke
Of Mr. Garrett as the Republican meIn-
.F
had investigated every appointment
and removal from Office. there never
were any differences between the MEM
bers of the board.
Turning to Mr. Shaw. Mr. Ford said
THE only fault I can find with YOU
is that YOU came here with reputa-
ton established. 1 have had business
relations with you for years and al-
ways trusted to your integrity and
honesty But / don't think from a
political standpoint that either you or
your associate have treated me fairly
While you were the minority member
of this board you received appointment
after appointment, and Il is apparent
that the others are not satisfied with
anything, other than every office in the
department"
At this point President Shaw asked
Mr.. Ford If he offered his suggestion
for the appointment of a commission
of engineers to investigate Mr.. Knox's
charges as a motion. and Mr.. Ford re-
piled. that he did. Mr.. Shaw seconded
it. but before putting the motion asked
about the cost Of bringing such a COM
mission here.
Mr. Ford replied that the cost should
not be considered while such charges
existed, and If the city has such men
on its Water Board as is charged, the
expense, no matter how great, would
be money well expended in disposing
of them. =
The motion was then put with Mr..
Shaw and Mr.. Ford voting for It, Mr..
Knox did not vote. and in declaring the
motion carried, President Shaw said
THE motion is carried. Mr.. Knox not
voting"
After the motion had been disposed
Of. Mr.. Ford made the remark that If
there were any Irregularities in the de-
partment at present, as Mr.. Knox said
in his statement. 1t was up to Mr.
Knox. because he tMr Ford) had only
been figure head In the board during
the past eight months.
Mr. Knox made the remark that ne
was the one who did not figure in the
board and that Mr.. Shaw and Mr..
Ford were partners.
Mr. Shaw objected TO this remark.
and said there was no deal between
him and Mr.. Ford. and he had only
met Mr.. Ford once outside of the
Water Department Office in the past
two weeks. and that was by accident
on the street.
Mr. Ford augmented this by saying
II would like TO know where 1 have
cut any figure in this board for the
last eight months?"
"You have done alright" said Mr..
Knox.
Eyes. I am much obliged to you for
allowing me to exist" was Mr.. Ford's
rejoinder.