The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-02-19
MOST ENGINEERS
ARE IN FAVOR OF
EXAMINATION
INSIST lT's PROPER METHOD OF
SELECTING BOILER INSPECTOR
LIVELY WRANoLE BEFORE
COUNCIL COMMITTEE.

A meeting OF the steam engineers OF
the city has been called for 1880 Fri
day evening In the council chamber
TO ascertain the sentiment among the
men most directly affected az to the
method of choosing boiler inspec-
tor.
A session OF an hour and half In
the council chamber before the ordi-
nance committee brought about only
exchanges OF personalities and the dis
closure that the engineers are badly
split over the taking OF the appoint.
ment away from the mayor. and feav-
ing II to a competitive examination BY
the engineering faculty OF the Univer-
sity of Michigan.
A majority OF those who spoke fav-
ored the examination plan.
w. ]. Marshall was the first speak
err, appealing to have the appointment
left with the mayor. He claimed that
he and others were appointed as a
committee to represent 800 engineers.
and asserted that these engineers
could only speak as individuals for
the examination plan.
You belong TO M. e. Cooioy
branch 2"1 asked AID Heineman-
81 do" said Marshall.
They why do you object to Cool
ey's conducting the examination"
Marshall became confused and Ed.
Jacques, who followed him. became
angry when Heineman asked cues
ton.
you're a shrewd lawyer and you
made fool out of him, but you cant
out OF me-" he declared. II won't an
swer your questions and I won't sit
down. I'm a taxpayer and no one can
stop me from talking"
Aid. Mcclellan protested against
the scene that was occurring and the
storms were partially pacifed. al
though Jacques became abusive when
Heineman insisted oil asking him II
he thought mistake had been made
In taking the appointment out OF pol
itics three years ago.
II was at one time president of
the National Association OF Steam En-
gineers," said Jacques. 81 do not be-
lieve the office has been used political
ly. Hugh Guy was a good inspector.
There are good many things to be
considered In selecting boiler inspec-
tor and would rather leave 1t to the
mayor"
Aid. Ellis said that he believed an
examining board could be had right In
the city. while Aid. Heineman argued
that calling in help from Ann Arbor
would avert any suspicion OF influence
or politics creeping In.
VIM. All, engineer at the Pontchar-
f<... tk<, tx.a Ton .rAf
The opposition retorted that
William did not have any boiler to
run.
John p. Gardner, with F. r. Ingram,
said he could see no reason why engl-
neers should fear to have boiler in
spector chosen by examination.
Henry Knowlton, for 80 years boil.
err examiner for an insurance COM
pany. declared the only safe way to
protect the public would be to have
the inspector chosen by an outside
board. The position OF boiler inspec.
tor had been badly filled In former
years. he claimed, and men had been
appointed, from its being political
matter. who did not know anything
about boiler. The Metropole expio-
sion might not have occurred with
certain precautions. he added. Two
more engineers spoke for the examin-
alton plan, and then Charles Gelhaar,
president of the union engineers, said
that he spoke for that body in favor OF
examination.
There was a constant cross-hre OF
left-handed compliments in which con-
testants referred to one another as
shoemakers and similar unenginecr
like things.