Evening journal., 1908-06-02
Loses His Position as Super.
intendent But is Retained
as Foreman
KNOX SAYS SPITE
PROMPTED ACTION

ing, Mr., Ford said he could not pre-
dict that James c. Van Trump, former
superintendent Of the department.
would be retired now that his position
has been combined with that filled by
Mr. Leisen. He admitted later that
Mr. Van Trump would hereafter act as
foreman Of the department plumbers,
his old position. under the direction OF
Chief Engineer Leisen.
Previous to voting against the adop-
tion of the Ford amendment, Mr.. Knox
made a statement in which he charged
thst Mr Ford was prompted in the
matter by his personal spite against
Mr.. Van Trump Mr. Knox also took
occasion 10 pronounce Mr.. Van Trump
one Of the departments most valued
employees, whose services the city
should not dispense with, and scored
both Mr.. Ford and Mr.. Shaw for their
action.
Mr.. Knox Defends Mr.. Van Trump.
Mr.. Pro5ident, on this resolution I
have something to say, which l shall
endcavor 10 say briefly
The object Of this action, Of course.
is 10 remove James c. Van Trump. I
have no hesitation in SAYING and Meth
or of you gentleman can deny Il, that
this removal is not based upon any
mcompetency of Mr.. Van Trump or
any wrongful act of his. Il Is simply
a personal feeling whicr dictates your
action. Mr.. Ford is partisan, he also
is desirous OF running this department.
and Mr. Snaw, yielding 20 mis- h pnotio
influence. is giving him eN cry help. and
l believe that not only this action but
cthers viii he done, Of great injury to
f4a FsaNa sN !
10 the efficiency OF the department.
There is a right way and a wrong
way to do a thing Ths right way in
this case, is to bring charges against
Mr. Van Ttump of either incompetency
CT nalfeasanCe in Office. and II those
charges are sustained, TO remove him
from Office tut II no charges are
brought, then the comm 4nity must be
forced to the conclusion that you have
no charges which you can bring. There
fore like men in the blachness of mid
night darkness you sandbag him from
the rear. Is the Office necessary? Is
this man a competent officer? For
eighteen years through the changing
administrations of both parties he has
remained in service No other of the
practical working force has been there
so long. No other man knows the
needs OF the department in it's practi-
cal workings so we'll No other man
has pointed out so many defects and
imperfections in the system and that
Is, / believe, one of the reasons whv
you are removing him.
"Wl0o is the originator OF the meter
SYSTEM He Is, and through him, it
has attained its present proportions.
Who was the originator Of the SER
vice system. Who for instance ad o.
Viscd the previous board against spend
Ing 100000 on the pipe line over Wash
ington street bridge, which was
vsed a few years and then abandoreds
II am reliably informed that Air
Van Trump has been responsia,s for
corr Getting many abuses In the dapart-
ment. He has advised against many
~ moposed undertakings in tho DEPART
thCnt, which advice, expeasa"e has
shown 10 have been Justified. lie has
also advised many things which his
superior officers have not at first ap-
r. eyed. one Of these being in connection
with the requests which MI Ford made
Tor water service at hi morocco fac
tary and which Was obtained by Mr.
Ford through Mr.. Van Trump's insist
ancc. Mr.. Van Trump believing this
was one thing which should be done
for the good of the city. Blumenthal
was another instance, Mr.. Van TRUMP
believing that manufacturers should be
afforded every facility.
Time and time again has Mr. Shaw
spoken 10 me personally of the COM
potency and efficiency of Mr. Var
Trump as an official. Time and time
again has Mr.. Shaw criticised in terms
of unmeasured condemnation, the chief
engineer, in connection with the pipe
laying. Mr.. Shaw by virtue of his
experience as a manufactures being
especially competent to express an
opinion on this matter and having the
! ~ feci that do for Mr.. Shaws bust
ness opinion, I, TO a great extent, found
ed my opinion OF the chief engineer
from what Mr.. Shaw said to mo,
having no technical knowledge and de-
pending upon Mr.. Shaw, therefors Mr.
Sh.sv is largely responsible for my
opinion OF the chief engineers ability
Especially did Mr.. Shaw TO me, con
deuln Mr.. Leisen In connection with The
laying Of the forcing main at Market
street. which not only cost too much
which leaked before il wss used, by
water from thu creek getting into Il
leaks today which always will
leak. II has beon costing money for
repairs ever since Il was built. IL H.
oostrrg money Tor repairs nov and
always viii cost money for repairs until
IL Is removed Now II you have any
thing like this against Mr.. Van rrdiai.
bring the charge sustain II, and I will
vote 9th you for his removal Iut
be men enough 10 bring charges, and
do not. because you have no charge 10
bring. beat the devil around the bush
and show your inability to get rid of
him. except by abolishing the offic9
simply because you have a personal
feeling against him for having rendered
good service TO the city and done his
duty TO the community.
MIR. Shaw, unquestionably you have
a personal feeling against Mr. Van
Trump, for you have expressed IL too
many times Of late 10 deny II. Why
did you believe seven months ago that
ne was a good official, and why did you
express the opposite feeling by saying
a week ago that he had dug his own
grave within forty-eight hours Of being
within the department? Has some-
body lied to you, or has somebody
hypnotized you? Do you blame him
for exposing the fact that continually
goods for the city were ordered from
the B. f. Shaw Company and billed
through T. w. Miller? ID ycu blame
him for the fact that goods from B |
F. Shaw Company were furnished the |