Imperial Valley press., 1909-12-04

cipal water system was then taken up and H. c. Griswold a member of the Advisory Board, reported that ne- gotiations for the purchase of land in the Balcom tract for site for set tling basins were still open
 Trustee Hamilton addressed the Board on the general situation and feeling of the tax payers in regard to the proposed bond issue He said that for some weeks past, and especially within the past week or ten days, he had had conversation with many taxpayers of the city, and he had found that there is general dissatis- faction with the present situation that while he had no personal feel ings against the City Engineer he felt his duty as a public servant re- would not be satisfied with a propo- sition to issue bonds on the project without the employment of an exper- fenced engineer in water plant con- struction in Southern California. Therefore he made the motion that the Trustees proceed to employ an ex- perienced engineer, acceptable to the advisory board, to prepare plans and specifications for the proposed water | system.
 President Pearson said he was not influenced by the fact that the City Engineer was his son, but that he believed such an action would be un- just to the City Engineer, and that the proper procedure would be to submit the plans prepared by the City Engineer to some engineer ac- ceptable to the Advisory Committee
 Trustee Brown said he also had heard the same objections raised as those spoken of by Trustee Hamilton, and that it was absolutely useless to go before the people with bond proposition unless the entire project was outlined by an experienced en- | gineer.
 Trustee Blackinton expressed sur prise at the situation, and asked if the Advisory Board had made any report indicating that it desired such move; he stated that it was their duty to do so, if that was their opinion. Judge Smith, who is a member of this Board, then said that the mem bers of that body did not deem it their province to make demands upon the Trustees, but rather they pro- posed to simply make suggestions.
 Dr. Blackinton objected to the word ing of the resolution offered by Trustee Hamilton, saying that in sub stance it took away the power of the Trustees and placed it in the hands of the Advisory Board.
 He questioned H. C. Griswold, a member of the Advisory Board:
 Have you heard this matter dis cussed in your sessions of the Board? he asked.
 Griswold replied that the matter had been generally discussed among the members of the board; but Blackin- ton insisted upon a direct reply, when trriswold said
 This has been discussed a great many times. I think it is understood by the Advisory Board that the best thing to do is to employ an exper- fenced engineer"
 Trustee Pellet said that as a pub | lie official he wanted to do everything possible to assure the carrying of the bonds, and that while it was not a personal matter with him, he felt constrained to support the proposition to secure such an engineer as sug- gested.
 City Engineer Pearson stated that various engineers his visited his of flee, inspected his plans, and that all of them had approved them.
 Trustee Blackinton moved as an amendment to Trustee Hamilton's mo- tion that the plans prepared by the City Engineer be submitted to an en- gineer acceptable to the Advisory Board. He argued that the employ ment of an engineer to begin a new set of plans would be a waste of pub lie money, and that the present plans should be first inspected.
 The amendment was put to vote, and was lost; Blackinton and Pearson vot- ed aye; Brown, Pellet and Hamilton voted no. The original motion was put and carried by vote of Brown Pellet and Hamilton, aye; Blackinton and Pearson, no.
 The Board then adjourned.