The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-07

+
of an architect for new $350000 city
hall, by an ordinance soon after the
adoption of the Des Moines plan,
John Mac Vicar the Storm Center.
| Supervision of the construction of
all public buildings was left with the
| department of streets and public inn
provements. This department Is ur1-
der Commissioner John Mac Vicar.
| Mayor Mathis attempted at the time
of the passage of this ordinance to
block it, alleging that 1t left him shorn
of many of the du4ses usually allotted
to the mayor. 1t was passed over his
protest, and since that time he has
been sore.
A few weeks ago he introduced q
resolution in the council asking that
the construction of the building be
placed in the hancs of j. Wesley Ash,
the commissioner in charge of the de-
partment of parks and public prop
erty. Only two of the Ave commits
sioners voted for this resolution, so il
was lost.
Probes Into Hamery's Record
A few days ago Councilman Mac
Vicar learned that both Commission
ers Ash and Hamery had been holding
frequent conferences with l. Ross
EThompson, a lobbyist, and that
EThompson had an agreement with a
frm of architects to deliver" the city
hall contract to it. If he was sue
cessful he was to receive $4,000.
Mr.. Mac Vicar Immediately exposed
the matter in council meeting, and
went still further, by showing that in
i Cottonwood county, Minnesota there
is a record made by a grand jury,
recommending that the next grand
jury investigate Hamery, on charge
of grand larceny.
Mr. Mac Vicar told this in coun-
icil' meeting. This angered Hamary,
,Jand with the sore spots already made
lin Mayor Mathis and Councilman
/ Ash. the three started to run affairs
to suit themselves.
i Today the people are worked UP
over the condition, and 1t is expected
the recall of Mathis, Hamery and Ash
will start tomorrow. 1t is also possible
that friends Of the three will start
a recall of Mac Vicar.
Commissioner Asks Recall.
Mac Vicar issued a statement yester-
day in which he suggests that for tlle
sake of the Des Moines plan and the
city in general, either he or other
member of the commission be re-
! moved.
II am ready for it tart" Hamery
said today.
Bring me petition and | will sign
/ lit now said Mac Vicar.
There's no chance for peace" said
Councilman Schram, "and don't want
to stay here with the conditions as
they are"
Il have nothing to say one way or
another" said Ash.
People Ready for the Recall.
Prominent men all over the city are
being interviewed today. Gels Bots
ford, secretary Of the commercial club,
said the people were ready for the
recall. The head of the civic league
: said action should be taken, and TAX
EN- now, and members OF the good
j government club speak similarly.
THE Des Moins plan provides a
, means of eliminating commissioners
, when they are not working for the in
/ terests of the city" Commissioners
Mac Vicar said today. Il know our
chickering's have been detrimental to
the city. / believe / have been in the
right, but / want the people to say. I
] want them to vote on me in the re-
call. The newspapers have presented
. the situation fairly. The people un-
! derstand the situation, and ! want
their approval or their disapproval,
believe the recall is one of the great
f est features of the commission govern
ment. Let's have it,"