Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-29

danger to compel him to write on the
application for a building permit. He
was requested by the clerk to write GER
tain matter on his. application, and
quotes a section of the city ordinance
governing the building department as
his authority. The clerk asked Mr.
Wiesendanger to write certain details
on his application for a permit. Mr..
Backus says Mr. Wiesendanger began
the construction of the building over
which the trouble was caused without
permit and the same city ordinance
requires the building inspector shall as
sess a double fee when this is done.
The double fee is the chief cause of
Wiesendanger's complaint.
Regarding the charge that he is in
competent, Mr.. Backus invites an in
vestigation.
On the charge that all idle deputies
should be discharged, Mr.. Backus says
he thoroughly agrees, but there are no
idle deputies in his department.
AS to the men riding in an automo-
bile, he calls the attention of the board
to the fact that an auto was purchased
for his department to facilitate the
work, and that his men do ride in this
auto in the discharge of their duties.
AS to deputies carousing at night in
the citys auto, Mr.. Backus says he
wishes Mr.. Wiesendanger had been
more explicit and had mentioned
names. For most emphatically say,
If he had clearly indicated the chief in
spector of buildings, Mr.. Wiesendanger
would be involved in a lawsuit for
damages for defamation of character"
is Mr.. Backus' answer to this charge,
and he adds that in over forty-five
years of his life he has yet to spend the
first night in a carousal, and he feels
that none of the men in his Office is
doing anything of that nature. He de-
clares he knows the city auto which he
controls is not used at night under any
circumstances.
Says Clerk Competent
As far as being at his Office at 8
o'clock is concerned, Mr. Backus says
that it is seldom he is as late, as that
hour, and on the rare occasions when 1T
does occur it is because he has been
detained to make decisions on building
work in order that the workmen may
not be delayed. He declares 1t is i'm
for technical questions frequently arise
concerning buildings that he must de-
eide in person, on the ground.
On charge seven, that he should not
do private business on the citys time,
he declares that Mr.. Wiesendanger was
in his office when someone called him
over the telephone on a personal mat
ter; tnat he answered the phone as
quickly as possible and resumed his
work.
The charge that the power of the
building inspector has been abused
brings the reply from Mr.. Backus that
his powers are not half as broad as
they were before the board of public
works became a city institution, and he
positively denies that he has at any
time abused such powers as have been
delegated to him.
The charge that Deputy Cohen told
an untruth is so trivial that Mr. Backus
apologies for boring the board with
details. 1t was alleged the untruth was
told about an application for building
permit. Mr.. Backus points out that all
applications are publ records and can
be examined at any time.
Mr.. Backus goes to the bat for Cohen
on the charge that he is incompetent.
He declares it is absolutely false and
without foundation.
81 have had Mr.. Cohen in my employ
for the past four years as assistant
clerk, clerk and chief clerk and there is
no better man employed by the city
anywhere" says Mr.. Backus.