The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-09-17
Building Inspector,
Short in Accounts,
Ousted By Mayor
Hebblethwaite Is Fired
Today, Following Probe
Into the Finances of His
Office.

Thomas Hebblethwaite, who
was appointed building inspector
by Mayor Linck over the protest
of the union carpenters of the
city, was today ousred by the May
or following the discovery of a
shortage of between $500 and
$500 In his accounts.
Turns Over Keys.
Following a conference with the
mayor this morning Hebblethwaite
turned over the keys to the office
and a new man will be appointed
to the place.
Gross carelessness in the hand
ling of the city money and the
business of the office aside from
the shortage, the mayor gives as
the reason for the discharging Of
the building inspector, yet the
mayor was ignorant of any irregu-
larity in Hebblethwaite's Office un-
til a councilman called his atten-
tion to 1t.
Rankin Starts Work.
For several days Councilman
Rankin, chairman of the finance
committee, has been quietly inves-
tigating the records of the build
ing inspectors office. He fouad
as he got into the matter that
Hebblethwaite was not turning in
to the city treasurer as much
money as was turned In by the
former inspector, Notwithstanding
the increase in the size of the
fees and the increase in the num-
ber of buildings.
No Money For Three Months.
For three months this year the
building inspector did not turn
over any money at all to the treas
urer. In 1907 under Building
Inspector Sherman the money
turned in amounted to 81 $685. b5,
while last year under Hebble-
thwaite the amount turned in to
the city was but 81, ,118.75, and
all this year there has been but
1894 turned over, which with a
check for 500 taken in last night,
makes $694.
Must Make Up Shortage.
The fees in the office have been
increasing and the business grow
ing right along and Councilman
Rankin thought something was
wrong. He asked the mayor to
take charge of the office last
night and this was done. The
records will now be checked up
and Hebblethwaite will be COM
PEELED to make good the short
age.
From present Indications t
looks as If the shortage will
amount to $500 or $500, of which
800 was cancelled by a check
from the inspector last night.
Says He Trusted Friends.
Mr.. Hebblethawite admits there
is a shortage. He says it is due
TO the fact that he has been care
less in giving permits to friends
on credit. And they have not yet
paid. Some contractors have
been running a regular account
with him on building permits.
AS the controller never checked
up the building inspector except
when specially requested to do 50
there was no way of knowing just
what the state of affairs was.
When he did so at the request
of Mr.. Rankin the result did not
look good.
Mr.. Hebblethwaite conferred
with the mayor last night and OF
fered to resign If he desired. This
morning after further conference
he turned over the office.
Mayor Linck says the careless
ness he showed in handling the
financial business Of the office was
such that he could not keep him
In office.
Hebblethwaite was considered
to be doing good work in having
old buildings torn down and m
the inspection work of the office,
but his utter carelessness in the
financial end of the business has
been his undOine