The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-30
h|s D|sCHARGE
us PERSECUTION
Inspector Atkinson Loses Po-
sitlon in Department of the
City Engineer
LYNCH SCORES BOLTON
FOR COURSE PURSUED
Says Assist Engineer Should
be keprImal.defand Mr..
Atkinson Relnstated-
Spicy session

Open charges that Sewer Inspector
II. 6. Atkinson, OF the city engineers
department. lost his position because
he had testified to facts dispieasing
to his saperiors were made by Chair
man Lynch CT the special committee
which Is Investigating conditions in
tho Office OF thu city engineer al u
meeting Tuesday night.
Nr. Atkinson was discharged by
First Assistant Engineer jackson Boil
ton en- Tuesday morning Mr.. Bolton
said he had taken action because he
had found ,dr. Atkinson absent from
iis work On three occasions. The
discharged inspector admitted hasing
been absent. but declared that the
occurrences dated back several
months. since which time he had been
given other work by the city.
Mr.. AdamG of the committee, ask
"a Mr.. Bolton why he had not dis
ChArged NJ. Atkinson at the time OF
the OffenseA Evidence OF unfair deal
+ ing WAS apparent. he said. wncn the
3nepectOr had been given another
sewer to build. only to be discharged
4pc m old offense after he had given
D t8e3udiciai evidence.
4 4r. Boiling was asked whether or
0t be considered Mr., Atkinson a
a4NGnpetcnt empioyc. The city engi-
%S9Nr replied in the Affirmative. al
f1pugh he said he had been negli-
h4Nnt In inspecting work on Broad
: x&et Mr.. Atkinson explained this
13e&ed negligence with the statement
ae ne had been given three jobs
look after ut the same time
Tells Of Sewer Troubles.
NV. Atkinson made a lengthy state
neut. In which he described his work
NH the city. lie had been with the
glneer's department nine years. he
rid. He described work on various
SNEWefH where there had been trouble.
4 10 dwelt at length on the Broad
street sewer which became choked,
B4A3reby causing water to back out
kead OF running through. No re-
Sp0e1 wAs made TO the city engineer
Sne9Afdlng this choking. Mr. Atkinson
et4 he merely told Mr.. Bolton about
~ & euUwestinK at rhe time that head
%An be erected to hold the water
Netll the work was completed. Mr..
a oiton approved the suggestion. no
Mt4, and the head wall was built
a ~ Bolton denied this statement
q - aid he had never heard of such
4 thing until the entire work was
B hNu- Had he heard OF IL. he
NeHld not have permitted IL, he de-
|s6 ~ Atkinson repeated his tasti-
opy ~ to = sewer In Eleventh street
Ioar Leigh. where he had changed
Am6 grades given him by Assistant
- nxnku IAN al la L. ls.f~ \.
s1E4l0n. Mr.. Saviile. on the other
IND. insisted that his figures were
ereet and filed his notebook with
n 81. Boiling 70 be checked over
Nd N. Atkinson said he did not know
4k 4is. discharge was even being
q4erkd until Tuesday morning.
eM ne reported at the city en-
eef,s ONCE for work Then, he
he was told by Mr.. Bolton that
had sbetter look for another Job"
~ s,ecssecuttOn" Says Lynch.
q liowing the testimony OF Mr.. At
Ron and the questioning of Mr..
1eeOu. Mr.. Lynch left the chair and
eunced the discharge OF the IN
Neeor ~ q peace OF persecution on
DAtt Of Mr.. Bolton. He said:
4 you'd hate TO see any man lose
KIT bob Tor coming here and telling
committee the truth. II there
- been any negligence il was on
~ .patt III Mr.. Bolton for not dis
SkginG this man when he was found
psat from his work. not holding II
ENDr him until months afterwards
4(Dn Ne tells facts that are not pala-
- 70 the engineer In charge of
MMefA II looks like persecution TO
II and, In my view. Assistant En-
onf Bolton should be sharply repri-
n6ed BY the head OF the office. and
~ Atkinson should be reinstated."
~. Don Leasy declared that II Mr..
y &ktnB0n were not competent, 1t was
xkeaection on somebody that he had
kept In the department nine
nv Engineer Boiling tool the
496. and urged that he he given
lre right to employ and discharge
o1Oyes He thought there we're
3al ways In which he might i'm
lie the working OF his depart
EM& but added that to do SO might
grease running expenses. He In
lked the committee members 70 meet
1tie once Home evening and ex-
S1AA the present system OF Ming