Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-22
Being the Tale Of the Building
Inspector for Whose Conyen-
ience 1t Is PropoSedto Change.
city Laws,
"TECHNlCAL," VIOLATION
OF PLATFORM PLEDGES
Showing That Promises Of the
Democratic City Administra-
ton Are Made to Be Carried
Out Only When Convenient,


mcnt Of all laws ana ordinances with.
on respect 10 persons
The above quotation is from tbs
democratic platform Of l9Gs, upon
which our our present city officers
were elected.
The present city building Inspector
MIR j. w shea, appointed by MaNOI
Lester. Is noW experimenting the con
siructiun of private building opera
tions for Mr. o. y Marion, Alder
man John Beaver, and others. in di-
rect violation Of the city ordinance
regulating the duties of that office
which provides" -"The building inspec-
tor shall not be engaged in any other
business during wording hours that
win in any way conflict with ar affect
the duties Of his oiticc ana shall not
in amy instance be engaged in amy line
Of business that VIII bring him into
competition With any architect. con
tractor or builder and shall not IN
any instance be connected. either di-
rectlv or indirectly with any bus-
ness of occupation or with any con
tractor or br Interested in the con-
-iructon of any building or part OF
building. during iic icrn OF said Of
licr."
ne Wl~itEl ts luiN lli'NiSibi ff-N
l1ting Tho datio o. the building in
spector Is at cncc apparent
To allow the building ngpector To
inspect his own work, and at the
same time inspect the work of men
IN active competition with him would
be as fair, as Just and as effective in
saTe- -Ruardng the interests Of the city
us to- appoiut dairyman selling milk
to inspect the milk being sold by his
competitors TO make any other pro-
vision than the above would be 10
open the way 90 endless unfairness,
discrimination ana injustice.
Yet this is exactly what -four demo-
cratic members of the city council
have voted to do.
on March Sth, prominent architects
Of Albuquerque presented to the city
council stat ment calling attention
to the fact that the building inspec-
tor, Mr. Shea was violating the ordi-
nance by experimenting private con-
struction work
The matter WAS referred to the
building committee of the council.
shortly after Alderman John
peaven is said 70 have stated, that #
the building inspector was violating
the ordinance, then the ordinance
should be changed.
That, again, is exactly what four
democratic members of the city coun-
Ell voted to do
A week later. on March jtlL the
building COMMITTEES presented report
to the council signed by Aldermen
Coen and Auge, both 90 whom were
elected two years ago on their pledge
10 the people
"We favor the impartial enforce
ment of Am laws and ordinnces, with
out respect to persons.
This committee found that the
building inspector was doing private
work, as charged
They found that he WAS violating
the ordinance
After admitting these facts WITH
charming lrankncss. the committee
concluded
I'VE are Of the opinion tbat the orr
dinancc should he amended 30 rs to
allow him Uhc building inspector) TO
do these things
In word, the committee. finding
that the laN was being violated hy the
building Inspector, proposed to amend
the law so he would no longer be Nio-
lating IT, The report proposed 20
make the law meet the needs of the
building Inspector. instead of making
the building inspector meet the re-
Quirements oil the law.
This report. carrying with IL IN
structiouA go the city attorney To- draw
an amendment to the ordinance max
ing il Gi the particular case ul Mf,
shea. VAS adopted hy the council bS
"a vote af four To three. Voting for
The action were Aldermen Hcaten.
Neustadt. Coen and Auge Voting
against % were Aldermen Hanley ana
f.rarnard. republicans. and Alderman
Wroth democrat. The report WAS
not adopted until Alderman Wroth
had entered "a vigorous and iorcciui
protest outlining clearly the evils r'
sultmg from allowing the building in
snectnr to Inspect his own work am
that at his competitors ms we'll
"Nhere asked Alderman Wr"th
pertmentiy. 'do the oity's interests
come iue
The report Of the commihcc. ai-
though afrmptiug 10 justify rs ac-
tion. dos not answer this question.
Tha committee found thc nnt log
inspector guilt, ei H Technical Ninlh-
tion" of ihe ordinance. From the
same view point that the democratic
members of The council are guilty ot
nuiv Cd technical violation oi their
pledre Co. the people for the impair
tinf enforcement of ali laws and "rdi-
nnnces. without regard to persons.
The iau conflicting with certain IN
forests theY have amended the inn
81. il wifi uo longer conflict
F,,llnuiug out this same simple
method oI lify government the pres
.nt council has deliberately allowed
violations Of building regulations -
regards matrritis used Within ih" Ore