Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-15
This Is The Effect Of Action of
City Council Last Night in
Turning Down Protest of Ar
chitectS.
BUILDING INSPECTOR MAY
INSPECT HIS OWN WORK
City Attorney, Against Vigor-
GUS Protest of Alderman
Wfoth ard Republican Mem
bers, Ordered Make 0rdi-
nance Fit the Case.

Probably the most remarkable
action which has been taken by the
present democratic city council, since
il came into office. was that 1t the
meeting last night, whcn. by n vote of
four to three. Mr.. Conroy being abb
sent. it determined to amend the ex-
listing city ordinance regulating the
qualifications. duties ana restrictions
Of the city building Inspector, so as 10
meet the case of Building Inspector
j. W. shea, who has been taking on
work as superintcndeut on private
contracts, in direct violation OF the
city ordinance.
building Inspector Shea is now en-
gagged in experimenting private con-
struction work Tor O. y. Marion. AL
dernan John $. Beaver, and other
important construction operations
now under way. NThe city ordinance
chapter 10, section SO, provides speci-
fically that 'sHe"--tllc building in
spcctor-'shal not be engaged in any
other business during working hours
that viii in n way conflict with or
affect the duties of his office and shall
not in any instance be engaged in any
line of business hat viii bring him
into competition with any architect,
contractor, or builder, and shall not,
in any instance. be connected, either
directly OF Indirectly with any bust
ness or occupation, or with any con-
tractor. or he interested in any con
struction of any building during the
term OF said office"
At the meeting of the city council
on March 9TH, W. OF the most promi~
nent architects in tho city, Edward Il.
Cristy and j. J.. La Drierc. presented
Il communication 10 the city council
calling attention 10 the violation OF
the ordinance by the building inSpcc-
tor, and asking the council, after Civ
ing specific cases OF its violation, to
sec that the eitlinanee vas complied
with.
At the meeting Of tho council last
night, Alderman :. b. Coen, chair
man Of the building committee, to
which the communication was re-
fcrred, presented a carefully prepared
report, signed b. himself n Alder
man Henry Auge, not only recon-
mending hat the protest OF the archi-
tccts be oNeffuled, but since the pri-
waite operations of the building in
spcctor constituted n technical viola
ton" of the ordinance. that the city
attorney be instructed to bring in an
amendment 10 the ordinance by
which the building inspector would he
allowed to do private work, while also
experimenting the building opora-
lions of others in behalf of the city,
or, as Alderman Wroth, in his vigor-
Gus protest against the action OF his
fellow democrats on tn" council OK
pressed IL, that the building inspector
will he allowed to continue the in
spection of work done by and for
others while at the same time he is
doing work himself on which there Is
no inspection but his own.
Alderman Hanlev also protested
against the proposed amendment to
the ordinance in order to meet the
exigencies Of the case, end Alderman
Beaver for whom, according TO the
statement Of the architects, the ciry
building inspector is nov superintend-
ing private work. took the floor as
the champion of the proposed amcnd-
mcnt to the ordinance and in sup
port Of til. report of the committee.
The vote stood.
For the rcport-Alderman Coen,
Auge. Ncustadt M Beaven.
Against the report-Alderman
Wroth, Hanley ana Learnard.
Immediately after the reading OF
tn report Alderman Wroth was on hls
feet demanding 10 know il the build
ing INSPECTOR received n salary for
experimenting private construction
work on which he is engaged. He
was informed by Alderman Beaver
that this is the case, well" said AL
derman Wroth. III the building in
spcctor receives a salar,- for suporin-
tending private construction work.
and at the same time receives a fee
For insoection work, where docs the
city get OFF,"
The rest of the somewhat vigorous
objection which Alderman Wroth
mnde TO the action was based on this
same pertinent question and il was not
answered. Who is going to inspect
Mr.. Shea?' asked Alderman Wroth;
Has he the right to inspect his own
work? q"
Alderman Wroth went on to say
that personally he WAS very friendly
to Mr.. Shea. hat he admired him az
~ man and considered him n very cf-
hcient officer; but he did not see how
the city's interests could be reconcile
ed by the proposal to change the ordi-
nance so as 10 allow the building in
spector TO work both sides of the
zane.
Alderman Beaver, in defense of the
building inspector and the report. held
that Mr.. Shea was a very valuable
man: that he vas a good building in
INDIAN HAIR.