The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-15
( EMPLOYEES lDn|T
sl|PsH0D METHODS
ASSISTANT ENGINEER kEEGAN
SAYS HE'S NOT KEPT busy
HALE THE TIME.
FIsTIcUFFs' STORY OUT
CLERK sTRATTON SAYS BLAME
RESTS ON HIM-NEW
CITY MAP
URGED.


Travers Daniel testified. Mr. Il. j.
Keegan declared he was not Kept busy
half his time. Eourtn Assistant En-
gineer Charles l.. Todd, Jr, admitted
having twice paid contractors for ex-
cavations which he mad not meas
ured, and further admitted that In
both instances the payments were ex-
cessive. All the witnesses admitted
that there was lack OF system In
the Office.
The fist fight between Messrs. STRAIT
ton and Taylor was gone into by the
committee with the result that Mr..
Stratton admitted that he blame
should res on HIM He had asked
Mr.. Daniel to do some writing Tor
him, he said. and the latter had re-
piled that he would 40 II when he got
ready This enraged Mr.. stratton,
who struck out. Mr.. Daniel struck
back. Mr.. Stratten said he and Mr..
Daniel are now on good terms. al
though he wouldn't call the relations
'.affectianate."
MIR. Daniel said that Mr.. STATIONS
version OF tho encounter was about
correct. save that, waen asked 10
do the writing he had replied mat
he would do IL when h. got time
instead of when he got ready
Need New Map.
All of the witnesses agreed that the
present map of the o.6er par, OF tnc
city IL out Of date and practically
useless. All urged that a new map
be made. City Eng.aeer Boiling adj
initted that the need was great but
said the cost would he about $4,000,
as a result of the necessity of max
ing new SurXe ys.
The expenses Of .ae dc partment
We're gone into iii detail and Il was
shown that the total casf OF engineer
ing and Inspection amounts 10 ST.,
4ss.3l5 for the year. While the cost OF
administering totals only s54,2 60.
which is less than three per cent Ia
this connection city Engineer Boiling
remarked that in railway and general
construction work an allowance of
five per cent. IL usually made for en-
gineering and supervising work.
When the committeeman began To
inquire into In. specific duties OF the
eEa ploHes II the office, They found thai
a vast amount OF time has been spens
recording and certifying special as
sesSment bills made for improvements
made at the expense OF property own
ers. The testimony caused ChaiTmaH
Lynch tn inquire rather causticailN
whether the city MAS not paying mere.
ia clerk hire than it get hack from
sfsEz TffE-A4SaA tesS tfitP'otet ite SUN III
stances
MIR. Todd Testifies.
Fourth Assistant Engineer Todd
WAS the first Witness. He told how
he measured UP street improvements
ify lots rather than by blocks, though
he admitted the latter system would
saye time and money He also add
mitted having made an error in the
regarding Of q street concerning
which there has been specific com
plant by Councilman Richards He
declared. however, that his error WAS
due TO the fact that be Was rushed
for time and consequently made What
he thought to be fail allowance ia
the contractor without going TO the
ground.
Concerning the charge that he an
pioyed office time In doing private
work. Mir, Todd sHTd he had done out
side wark but once since he had been
connected with the office. That was
three years age. he said, and he re-
ceiVvd no pay for his lahors.
Concerning the additional charge
preferred Ivy MIR. Richards that he
had been discourteeus when asked for
information, Mr. Todd declared he
had been instructed not To give es-
Inmates save on order of the Commit
toe ON Streets. through the CITY En-
gineer. He had violated this order
tn the ease of Mr.. Richards he sa Ia.
because he knew the latter did not
like hum and he washed to concilia.e
him
Asked to suggest improvements in
the office Mr.. Todd said ne would
do SO In writing.
Reports 10 No Ono.
Cross examination Of the witness
developed the fact that NJ came Ia
and Went from the office when he
pleased without reporting To anyone
IL also developed thu fact that CON
corning clerical work there is no rec
ognized official head in the office
when MIR Boiling is absent
The witness admitted that he fire.
qHently arrived at the office after 10
% clock in the morning. but said that
on such occasions he WAS working. In
concluding his testimony, he urged
the adoption of u card index system.
with daily reports from ali the en-
gincers showing the progress OF each
piece Of construction work. In con-
nectien with this system. he advocated
the keeping OF & chart giving the
name NJ the contractor aud the engi-
neer, and detailing the time and pre-
gress OF the work.
Assistant Engineer keegan de-
stFlpsu HIS Hutits. ana salu lie WaS
not kept busy hair the time. Con-
corning improvements in the Office he
thought a permanent force Of rod.
men should be employed. He also
thought the sewer piars a. the office
TO be crude In the extreme.
Assistant Engineer Ailau Saviile.
rho was appointed one year ago. said
that he was kept busy. more than
half his time. but admitted that he
was not kept busy all the time, II
do not know what Mr.. keegan does,
he said. whereupon Chairman Lynch
remarked Neither do we
Mr. Sarille thought the city should
not give its big work to outside en-
gineers. He also thought new map
should be made.
Mr. Bass Kept Busy
MIR. l.. l.. Bass. draughtsman In
the office. was the one witness ex-s
amined who seemed to have plenty
tos do, and to have employed mod
ern business methods. Even he, how
eyer, admitted that he didn't report
to any one when he came to the Of
fee or when he went away. He Is
installing card index system of re-
cent drawings Or surveys. he says
He also has surveys of all annexed
territory and says he can lay his hand
on any map required without losing
time. He urged that new map be
made OF the older part OF the city.
Stenographer Daniel testified as to
his duties. and said he did not re-.