The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-02-18

of appropriating the sum of $4,000 for
RELAXING the sewer is entirely out or
the question at present. The city can
not afford to do it,
"On account of the shortage of
funds?" inquired President Greenhut.
Yes sir, on that, account" replied
Alderman Bear.
Alderman Concannon stated that,
from the attorneys opinion, he under
stood that Mr.. Jones did not have be-
fore him the real facts in the case,
and Il see by the report that he has
left the city and is not attending the
investigation as he should be"
Judge Maxwell will represent the
city in the city attorneys absence" in
terjected the mayor.
Alderman Meyer, directing his query
to Chairman Bushnell, of the bond
trustees, asked if it was not a fact
that at the first meeting the consulting
engineer and the resident engineer did
not state that the paving would be
safe in being placed over the sewer.
Il am not sure that the consulting
engineer said that, but am sure that
the resident engineer, Mr.. Rommell,
did say that it would be safe to pave
over the sewer, with the exception,
however, of space near Chase
street." replied Mr.. Bushnell.
Then it strikes me-" responded AL
derman Meyer, that if we proceed
with the paving, and then If the sewer
did not perform its duty as desired, We
could go back and hold the engineer
responsible. If we have it from him
that the sewer is all right, and If it
does not perform it's duties as planned,
certain it is that we can hold him to
account"
How can we get at Hatton if he Is
not even under bond for the con-
tract?" asked Alderman Concannon.
There has been many a man who
was not under bond who was reached
in the matter of a failure Of contract"
said Alderman Meyer.
Alderman Welsh suggested that any
and all defects now found be repaired,
if the city had not money sufficient to
cover the cost of entire re-laying. He
said that what defects are now known
should be repaired before the paving
was started Afterwards, the alder
man further suggested, the question of
responsibility could be arrived at.
According to the letter of Mr..
Jones'" said the president, no one is
responsible for the condition; neither
Mr.. Hatton nor Mr. Storrie."
Mr.. Thornton, the city engineer, who
sat at the mayors desk, was recog-
nized by the president, and he said
that it occurred to him it was an in
suit ito the members of this council
for the engineer. Mr.. Hatton, and his
assistant, to come forward with the
statement and assert that the sewer
was in good condition. Gentlemen. it
don't require an engineer to see the
defects, as the majority of this council
know. 1t is really a mighty funny
statement coming from them to say
that the sewer is all right. | am not
a lawyer. but | know that that sewer
will give trouble to the pavement. 1t
might take a long time, and it might
be only a matter of months, but, with
out the concrete base, etc, as sure as
it is left that way, the pavement is
going to show it when it is put down"
President Greenhut asked if it was
not a fact that the old council had &C
copied it as all right, and the clerk in
formed him that was the truth OF the
case.
President Greenhut then suggested
that the mayor could give some more
information on the subject.
COULD DO NOTHING.
Mayor Reilly replied quickly: NO
sir, have already done all l could as
mayor OF the city, and l could not give
any more information. l could not
make any other recommendation.
There are only two or three things to
do in the matter. One Of them is to
put the pavement over the sewer or
do not pave it at all for the present.
The city has no money to relay the
sewer, and the only thing is to leave
it open, l think. 1t would be matter
of five blocks, on one side of the
street"
Alderman Kugleman expressed the
opinion that the bond trustees could
hold back part of the money now due
or owing the contractor.
Picking I'D this line of argument,
Alderman Concannon asked if there
was money due the contractor, and
Mr.. Bushnell replied that there was
So 800 due him, or claimed by Mr.. Stor-
RE on extras, which the trustees had
admitted. He said, though, that thHe
would have tn he a responsibility fixed