The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-21

John L. Butler, deputy once dis
charged from the Office of the Building
Inspector charges Of drunkenness.
was yesterday afternoon elected
| Building Inspector of Richmond by the
/ new administrative Board.
Mr.. Butler is a bricklayer by trade.
having once been president of the
Bricillayers Union. The accompanying
illustration is a reprint from The
Times Dispatch of March S. 1911. siy-
ing Building Inspector Beck's reason
for the discharge of Mr.. Butler. stat
ing that he was mot running a bar
room" and that after repeated warm
ings he could no longer tolerate such
service
How They Voted.
The only ballot taken ia the Admin
istrative Board stood:
For Mr.. Butier-Messrs. HirscbberE,
FoIk~s and Whittet.
For Allen }. SaviIIe. nm assistant City
EnGine~r-Captain Mccarthy.
For NarceIIus y. Wright, the NOM
inee of the Architects Association Of
Rich Notwithstanding Inspector Beck.
BY vote Of four TO one the board
then elected f. W. TrafTOrd. the pres
ent acting superintendent, as Superln-
Captain Mccarthy voted for Charles r.
Winston.
In secret Session.
The meeting was held in secret in
the office Of Captain Mccarthy, at the
Capitol newspaper men who applied
for admission being excluded. At its
close Chairman Whittet merely author
lied the statement that Messrs Butler
and Trafford had been elected. declin-
ing to give the vote in either instance.
Mr. Whittet stated that the meeting
was harmonious and lasted barely more
than thirty minutes. From other
sources il was learned that the pro-
gram was cut and dried and that first
class steam roller methods were used
No serious consideration was given
TO the proposition of Building Inspec-
tor Beck that civil service cxaminn-
ton be given TO all sspirants- Wr.
Beck proposed that nm oral examfna-
ficn he given by some disipterested
board of engineers that n series OF
written questions be propouudrd. the
answers TO he submitted to tho super
wishing architect of the Z nifcd states
government mt wnshinGten to deter
mine who was the hest qualified man.
Had Political Backing
There has been no charge brought
sonaI integrity. lie was regarded as a
valuable man for inspection Of brick
work on small dwelling houses
throughout the West End but his fire.
aucnt absences without leave. together
with reports % his drinking habits.
caused his dismissal since II has
been known that ~ was a candidate
for the position of Building Inspector.
with the backing % many politicians
Of clay Ward. including several % ta~
Councilmen from that section. who have
worked hasd T. secure his election
the Architects Association has taken
action urging the appointment %
better oralired mzu. with technical
education ard greater skill IN the
varied modern forms q building. n
was urged Win force that Richmond
no longer builds only small stores and
dwellings. but that frequently there
are MED IN the Building inspectors
osHce intricate drawings FOR great skx
s-rarerS and apartment houses OF ad-
vaured type % construct n. rcquirinz
expert technical knowledge both 20
check the plans and 90 supervise con-
struction.
Prsns~ed BEFORE PRIMARY.
that the appointment was on poiitf-
cal grounds rather than on a basis %
merit appears 90 confirm a <en-au-
thcntirated runlor generally clrcuizfel
last night that tho position he'd bcsa
promised Mr. Batter before the Adnla-
istratfvc Pcard primary.
NotwlthstaudinR this report 70 u
claimed that ID 20 = dsy o. to aro
Mr. Whittet vas pledged % vote tor
Contractor John brewer. ard rsiiing
his eisctior. 20 throw rs szpoorr ~