Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-04
COUNCIL To HAVE
CHARGE Of WORK
ON STREETS
Construction Department Reor-
gained With Responsibility
Assumed by Lawmakers.

NONAiN4l JS'N'A heiN dLttl DOOH, IedOeTS OF
council declared today that better re-
suits in street and sewer work would
be secured in the future
BY the adoption of the plan the
council has taken upon itself the re-
sponsiblity for, Improvement work
Members of the council have answered
the criticisms of their constituents
about the lack of street work by de-
claring that they had done all they
could do. They said they had had ap-
preparations provided. but simply
could not get the construction depart
ment to do the work
Under the present plan. the chief of
construction is elected by the people
and Is Independent of the council in so
far s he chooses, except that the coun-
ell controls the appropriations.
Under the new plan, the council has
made the chief Of construction amen
able to the council in all matters even
taking the authority to approve the
appointment of his assistants and to
discharge them. But the chief of con-
structon is still to be elected by the
people.
The new plan goes into effect on
January l.
Ten-Year Clause Stays.
A majority of the council voted
against eliminating the qualification
for chief of construction requiring ten
years experience as an engineer. The
reorganization committee reported in
favor of striking out this requirement
of eligibility in order that a business
| frr,t
for the office.
Obviously. this action narrows the
possibilities of opposition to the pres
ent incumbent And as soon as the
council had acted Captain R NJ. Clay
ton said that he would run for re-elec-
ton.
The special committee was continued
that it might make a report on the
more detailed matters of the depart
ment The council adopted its report
that there should be an assistant chief
of construction in charge of the detail
ed affairs of the office and an en-
gneer in charge of streets and an en-
gineer in charge of sewers.
One of the criticisms of the council
men has been that only the chief OF
NOHSli uNbiOi has ddhli'l ily ONti Lilt as
sistants and only he has knowledge of
the work of the different departments.
When the chief of construction was out
of the Office they declared, neither they
nor any private citizen could find out
about construction matters.
Experts to Probe Office.
Perhaps the most important step In
the movement for reorganization Of the
department will be taken within the
next few weeks when the experts. en-
ployed by the municipal research COM
mi ssion of the Chamber of Commerce.
begins sweeping investigation of the
chief of construction department and
all other city departments. These ex-
perts will go into details of bookkeep-
ing and the systems OF office organiza
ton. phases the council and its COM
mittee have not touched upon.
When the report of the councils
committee was brought up yesterday
afternoon Councilman Harvey Hatcher
chairman of the street committee, and
| Councilman ]. D. Sisson, of the Fifth
ward. offered a minority report to re-
tain the ten years as an experienced
engineer clause.
| Led by Councilman Hatcher, a Wig
orous fight was begun in which the
city's street Improvement system was
clearly sdetracked for a time, and
discussion of personalities was begun.
He sought to make il appear that a
personal fight was being made on Cap
tain Clayton.
Alderman McClelland openly declared
that the elimination OF the qualifica-
ton was political effort to Gust Cap
tain Clayton.
When a motion was made to table
the whole report of the committee it
carried
Report Taken From Table.
But Councilmen Mason, Smith and
Chambers and Aldermen Nutting and
Gambler and others were making a Wig
orous fight for some OF the more I'M
portant features of the report. The
report was taken from the table on the
motion of Alderman Johnson. and
adopted with the exception of the ten
year qualification
Alderman Maddox made a motion
that the ten-year qualification be re-
duced to five years, and that the sal
airy of the chief of construction he
raised from $4,000 to $4,000. This was
| lost
Several times statements were made
that Alderman Gambler was the author
of the ordinance which provides for the
present organization of the chief Of
construction department Alderman
Gambler said he drew the original or
dinance. but that it was emaciated be-
| fore il was finally adopted bV the
council He said he wanted a ten
year qualification for the chief Of con-
struction, but that the council instead
of the people should elect him. and that
the council should have the authority
10 go anywhere in the United States
to employ it's engineer.
FOOD INSPECTOR FOR Ia GRANGE.
:. .-.L. 4. 4 ....