The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-21
ATTACK
OF UNFAIR CRITICS
AROUSES MR.. BAv|S
Board of Works President
Defends Integrity of Mem
bers Against Published
InsinuatiOns.

Smartfng under criticisms, which
every member of the city administra-
tion regards as unfair and engendered
by spite, President Bavis of the board
of public works gave vent to his per.
sonal feelings today, breaking a pa
tient silence of many weeks during
which one attack after another has
been made upon the administration.
He created much excitement at the
city building by telling the reporter Of
local newspaper his personal opin-
ion of the policy pursued by that
paper.
The spark which exploded the wrath
of the president of the board of public
works was a statement appearing in
a local newspaper last evening which
he regarded as an insinuation that in
selecting street lamps for the city the
mayor and board members would be
prejudiced in favor of either the car
bon flame or luminous arcs manufac-
tured by the Westinghouse company
because that company paid the ex.
penses of the four officials during
their recent trip of inspection to
Pittsburg.
Il wish 1t distinctly understood"
exclaimed Mr. Bavis, red with anger,
as he faced the newspaper man, that
If for one minute any citizen of Rich
mond believed the mayor and the
board members had been influenced
in favor of the Westinghouse COM
pany I personally would be a good
Progressive to evoke the recall on
myself without the formality Of legal
action to such effect l regard such
a charge as mean and contemplate
action.
Paper Like Sick Baby.
Il also wish to inform you that your
newspaper reminds me of sick baby.
and you can also quote me as saying
that II the Commercial club, whicn vo
have announced in your newspaper ID
much ag1tated over the street ngnting
question, is expecting to come as a
rescue party to take a hand in this
affair its assistance will be rejected.
On the other hand If the Commercial
club out of spirit of good citizenship
and cooperation intends to offer the
board its assistance in this matter it
will be cordially welcomed by the
board"
Mr.. Bavis concluded his brief but
highly spfced statement by asserting
that the trip to Pittsburg had been
undertaken only after representatives
OF the Westinghouse company had
assured the city officials that 1t was
merely for the purpose of permitting
them to get better idea of how the
lamps manufactured by the company
appeared In actual and general opera
ton.
The criticisms heaped upon the ad-
ministration, which in six months has
accomplished and undertaken more
improvements than the preceding ad-
mi Icfr IN
not taken so seriously by other city
officials as they are by Mr.. Bavis.
So far as the new street lighting
| system for the city is concerned the
criticism along that line is merely re-
| garded as much ado about nothing
Up to date Mayor Robbins and the
| members of the board of public works
have progressed no farther on that
project than to make a careful investi-
| cation of the various types of street
lamps.
Time to Consider.
Next Thursday bids for $50 lamps
will be opened and the Commercial
| club committee, members of the
| mayors advisory board and all in
| terested citizens have been invited to
attend this meeting Even after the
bids are received no contract will be
4 a" oIucu lOI d pSIlOu Vi ten udyS,
ing which thorough investigation
will be held to make final decision
as to the type of lamp to be selected.
| Mayor Robbins and his board men,
bers have repeatedly declared that
efficiency and not original cost Of in
stallation will be the basis for the pur-
chase of the new lamps. The board
has had under consideration the plac-
ing of boulevard lamps on Main street
by attaching them to trolley poles
with ornamental brackets. This plan
has met with opposition. but the city
officials have never openly declared
in favor of such a system and IL orna-
mental posts on Main street are pub
licly demanded and they can be put
down with reasonable expense indica-
tions are the board will comply with
such a demand.
I'VE want Richmond to have the
best street lighting system the city
can possibly afford to provide" was
the way Charles Marlatt, Democratic
member of the board put it today.
1--WE want the advice of the citizens in
this matter, not unfair criticism"
PananPnn IN aR-a0n0