Arizona republican., 1915-03-01

but denies that said increased ex- penditure has resulted in no benefit whatever to the city of Phoenix And this manager, further answering said preamble II, says that such increased expenditure was necessarily incurred; that soon after he took office, a plot was discovered to exist in the city and in the surrounding neighborhood of the city, promoted by Mexican bandits and revolutionists, which has for it's purpose the enlisting and arm ing of Mexicans to take part in the revolution which was then taking place in the republic of Mexico, and that the parties engaged in said plot had planned to take the city of Phoe- nix by assault and sack the city, and thus provide themselves with arms sand money to carry out said plot; and were endeavoring to per suade Indians upon the Pima Hliian reservation to join them in the en- terprise. The information came to this manager through reliable sources, and not only was said information brought to this manager but was also given to the sheriff of Maricopa coun- ty, as well as the governor of the state, and that the same information reached the mayor and members of this commissions; that this manager was requested by Q number of the businessmen of Phoenix, as well as by members of this commission, to take necessary precautions to fore stall the consummation of said plot and to increase the police force for that purpose, which he did; and that subsequently,, in the month of Aug ust, the persons engaged in said plot were apprehended by the county and federal authorities. and have since been convicted and sentenced; that about the time said plotters were ar rested, lage number of unemployed persons arrived in the city from out side points, principally from Ray, Arizona, and Fl Paso, Texas; and that among these persons there were many suspicious characters, and that about that time and for some time afterwards, many robberies occurred in the city, particularly in the resi- dence district of the city, and also there occurred at about that time q number of fires of incendiary ori- gin. and that it became necessary to retain the police force intact when this manager had heretofore called to his assistance to guard against the Mexican plotters aforementioned, in
 f..,r ,.,.I na ton of the city where said robberles and depredations were being com mitted and to maintain peace and good order in the city; and i,y req son of the conditions and necessities above detailed this manager doubled the police force and maintained sald police force at it's increased num- her so long as necessity existed there for: and that, as soon as he safely could do so, he reduced said police force. and is now causing the same to be reduced as rapidly as condl- tions warrant.
 Answering the third preamble, the city manager admits that he has
 
 s2O42q.73 for the improvement of the fire department, in the purchase oI three motor propelled. combination chemical and hose wagons, and tlNe thousand feet of new hose, which sum was the reasonable value of the same and all of which expenditures were authorized and approved by the city commission: but denies that despite said expenditures. the efficiency oi
 the fire department has been ma
 terially lessened, or lessened at all
 or that men have been hampered Tn
 the discharge of their duties, or
 that any loss of the organized CO., operation of the volunteer ire com
 uanies has occurred through any
 reason whatsoever; and denies that the volunteer fire companies have
 become or are disorganized or in-
 efficient by reason of any improper acts or neglect of this city manager
 admits that, in many cases, thls manager has caused to be appointed, with the approval of the fire chlel men to the paid department, who were not members of the volunteer fire department, as by the charter and ordinances he was authorized To do; and says that in all cases, ln the appointment of men to the pald fire department. he was actuated by the desire to provide the most CT ficient men for the places; and where men of equal efficiency were candidates the preference has been given to members of the volunteer fire department And the manager further denies that he has ever dis criminated. or caused any discrim- nation, against the appointment Of members of the volunteer fire de partment to replace in the paid ire department; but, on the contrary, this manager has done all Tn his power to upbuild and uphold the volunteer fire department, and has recommended to the commission le- gislation for their promotion, which | legislation has been adopted and enacted by this commission; and has always favored members of the vol unteer department for places in the paid fire department when their ser vices could be used to the advantage of the city, and has always en-