Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-03-02
Letter.

by Police and Fire Commissioner Pat
terson.+ Es7s
.. ~. .Atkinson's Letter.
City Engineer Atkinson presented
a letter protesting against the ap-
pointment.of J. NJ. Hansen of James
town as special engineer to investi-
gate the improvement work done in
Bismarck during he past three years.
The letter follows in full:
10 the Honorable Board of City Com
,missioners, Bismarck, N. D.
Gentlemen; At a meeting of your
honorable body held on Feb. gard,
1915, there was presented to you a
COMMUNICATION Signed by r. E.
Young, Chairman Of the Taxpayers
Committee" requesting hat you ap.
point J. M. Hansen Of Jamestown as
a special engineer IS Investigate the
special assessment work done in Bis
marck during the past three years,
which Communication was accompan.
led by copies Of correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Young and Mr.. Hansen.
i object to this appointment under
the conditions laid down Mr.. Mr..
Young for the following reasons:
First, You will note in the letter
Mr.: Young to Mr.. Hansen, Mr.. Young
advises him that he has been named
by the Taxpayers Committee" as
its Especial Engineer to do this
work. It appears to me- that this is
manifestly unfair and is not at all
IN accord with the resolution of the
City Commission passed Jan. 18th,
1915, Whereby II WIS proposed that
the Taxpayers Committee appoint
one engineer, the city commissioners
appoint one engineer, and these two
appoint a third engineer, these three
engineers to form a committee. to go
over all work done since May 1st,
1911.
Second. Mr.. Young further stipu-
lates in his communication that Mr..
Hansen's Investigations be done by
himself alone and not in connection
with the city engineer. 1t surely is
unfair to ask that any one being in
vestigated shall not have an oppor-
tunity to be heard in the matter of
to defend himself. y
Third. Mr.. Young asks that the
work of Mr.. Hansen, should he be
emp.oyed, only go--back three years,
while the resolution Of the city com
mfssioners referred to above asks
the engineers go over all work
done since May list, 1911. ]
Fourth. 1t is well known to me
Mr.. Hansen has a considerable
amount, of i'll feeling towards me and
I am led to believe that Mr.. Young
and his associates also know this.
For this reason / cannot, see how a
report from him would be unbiased.
1t would be just as reasonable for
me to ask that you appoint some
c,ose personal friend IF mine to in.
ves'igate these matters as for Mr..
Young to- ask for the appointment of.
Mr.. Hansen.
Fifth. 1t is well known by me that
VIZ. Hansen desires to be city engi
leer of Bismarck and this fact alone
would be very ant to influence his re-
)ort on my work.
Sixth. It is quite evident to me
hat there is apparent double dealing
n this proposition as ! have positive
evidence that on,lFeb. 18th, the date
hat Mr.. Young's letter was written
0 MI. Hansen and addressed to
jamestown and on Feb. 18th, the
late that Mr.. Hansen's reply was
made to Mr.. Young and dated at
JAMESTOWN las shown by the copies
'ttached to Mr.. Young'ss letter to the
'ity commissioners, Mr.. Hansen
vas in the city. of Bismarck and was
;lso in the city Of Bismarck on Sun.
av, Feb: 14th.
assure you am just as anxious
$ any one to have the affairs of my
'ffice investigated, but I do ask that
t be done in s'lch a tanner and by
UGH men of standing and experience