The Detroit times., 1915-05-13


The council committee on health
and city hospitals. Aid Gilman,
chairman, held a spicy little session
with Commissioner Fenkell. OF the
department or public works, We'd
nesday morning. TO place the blame
for the long delay in preparing to
build garbage reduction plant out.
side the eastern city limits in Ora
tiot township. The members OF the
committee were painly hostile TO
the commissioner. while the latter
was In a warlike mood. The mayor,
who was present in the meeting by
request. managed to preserve strict
neutrality by refusing to take part
in the discussion.
Several months ago the commit
tee. after a hearing, instructed the
commissioner 10 dig a hole" on the
proposed site OF the garbage plant
TO give the village OF ST. Clair
Heights. the township OF Gratiot and
individual property owners an OPP
portunity TO make good their threat
TO enjoin the city from constructing
the plant. The commissioners de-
layed carrying out the committees
order. meanwhile asking the alder
men to confirm contracts for about
100000 worth OF machinery for the
proposed plant The aldermen re-
fused to confirm the contracts, and
the whole matter was held up by
the deadlock between the commits
sioner and the members OF the COM
mittee. The city's contract with the
Detroit Reduction Co. expires June
80, 1916. and unless the municipal
reduction plant is In operation be-
fore that time the city will have to
make new contract at the dicta-
ton of the reduction company or al
low the garbage to rot in the streets
and alleys.
The members of the committee
were reused to action by pub
lished statement that they were ty-
ing the hands OF the commissioner.
did you rot tell us that you
would start 10 dig so that an in
junction suit could he started with.
out delay, and is II not true that
you have failed to do so?" Aid. Gin
nan asked Fenkell
Your statement is slightly
wrong" answered the commissioner
II notified the attorney. James II.
Pound. representing the village. May
(. that ! would start digging and
put five men TO work the following
Monday. They have dug a hole in
the ground. and | intend to stop
work tonight Meanwhile, the plans
and specifications for the reduction
plant are ready"
This was the first intimation the
aldermen had that the commission
er had started the work Aid. Gin
nan changed his plan OF attack on
the commissioners.
Then you don't intend to go any
further with the work." he asked,
to which the commissioner replied:
~ have no available funds. Any.
iON' hNNoih'g Nblu Iut NIdt
II would not require much of a hole
10 serve as the basis OF a suit. At
best IL Is only blum on our part
and the other side can defeat our
plan by delay. 1t was my first in.
tention TO have the contracts con
Armed and proceed to work on the
plant. then they could start suit
when they were ready"
Aid. Gilman asked the commits
sioner why he waited 80 long be-
fore starting the work in compli-
ance with the committees orders
Commissioner Fenkell interpreted
the chairman's remark as per
sonal dig at him and got "huffy"
He insisted that he had started the
work before he knew anything about
the committee meeting called to-
Ak the blame.
After satisfying themselves that
they were not TO blame for any dc.
lay I'm the matter. the committee or
dered the corporation counsel 10 no.
tify Attorney Pound that "the hole
is dug" and request him to get busy
In court.