Evening journal., 1920-01-22

call switched to the latiers Offices.
That's q that's just itr exclaimed
Mr. Lyon 'lou passed the complaint
along 10 The Water Department ] don't
suppose you took the trouble TO follow
10 up"
Mr.. Pierson told how ne received nu-
merous complaints OF AN SORTS every
week which did not come within his
province. and how nc kept memoranda
Of them and tried 10 see that they
were transferred TO the proper authors
tics. Il do not ask The other depart
inenis TO do my work" ne said, and
know they would resent my inter-
FERNS with theirs
a broken water pipe, such Us caused
the trouble In Lombard street. went
on AIr pierson, was m1tter for the
Water Department not The street and
Sewer, and FOR that reason he had the
complaint Of the one In LOMBARD street
thus referred. 70 was not his fault II
the Water Department had failed 10 act
AS a matter Of fact. 80 was up to the
owner Of the property 60 have had the
broken pipe fixed OF once said Mr.
Picrson.
Here Councilman Murray made ih'
point that experience had taught him
that IL was better for citizens to make
complaints directly TO employees OF the
city departments than TO commission
ers. he said complaints he had made
had always received prompt attention.
street and Sewer Commissioner Chas.
A Rudolph who had been O quiet
listener 90 the debate. supported Com
missioner pierson In his assertion that
the Lombard street break was not up
10 his department but iu reality
should haye been attended TO by The
property owner eve have i6s miles OF
streets 10 look after" he said "and
one man cannot look after every mile
Of them
President Lyon again declared II the
city had a commission form OF govern
ment we'd get better attention"
Councilman Charles Forwood, chair
man Of the finance committee. said 20
looked as though The Lombard street
complaint should have been given at
tention when 10 was reported 10 the
Water Department, and that when the
latter did not turn of The water 10 was
the duty Of the police and health de-
partmenis 10 know OF the conditions
and take action.
Commissioner Rudolph protested
that II the department officials
had been informed by President Lyon
OF the case before the meeting OF Noun- |
Gil so they could have inquired into 10 |
in their respective departments. they 4
might shed much more light on 20 and 1
have far different story 10 tell"
Councilman Murray joined him IN de-
The executives should not have |
been called before Council without FIRST |
having been informed Of the reason.
Police Commissioner Megear here took |
The loor. Addressing Mr. Lyons he |
said: II want 10 say 10 you frankly |
that ! believe the police department !
knows It's duties about as we'll as you .
10 yours. agree that The police should |
have given more prompt Dotce Of the y
trouble but the commissioners shoum
have been told why they were called /
here tonight so they could have invesii-
gated The delay IN reporting the leak |
Councilman McManus remarked ne
thought now that the water had been
tNIheh NN hlt Atudul az ANt LuiilndiA /
street house should remove the ice from /
the sidewalk This aroused Mr.. Lyons |
ire and he retorted that inasmuch as
the leak was not the tenants fault the |
Of the sidewalk should he done
by the owner. Councilman Kane agreed |
with Mr.. Lyons the owner should clear
or the ice and that the police should
make him do So
After dlsclaimng any intention OF
blaming the heads of The departments
personally for the failure 10 promptly
'ectlfy the trouble but declaring they
should see 10 lt that their subordinates
should he more prompt and attentive,
Mr. Lyon thanked the executives for
heir attendance bowed them out-and
smiled broadly.