The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-07-22

ND PALLADIUM AMI SON-1E.
viously accepted bid for coal, to with
draw the advertisement for additional
coal bids, and that the plant superin-
tendent be instructed to go on the
open market for coal and keep the
board informed on all propositions re-
ceived.
Mr.. Gilbert stated that, inasmuch
as the board had ordered the advertis-
ing for coal bids without authority he
cost OF advertising. The same senti-
ment was expressed by board mem
bers Peltz and Taylor
President Gilbert in addressing the
board, declared that the financial con,
d1tton Of the municipal plant, as indi-
Gated by the controllers report, was a
great surprise to him, and he pre-
sumed. was equally surprising to the
other board members.
Board Receives No Report.
He called attention to the fact that
1t has been customary for the con
| troller to keep the mayor advised on
financial affairs, the mayor, in turn,
to report such facts to the board Mr.
| Gilbert then added that the board had
been receiving no reports from the
mayor on municipal finances. Con-
troller Bescher, however, has been
submitting regular financial reports
| to the mayor until the mayor left the
city
II think that we have been buying
| lot of things that are not necessary,
| and this labor cost at the municipal
| plant has got to be reduced" Gilbert
| declared. He remarked that included
. %I1 Irr% h.
| nicipal plant, was one received from
a coal company which had been wait
| ing for its money since May %.
Eve have just got so much money
to apply to these bills and we will
have to make 1t go as far as possible"
the board president declared. "I think
the oldest bills should be taken care
of first
Roof In Bad Condition.
When the board president instructed
Superintendent Dillon to reduce the
labor cost at the plant Dillon asked
that he be instructed to stop all
unnecessary work at the plant and
reduce the working force to a mini
mum. Before the board adjourned
Dillon called attention to the fact that
q wall and the roof Of the boiler
house Of the plant were in a hazardous
condition and asked the board to sub
NIT to council an ordinance appro-
priating $12.5OO for a new wall and
new roof. The board passed a reso
luton to that effect.
President Gilbert entered a protest
against a submitted bill of STA for
papering several rooms in tenant
houses at Glen Miller park. Gilbert
declared that this was no time for
the city to spend money for wall
paper Park Superintendent Hollarn
declared that he had to make the
improvements to keep help at tho
park. He said two men recently quit
the park service because of the con
dition Of two tenant houses.
This city is in mighty bad shape
financially" remarked the board pres
ident. Hollarn then reported that lacl
of funds prevented badly needed re
pairs to roads at the park.
While discussing the purchase o
some supplies for the city building
Gilbert and Peltz engaged in a tilt
This work has been done by Peltz
eff you want to look after the buyins
> go ahead and do So l wash my hand:
Of the whole thing" Peltz said t
Gilbert.
Causes Comment.
!. Considerable comment was caused
by the resignation Of Mr.. Gilbert. 1
is generally understood that Mr. Gil
, bert is considerably displeased owe
the way municipal affairs have BEEF
conducted Of late. He informe'
friends that the city had no one t.
supervise its administration and h
- called attention to he fact that befor
Mayor Zimmerman became incapac
> tated he showed general lack Of il
terest in the affairs Of his office, Sc
dom attending the board meetings.
= The action Of the city council in de
!; laying action on necessary improve
ments at the municipal plant, as pro
: posed by the board Of public works, |
= also believed to have entered into tn
. !, decision Of the board president to tel
-. der his resignation.
!. Believes Changes Necessary.
AS he left the city building Thur!
I, day morning Mr.. Gilbert remarked t
u a newspaper man that he believed tn
s only solution for an effective and eff
cient administration Of municipal a
fairs was to have the legislature pas
law permitting cities to establis
some form Of the commission systel
of government ''If this question come
up before the legislature l will be will
Ing to devote considerable Of my tim
in attending sessions as an advocat
Of the commission plan of city go,
~, =