The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-11-16
DILLON GETS
REbUKE FROM
CITY FATHERS
Superintendent of Municipal
Light Plant Sharply Criti-
clzed in Report of Special
Council Committee.
FORD PRAISES POLICE

special committee of councilmen
recently appointed to investigate con-
cltions at the Municipal Electric plant
resulting in the suspension of plant op-
eratlors several hours one evening, a
lew weeks ago, because of an accident
to the pump of the water feed line.
submitted report to council at its
meeting Monday evening, in which a
snarp rebuke is administered to James
Dillon, superintendent of the plant.
The report. signed by Alphonse Weis-
haupt, Joseph Waterman and David
Golden, reads:
our committee appointed to ascer-
tain the delay in installing the pump
at the light plant, report:
1T is true that the pump was on
hand some 60 days before any work
was commenced, but we learn that this
was due to the fact that the fittings
were not on hand until recently.
Used Foreign Plumbers
we also found il was not necessary
TO send TO any foreign city for EXPERT
plumbers, as our local people could
install same. However, the superinten-
dent of the city plant said that he
thought there was no plumber in the
city capable of doing the Job, hence
the hiring of outside help.
During our investigation, we found
that there is not enough co-operarion
between the superintendent and the
engineer"
1t developed that our superinten-
dent is very dilatory in visiting the
plant. 1t seems to us that when any
trouble occurs, or when his advise is
needed, in matters pertaining to the
welfare OF the plant, he is not to be
found"
I'VE visited the plant Sunday after
noon, Nov. 8. and found some 10 men
working on installing the pump. but
the superintendent was not there"
Sand Suspends Pump
The pump referred to in the COM
mttee's report was a new one recent
ly purchased to be used on the plants
water feed line leading from the river
to the pump. The pump in service
had been used for a number of wears
and was in bad state of repair. When
sand got into the old pump one even
ing few weeks ago the new pump
had not been installed and plant oper-
ations had to be suspended until re-
pairs could be made to the old pump.
Although the new pump had been al
! the plant for over 60 days, no effort
had been ma de 10 install it, the rea-
son being assigned that the necessary
fittings had not been received. "a
stated in the special committees re-
port.
Councilman Ford was the only one
to make comment on the report He
said the suspension of plant opera
! tiOns for several hours one evening
recently was the longest cessa ton of
plant activities. due to accident to
equipment, in the plants history.
Commend5 Police
Councilman Ford, as chairman of a
special committee which investigated
the activities of the police depart
ment on the evening the city was
plunged into darkness for several
hours because of an accident at tho
light plant. made a verbal report COM
mending the department.
The investigation resulted from a
letter written by citizen and appear
ing in local newspaper which stated
! that six policemen appeared on the
stage of a local theater and held lights
so that the performance could con-
| tinue." Ford reported that when the
lights of the city went out patrolmen
were assigned to local theaters to pro-
vide as much illumina ton as possible
| to prevent panics and to safeguard
theater patrons from pickpockets. He
expressed the opinion that the depart
ment should be commended rather
than criticised.
n. II. Johnson. manager OF the
Light Heat and Power company, ad-
visCd council that the artificial gas
plant of his company would be ready
to manufacture gas, Sunday. Nov. 81,
and he invited all city officials to at
tend the demonstration of the plants
efficiency.