The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-18
RESIGNATION
STIRS CITY
OFFICIALS
Mayor is Alleged to Have De-
manded Removal of J. W.
G. Schneider, Street Com
missioner, Under Threat.
MAYORS IRE AROUSED

The condition of Mayor w w. Zim-
norman Monday morning when he
presided over city court and the action
OF the board of public works in accept
Ing the resignation of the city street
commissioner, ]. W. G. Schneider, as a
result or threat made by the mayor
that If Schneider was not fired" he
would ask for the designations of the
board members, furnished topics for
animated but discreet discussions on
the part of various city officials at the
city building,
When Mayor Zimmerman took his
place on the city court bench Monday
1t was quite evident that he was not in
normal condition, but he passed Judge
ment on several cases brought before
him. He left the building Immediately
after the court adjourned.
One Member Absent.
When the board of public works met
the resignation of Street Commission
er Schneider. to take effect i'm
mediately,' was presented by the city
clerk. One member of the board, John
E. Peltz, was not in attendance. With
out discussion board members Matt
Won Pein and T. C. Taylor adopted a
motion accepting Schneider's resigna-
ton. Also without discussion they
adopted another resolution appointing
Isaac Pryor to succeed Schneider as
street commissioner.
1t is understood that about six
weeks ago Mayor Zimmerman inform
ed the board that he wanted Schneider
removed as street commissioner with
out delay, asserting that Schneider
lad never supported him tthe mayor
politically and charging that lately
Schneider had been criticising him.
Threatens Board.
1t is stated that Mayor Zimmerman
informed the board that if they did
would demand the designations of the
board members. Shortly after the
mayor had issued his ultimatum in re-
gard to Schneider. he was taken TO a
sanitarium at Oxford. O., to receive
treatments for a condition resulting
from Incorporate eXcesses, 1t is said.
With the mayor absent from the citv
the board decided 10 ignore for the
time-being the mayors demand for
the official scalp of the street commits
sioner. sa..sr.---
Demands Resignation.
When the mayor returned to Ricli-
mond, about two weeks ago, he renew
ed his demand for the resignation of
Schneider. He told the board men,
bers, it is said, that they had their
orders and il was up to the board
to carry them out.
Last Saturday, it is stated the board
members abandoned their plan of
standing pat against carrying out the
orders of the mayor and one of the
To in
formed him that the mayor wanted
him to send in his resignation. This
vas the first information Schneider
had received that the mayor was de-
manding his removal. The board
member suggested to Schneider that
he make out his resignation to become
effective November l.
Resigns at Once.
Il told the board member that If I
was not good enough to serve the city
at this time was not good enough to
work for the city the remainder of this
month. so I sent in my resignation to
become effective at once Schneider
stated Monday.
''As for the mayors charge that [
have criticised and talked about him.
that is absolutely false" continued
Schneider. Il told other city officials
to bring before me the men who have
said that | have been criticising the
mayor. | would like them to make
such a charge against me to my
face"
Ire Is Aroused.
It is stated that the mayors ire was
aroused last spring when Street Com
missioner Schneider discharged five
men who have been on the street de-
partment payroll for years and who
are referred TO as political henchmen
of the mayor. These men were dis
charged by Schneider because their
work was not satisfactory, according
to Schneider's statement. Schneider
has always insisted that he has had
the right to hire and discharge men
working in his department, an attitude
which was resented by the mayor.
Was Efficient Manager.
City officials have privately stated
that Schneider has been one OF the
most efficient street commissioners
the city ever has had and they regret
his removal sincerely. 1t is stated that
the board defied the mayors orders to
remove Schneider for several weeks
for the sole reason that the board
members were extremely reluctant to
deprive the city of Schneider's serv-
ices.