The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-07-24
Defer ACTION
ON PROBE OF
MAYOR JOB
Councilmen Decide to Await
Investigation of Citizens
Committee on Conditions
in City's Government.
review GRIEVANCES

flowed into the Railways, council met |
in special session Friday evening for |
the purpose of inquiring into the con. |
duct and actions Of Mayor w. w. Zim. |
merman," but in reality the meeting |
developed into discussion of the con-
duct and actions of the council, the |
board OF public works and the city '
attorney.
After debate which lasted over two |
hours and was confined almost ex-
clusively to A. J. Ford, Fifth ward
councilman. and Byram c.. Robbins, re-
tiring city attorney. Mayor thinner
man still held his job. but the attend
ing taxpayers departed fully convinced
that the administrative and legislative
branches Of the city government didn't
have bit of use for each other.
Mayors Condition Discussed.
Before convening, council held a
caucus with members of the committee
of citizens appointed Friday morning
at a meeting of business men and
heard a report on the condition of
Mayor Zimmerman submitted by Dr.
Cook. in charge Of a sanitarium at
oxford, o., where the mayor is a
patient.
DR.. Cook stated that the mayor was
in a highly nervous state and was
suffering from a painful injury to his
head, recently received. but he gave
assurance that the mayor was not in
a serious condition and that he would
respond to treatments in satisfactory
manner.
He further stated that DR.. thinner
mans mentality was not impaired and
that what he principally required was
complete rest for at least a month.
Postpone Action.
Befope adjourning council decided to
postpone its consideration of the
mayors conduct of his official duties
until after the special citizens commit
tee had had an opportunity to meet
with the mayor and submit to council
a report Of the conference. 1t is under
stood that arrangements have been
made for the committee to call on DR..
Zimmerman at Oxford, Sunday.
AS council was about to adjourn
Councilman Thatcher took occasion to
urge President Gilbert of the board Of
public works, and City Attorney Rob-
bins. to withdraw their designations,
but council took no action on the
matter. Although the designations Of
the two officials are effective August
I, each has expressed a Willingness to
continue in Office for any reasonable
time after that date until his success
sor can be appointed. 1t is generally
understood however, that appoint
ments to fill the two vacancies will be
made before August 1.
Calls for Explanation.
Following the cOnvening Of council
Councilman Won Pein asked that some
of the councilmen who had signed the
al IN oil
their reasons for doing so.
Mr. Waidele stated that he acted on
the theory that the designations Of
two principal officials following the
withdrawal Of the mayor from the city
constituted an emergency.
Councilman Ford said he signed the
call because great many people
thought it was up to council to act
on serious situation, the mayor
being incapacitated and the resigna-
tions of Mr.. Robbins and Mr.. Gilbert
having been submitted. He said he
thought some one should be placed in
charge of the affairs of the city at this
time.
Councilman Won Pein next called
upon City Attorney Robbins to explain
what the status Of the mayor would be
If he was unable to perform his official
duties Mr. Robbins replied that
under normal circumstances it mat
tered very little whether the mayor
was in or out Of the city.
Explains Mayors Work.
He admitted that the mayor had not
been giving much Of his time to city
affairs, but explained that the mayors
duties were few and that practically
all of the executive actions We're car
ried out through other agencies.
.ty,1.
necessary comment and alarm over the
existing situation" Mr.. Robbins vigor-
ouslv declared. Or. Zimmerman Is
mayor and no one can take his place
unless Il vacancy occurs"
He then explained that impeachment
proceedings could be instituted but
stated that all the charges on which
such proceedings were based would
have to be fully substantiated and the
mayor given ample time and opportun-
ity to offer defense Of his actions and
the conduct of his Official affairs.
Pleads for Harmony.
Later Attorney Henry L. Johnson
made a similar declaration in a brief
address, which was concluded with a
plea that council and the board bury
their differences q 4 act tremendously
in the future 70, the best interests Of
the city.
Mr.. Robbin, twice addressed coun-
Gil. The first time he sharply criti-
cised three or four members of
council, referring to them as cob
structionists" His second sneech was
in defense of the board of public works
in its dealings with the council and
refutations of charges that the affairs
of the city were in serious condi'
ton.
In his closing speech he asserted
that municipal finances were in sat
isfactory shape and that Richmond
was one of the few cities which, in
the past three years. had not found 1t
necessary to issue bonds for its main,
tenance.
Relates Disputes.
He said that the affairs of the munic-
ipal electric light plant were pro.
crossing satisfactorily and that under