The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-07-19
TO CONSIDER
new MEASURE
FOR TURBINE
Gilbert Will Suggest Repeal
ing 100000 Ordinance
and Action on $l75,000 Bill
to Provide Machinery.
RESENTS INSINUATlON

Repeal of the ordinance appropriat.
ing 100000 for a new 5.O00-k. W. tur-
bine engine. with it's Complementary
equipment, for the municipal electric
plant. or an amendment to the ordi-
nance increasing the appropriation
to approximately s170.o00, will be sug-
gested to council at its meeting Mon
day evening. according to Harry ".
Gilbert, president of the board of pub
lie works.
The cost of installing the turbine
unit, complete, will be close to $17O,-
600, and because council has appro-
priated only 100000 companies which
were expected to negotiate for the
contract have refused to submit bids.
All or Nothing
I'm my opinion, council should eth
er appropriate an amount approximat-
ing the actual cost Of the proposed i'm
provement or it should appropriate
| nothing" remarked Councilman Oscar
Williams Monday.
He presided over council at it's last
| meeting and 1t is probable he will be
selected to continue as presiding
Oh-SOA oNliil6 dD6cuC0 OI Mayor
Zimmerman
Mr.. Williams frankly declared that
| in his opinion an increase in the capac-
lty Of the municipal plant was greatly
| needed and he thought council should
authorize at once the expenditure OF
the full amount necessary to install
| the new unit.
Has confTde1e.
He declared that some of his asso-
ciates appeared to be under the i'm
| preston that the city officials who
would be responsible for making the
proposed plant improvements could
not be trusted with the handling Of an
appropriation fully covering the ap-
| proximate cost OF the unit prior to the
| receipt of bids. Mr.. Williams took
occasion to remark that he had COM
plete confidence in the board Of pub
lie works.
In appropHaung only s10O,oO for
the proposed turbine several council
| men last Monday night went on record
as being opposed to appropriating for
the full cost Of the improvement until
| bids had been received and a contract
| awarded.
viii Refute Charge
James E. Dillon, superintendent Of
the municipal plant, stated Monday
that he intended Monday evening at
council meeting to refute a charge
made at the last council meeting that
the coal storage equipment for the
municipal plant, recently contracted
for on a bid of $4,000, would cost
$4,000 more than what 1t was act
ually worth.
| This assertion, II is said, was made
by Councilman Thatcher and 1t nearly
resulted in an exchange of blows be-
tween Thatcher and Dillon, the latter
declaring that such charge was a
damned lie"
H. S. Ford, Of Detroit, representing
the R. H. Beaumont company OF Phila-
delphia. which firm sold the coal stor-
age equipment to the municipal plant.
will appear before council and testify
that the city secured the device for
a reasonable price and will explain its
Ioperation.
Sends Affidavit
The president OF the company has
also sent in an affidavit testifying that
the company only received a fifteen
per cent profit on fits sale.
Baltz A. Bescher, city controller,
assumed the role of conciliator Mon
day in the protracted dispute between
the city council. on the one hand, and
the board of public works and tho
municipal plant superintendent on the
other. over the proposal to appropriate
S275.000 for the purpose of doubling
the capacity Of the plant to meet the
actual needs Of the city.
Mr.. Bescher, in a letter addressed
to the board members and to the city
councflmen, urges that the legislative
and executive departments get to-
gether and agree upon some plan OF
action whereby plant improvements
can be provided.
| Text Of Letter
| Mr.. Bescher's letter follows:
AT the last session Of the common
council. held July IL, 1920. an ordin-
ance appropriating the sum Of $780,
100000 for unit at our City Plant was
passed. which from present indications
is in no way sufficient to cover the
cost of the unit" let alone it's IN
stallation. l am not an attorney. but
1t is my honest opinion the manner in
which this ordinance was passed will
cast shadow on the transcript neces-
sary in the issuance OF and sale OF
bonds, which the City will probably be
compelled to issue for at least a por.
tion Of the money necessary for said
improvement.
The city clerk has received letters
from firms, advising that as the ap-
rropriation is inadequate they would
not bid on the unit on that account.
II would suggest that the council
and board meet and have the person
or persons present at the meeting
with whom they have been in con-
sultation. and II possible have one of
the engineers from the Indiana Public
G.. %
the plans, specifications, ETC., also as
to the best and most economical plan
for the installation of the contem-
plated Improvements at the plant.
II believe IL this is done. we will be
. able to settle this question amicably.
and will be able to act in harmony
for the best interests Of our city and
! light plant. Trusting you will accept
, this request in the spirit given, I beg
, leave to remain as ever,
Yours for the best interests Of our