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

It Is gcueraIly understood that Mr.
Gilberts resignation is in the natures
OF protest against conditions result
ing from alleged negligence on the
part Of Mayor W. w. Zimmerman In
the performance Of his duties and be-
cause Of serious friction between tha
city council and the board of public
works over the question OF the man
agement Of the affairs Of the munici-
pal electric light plant.
In announcing his resignation City
Attorney Robbins said: 81 am resign
ing because of the lack of team work
between the various city departments.
particularly between the city councik
and the board of public works"
There is a possibility that the first
OF next month the City of Richmond
will find itself without the services Of
q mayor or q board president, the two
principal administrative officers.
In Oxford Sanltarium,
Mayor w. W. Zimmerman Is now an
inmate Of a sanitarium at Oxford. O.
He has received a ninety days leave OF
absence on salary. 1t is stated that.
the mayors condition is such that,
there Is no prospect that he will be-
able to resume his Official duties by
August !, and there Is a question OF
W
the matter Of appointing a SUCCESSOR
to Mr.. Gilbert
It IS stated that the mayor fs very
| III and that the injury to his head.
which he recently received is now re-
garded as Of a more serious nature
than originally diagnosed.
Refuse to Serve.
It Is understood that several we'll
known business men were approached
by Mr.. Gilbert Thursday with the re-
quest that he be permitted to recon-
mend one of them to Mayor thinner
man for appointment to the board OF
public works, but that each of them
refused to consider the proposal.
Mr.. Gilbert drafted two designations.
one addressed to the mayor, the other
to City Controller B. A Bescher. He
said he did this for the reason that he
did not know the present whereabouts
of the mayor. He asked the controller
to forward to the mayor copy Of his
resignation In seyering his connec-
ton with the city government, Mr..
Gilbert explained that he could no
longer spare so much Of his time from
his business affairs
Presented Resignation Today.
Mr. Gilbert's resignation was an
nounced at the conclusion Of q meet
ing Of the board Of public works
Thursday. During the session Mr.. Gil-
bert sharply criticised various mus
nicipal expenditures, ranging from an
abnormally large payroll for the
municipal electric plant for the first
half Of July, amounting to $4,073.6S.
to the purchase Of a dust brush for the
board of works office, costing $1.50.
which Mr. Gilbert held to be an ex-
cessve cost. The city controller agreed
with him.
City Controller Bescher exploded
bomb at the board meeting by sub
mitting a financial report allowing
that the municipal plant lacked
s9,745.75 of having enough money to
meets its bills due July "a James e.
Dillon, plant superintendent. Informed
the board that this deficit could be re-
duced approximately $4,000 by collee-
tions received before the end Of the
day.
Disapproves Act
In his statement Mr.. Bescher dis
approved the action Of the board in
accepting bid for 25. 900 tons Of coal
for the municipal plant and ordering
the advertising for bids for an addi-
tional $4,000 tons. the first order for
delivery within one year. the second
order for delivery within six months
Continued on Page Fourteen)