The Mankato free press., 1921-09-16
APPEARS AT MEETING
"Too Much Brothe r. In .
Law In Water Bureau"
THAT IS THE CLAIM MADE
Mayor Beach Passes Matter Up
To Department For An
Inquiry

Former Councilman F. j. Mahowaid
threw bombshell into the city coun-
Gil meeting last night when he com
planned that his son, Irving, had been
discharged from the position or meter
reader for the city water works de-
partment. Mr.. Mahowald was very
outspoken in his displeasure at the
action of Councilman Gust Klein
| schmidt, head of the water works de-
partment, in letting his son out with
out an explanation as to the cause.
Mr.. Mahowald did not mince words IN
stating that Councilman Kleinschmldt
used poor judgment in discharging
Irving Mahowald without first tho.
roughly investigating the matter and
not accepting the word of his fore
man alone before taking the action
he did.
Councilman Kleinschmidts only
reply to the onslaught was that ne
| had taken the word of his foreman,
Frank Buckmister that young Maho-
ed of him. The result of the wnole
affair was that Mayor W. A. Beach
had the matter referred to the water
works department for further inves-
tigation.
Statement BY Mahowald.
| Launching into this charges against
the water works department. Mr.. Ma
howald said:
About two weeks ago the water
works department made a motion to
put Charles Reed in place Of my son
Irving as water meter reader. This
young man is my son. l heard no
thing about the action Of the council
until next morning. AS soon as
heard of it l asked Mr.. Kleinschmidt
whether he had investigated as to
whether my son had been doing his
duty in his work as meter reader.
demanded an investigation from <Mr
Kleinschmidt but he gave me no an
swer. Then l went to the honorable
mayor and told him my troubles, but
nothing has been done in the way OF
investigation"
At this point in his complaint for
mer Councilman Mahowald alleged
that the whole matter rests on the
problem of too much brother in law
in the city water works department
and street work.
"It is certainly a fine way I don't
think to hire a brother in law of the
foreman of the water works depart
ment, discharge my son to make a
place for him. Charles Reed is a
brother in law of Frank Buckmister
foreman of the water works depart
ment' .
81 do not give the snap of my fin
ger for the Job my SON has lost, and
| want you to strictly understand that
am not seeking his reappointment,' y
said Mr. MahOwald 81 am going to
send him to the Mankato Commercial
college, where he will learn something
more useful"
Calls For Investigation.
| Continuing Mr.. Mahowald said: q
i L. Ixs l. - he IL L. -
an investigation when he is dropped
without notice, like my son was.
think that that boy gave satisfaction
If he did not give satisfaction, he
should have been called to account
or at least given notice that he was
not proving satisfactory. l took him
off st. Paul job in wholesale house
during the former administration and
| former City Councilman Olson, who
works department, put him to! work
When l went out of office recently
l went to Councilman Kleinschmidt
and said that if he did not wish ia
retain my boy in the service to fire
him, and there would be no hard feel :
ings, but at that time. Mr. Klein
schmidt said that the boy could con-
tinue the work, and as far as he knew
he was proving competent man in
the position. l don't think the boy
was used right as a citizen of Man
kato."
"The next day after my son was
fired, and Charles Reed, a brother
in law of Frank Buckmister, the fore
man Of the water works department
was appointed to the position of me
ter reader: Nicholas Schoeneberger,
pointed as meter reader when Irving
Mahowald quit, went to Mr.. Buckmis
| ter and told him that he was through.
That If he had any more brothers
in law up north to put them, on the
job that he was done, There are now
five brothers in-law working for the
city, and one man is on the pay roll
reader, and he has team working on
| the streets"
Anderson Spoke Up.
| councilman Anderson answered Mr.
Mahowald on the last statement with
the reply that he saw nothing wrong
in hiring one of Mr.. Reeds teams.
| Mr.. Mahowald answered this by
stating that brother of Charles
Reed, the owner of the team, Edward
Reed, is driving his brothers team -
| Mayor Beach suggested at this point
that the matter be referred to the
water works department for further
investigation. Mr.. Mahowald wanted
statement made right there.
Councilman Kleinschmidt stated
| that he had taken the word of his
foreman, Mr.. Buckmister! and had
brought up the matter of the dis
charge of Irving Mahowald. F. ].
| Mahowald wanted to know if Coun
Gilman Kleinschmidt had made any
| further investigations other than the
word Of his foreman To this he re
piled that he had been told that If
young Mahowald were not fired" he
would lose his foreman.
II would like to know what Klein :
schmidt is drawing his $50 per month
for, II it is not to make proper in
Vestlgat1ons, when they are neces- :
sary?" asked Mr.. Mahowald as a
parting shot
The matter was referred to the wa
ter works department for further in.
vestigation. -,
Nicholas Schoeaeberger stated that
he had given up job in a. machine
shop thinking that when the next va
cancy came he would be appointed
Appeared for Property Owners
Attorney William Stradtmann an
peared before the council for a num-
ber of property owners living on Vine
street who have already made sewer
connections with the Fourth and
Fifth street sewer, and object to as
sessments on Vine street for that
purpose. They hold that they will re-
D. q. 4