The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-05
SUPT. DILLON
IS WILLING TO
RESIGN JOB
Is Ready To Quit if Step Will
Promote Harmony in Man
agement of Richmond NUM-
cipal Light Plant.
OUTLINES HIS STAND

w sSsbkSS busV VI 'bvS
Superintendent Dillon Of the mum
cipal electric light plant, in a letter
to Mayor Zimmerman. it was learned
today. has indicated his willingness
to resign. il 1t is believed that this
action will promote harmony and
serve the best interests Of the plant
Mr.. Dillon said he was prompted to
take this step because Of his interest
in the plant and his willingness not to
stand in the way of its development,
if this can be aided by his resignation
The text OF his letter follows:
"Richmord. Ind, May 5. 1921.
Honorable W. W. Zimmerman
mayor of the City of Richmond,
Richmond, Indiana.
Dear Sir: 1t is my highest desire
that nothing be left undone to secure
confidence in the light plant of the
city and to bring about proper SUD
port for such institution from the city
council. To this end, if you feel that
it would relieve the situation for me
to resign my position as general man
ager. please understand that am now
Offering to resign at any time you
and the board of works see fit to &C
, cept a resignation.
Willing to Sacrifice.
II would sincerely regret to leave
the managership of the light plant;
not on account of the salary connected
with the position of manager, but for
the rea son that I have great pride in
the work that has been undertaken.
Within the next few months certain
improvements that l have fought for
, Z br( II ,icfyo he
completed. and l believe that by the
end of the present year the light
plant will have become a model of
its kind and the improvements recon-
mended by me will be shown to have
been justified. One naturally regrets
to leave job half finished, but I am
willing to sacrifice my personal feel
! ings and desires in the matter to ac-
complish what may be best for the
city.
II do not want by retaining my po-
sition to embarrass you, your admin
istration and the proper financing Of
the light plant.
VIII Answer 2uestiens o.
II am willing that most complete
and thorough investigation be made
by any competent disinterested elec-
trical engineers touching the present
condition Of the light plant and the
improvements outlined, and am willing
to publicly meet and answer any ques-
tions that may be asked me by any in
terested citizens.
II am convinced that there are GER
tain unseen forces at work who desire
to embarrass the operation of the light
plant at this time, for their own selfish
purposes. and l hope that the members
of the council will not fall victims to
the plans of these forces.
| Il want to thank you for the conf
! dence that you have shown in me, and
l now assure you that l am willing to
| relinquish my position at any time.
| that such a course on my part may
| tend to bring about proper support to
the light plant from the city council.
Respectfully,
J. P. DILLON"
Act en- Suggestion.
At the suggestion of Councilman
John Schneider. of the Eighth ward.
! the board of works today requested
the Indiana public service commission
| to investigate the present status of
| the Municipal electric light plant.
Engineer Carter will come to this
| city Friday, provided he can cancel
| an engagement. He was present last
| winter when the present improve
ments were outlined.
Councilman Schneider's idea is that
| lack of confidence regarding the light
plant situation will vanish if a disin-
| terested engineer makes an impartial
| investigation.
The board of works instructed City
| Attorney Keller to investigate num-
| ber of charges that have been recently
| made, among them that Superintend-
ent Dillon ordered the power shut off
| for 25 minutes in West Richmond in
order to obtain support for improve
| ments at the plant: the use of taxi
| cabs by a representative of the Lyon
company, and the condemnation and
| sale of meters.
Engineer Carter and City Attorney
Keller will collect the evidence and
| data on the situation in order that
the truth may be ascertained The
purpose of the investigation is not to
| shield or protect any one, but to as
| in fh q fa