The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-15
ENGINEERS DEMAND
PUBLIC REASON FOR
OUST|NG KENDR|CK
Resolutions condemn, Pro-
test Against and Deplore"
Action of the City
Commission

| cohhHhSAiOh IN dhSmisbihE vu
kendricE as city engineer ms an "Out-
rage" "a calamity" "a disgrace" and
a "cryinG shame" prominent speak
ers at an engtneers' mass meeting mt
last night urged that the commission
tell why this action was taken.
Resolutions were passed TO be sent
the commission wlt-cn will be signed
by the presidents of the local bodies
of American Association of Engineers,
American Society of Mechanical En-
gineers and the Alabama Technical
association.
Throughout the remarks was the
continual cry of petty politics." and
the prediction that the change in the
engineers office would cost the city
of Birmingham and the taxpayers
much money.
Mr.. Hendricks services were val
uated at 100000, his integrity and
experience lauded and continued ref
erence was made to the fact that on
the day following his dismissal he
made recommendations which had
already saved the city $4,000.
Two former city attorneys espoused
the cause of the dismissed engineer,
prominent business men were present
to pay him their respects and mem
bers of all the representative en-
cheering societies discussed the stu
alton
NO Exception TO Hawkins
Continual reference was made to
| the facea that no personal exception
was taken to the newly appointed
City Engineer Hawkins, but that Mr..
Hendricks services were invaluable
and that they might not be as easily
recalled as on former occasion when
he had left the city for a $4,000
year position, only to return upon
solicitation to Birmingham to a post
which paid half that amount.
The meeting was called to order by
c. r. Gates. secretary of the Ameri-
can Association of Engineers, and
was presided over by r. S. Major,
president.
Speakers included w e. Mitchell of
| the Alabama Technical association,
H. S. Gelsmer, Maj. e. M. Tutwiler,
Robert Jemison, Sr., Frank Nelson,
Jr, Monte NJ. Ullman, Herman Scholz,
C. F. Wheelock, Robert II. Thach, f.
/ u. cutler ana RICnle VIII.
In a Communication read by Robert
Jemson, Sr., from T. III. Motion, for
mer Birmingham man. Mr.. Motion
stated that the two greatest outrages
in the history of the city were the
verdict of a jury in a recent case and
/ the verdict of the city commission In
Diminishing Kendrick as city engineer.
Robert Jemison, Sr., recited an in
stance where 1t took 80 days time
of 500 a day expert to discover
that there was nothing wrong in the
recommendations made by Kendrick
for a storm sewer system.
The city. state, national and inter-
national reputation of Julian Ken
drick was dwelt upon by practically
every one of the speakers.
w. E. Mitchell called attention to
1.-THE fact that the 500 membership of
the engineers represented 1000 votes
and that the engineers were to be
ireckoned with.
A communication signed by r. s.
! Major, president of the American AS
ISOLATION of Engineers; w. i. Mitch
ell, president of the Alabama Techni-
cal association, and 4 Fl. Crockard,
president of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers, was directed
to the board of commissioners with
resolutions attached.
Text of Resolutions
The resolutions were as follows:
"whereas, one of the most Inn
portnnt departments of our city
government ts the engineering
department.. and,
"Whereas, Julian kendriclS hns
been the. head OF this department
for the past 30 years, and,
"Whereas, during this long Pc
i Rod of time MIR. kendrick has
performed the duties of city en-
gincer diligently, faithfully and
with entirely Inadequate appro-
priations, hns accomplished ex-
ceIlent results, and
sWherens, Mr.. Hendricks nbil-
| ity and untiring energy has
gained for him n reputation as
one of the foremost municipal
! engineers in the country. and,
/ "Whereas, due to the Iack of
funds such vitafIy important
works as the enlargement and
extension of storm sewers, elm
ination of grade crossing on rail-
roads. continuation ,nnd Improve
ment of street paving remain I'M
completed, and
"Whereas, Dir. kendrick has In
nugurnted these works and IL ia
miliar with the plans, agree
ments relating to them and prog
ress made on them ms is no other
person, and
"Whereas, the city was Sc
rfously embarrassed In the con-
! duct OF its engineering DEPART
ment when Mr.. kendrick was
Displaced for n short period some
/ years ngo, and
'Whereas, several years would
be required to gain an adequate
knowledge of the many specific
details and duties pertaining to
| the work of this department In
addition to the broad general ex-
perience with the city's engineer
| ing problems possessed by MIR.
kendrick, and
sWherens, the board of COM
mfssfoners hns displaced Mr..
kendrfcl ms city engineer.
"Be 1t, therefore, resolved, that
the members of the above So
cieties. as engineers vitality inter-
ested in the welfare of our city.
| condemn, protest against and de-
plore the action of the board of
commissioners Of the city of Bir-
| mfngham I'm dispensing with the
| services of Mr.. Julian kendrtck
| M city engineer, and demand n
| public announcement of the rea-
sons which actuated the cominis-
sion in this action
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