The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-01-04
FORD URGES COUNCIL
TO CUT OFF SALARY
OF LIGHT MANAGER

Councilman "A. j. fOTQ upset the
routine of the council session Monday
night when he demanded that the sal
airy fixed for the superintendent of the
light plant be abandoned, for the en-
suing year.
The ordinance for fixing the salaries
of city officials for the year 1921 had
received it's second reading. Before
Mr.. Ford would vote for the ordin-
ance he looked up the time specified
for debating such questions. A mis-
understanding was found and the
votes for the third reading were re-
scinded to allow Councilman Ford his
opportunity to protest.
"That our light plant has been mis-
managed has been shown by reports of
a special committee from this council,
and citizens committee. Following
this disclosal the board of works chose
a man in whom we have confidence.
That man made fair report, and in it
he backed up the assertions of our in
vestigating committees. l believe this
man knows his business, and l would
be willing to give him $4,000 a year
instead of paying $2.400 annually to
the man who has been proven incom-
petent.
Urges Expense Cut.
81 do not believe it is right to this
city to give $2,400 a year to our pres
ent superintendent, and pay over $5,-
400 to J. D. Lyons, who was employed
recently to supervise the plant for a
year. In private business Mr.. Dillon
would have been turned from his job.
He has made the plant almost fail
ure during the past three years. l say
we are duty bound to safeguard that
plant in every possible way; that Is
the reason l vote against this man who
has proven his incompetency. 1t is up
to us, gentlemen. to vote down that
$50 a week to the superintendent 1t
is money out of the pockets or clt1zens
of Richmond"
At the opening sentences of Mr.
Ford's renewal of the attack upon the
light plant superintendent, Mayor Zim-
norman hastily called a halt long
enough to appoint Councilman Will
Jams to the bench. He then left say
ing he had another engagement When
DOC" returned, over an hour later.
hatchets had been sheathed.
Waterman Talks.
Councilman Waterman lined up be-
hind the declarations of Mr.. Ford.
"The position was given only to pay
political debt" said Mr.. Waterman,
"and it is nothing but a political plum.
1t is not so much the fault of the man
accepting the position, as it is that of
the man comforting the place. We
have not, as the mayor says, fought
him, but we are fighting for the people
of Richmond"
During the discussion that followed
,, it was brought out that until three
| weeks ago, Mr.. Dillon had not had
jurisdiction over Jefferys, his chief en-.
gineer since last June Baltz Bescher.
city controller, said that Mr.. Dillon
had told him that he had had no all-
thority over his engineer. This raised
the question as to whether Mr.. Dillon
was only paid to look after the books
at the light plant office, or whether
he also was responsible for the man
agement of the lighting current
Settle Controversy.
Settlement of the controversy was
reached when it was pointed out that
an appropriation for the salary of
superintendent was necessary if the
city hoped to have light plant super
intendent. With this understanding,
the ordinance was passed.
Two factions were present at the
third reading of the ordinance for an
nexing Benton Heights to the city OF
Richmond. One side maintained the
majority of property owners of Ben
ton Heights were against annexation,
while the other group was as en-
phatic in declaring the majority were
for 1t. Property holders representing
both factions made pleas for and
against the project. The matter was
set aside until the next council
| meeting.