The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-01-09
MAYOR I AND BOARD OF
CITY | COMMISSIONERS
ADMIT DEREL| CT|ON
IN ENFORCING La VS.
BUILDING OPERATIONS CONDUCT
ED IN CITY IN DIRECT VIOLA
TON OF LAWS; CONTRACTOR
SCORES OFFICIALS

That he, himself, and some Of the
members of the present board Of city
comm ssioners had permitted build
ng operations to be conducted in this
city in direct violation OF the laws
Of the city building code, was the
statement made by NDlyor Freeman
at the meeting of the board of city
commissioners at their regular weekly
session held FL day night. The mayor
stated hat citizens had appeared be-
fore the board at various times re-
guessing that they be permitted to
build in 4 manner other than that re-
qured in the building code. and that
by hearing q little explanation and
Without seeing any charts, maps. or
any other data, the commissioners had
been led TO grant the permits. He
explained that neither he nor the COM
missioners knew enough about build
ing operations TO grant such permits.
and that such matters should be left
in the hands OF the builindg inspeSor
and his judgment regarded rs author
itative and final.
The matter came up for discussion
when w a. Pride appeared before
the bdlrd and made application by
letter for appointment as building in
sped:or Up 10 the time Of the ap-
poiRtmcnt OF Lewis Davidson, which
occurred last week Pride had been
acting as building inspector. although
he had never been appo ntcd as such.
II appears that the man appointed
had been W. ID. Tailaferro, but he
had resigned when Mayor Freeman
entered office last April, stating that
he lacked time to attend to the Of
! flee pro9erly. However, the mayor
cid no accept the resignation al the
lime, but has held It in ubcyance. Mr.
Tai aferro employed Mr.. Pride TO act
in his stead.
In his lester OF application, Mr..
Pride states that she knows very
little about the electrical business. but
hat he has the friendship and back
ing of leading electricians of uae city
md is willing 10 learn and be learn
ed"
Mr.. Pride seems unable to compre-
hond THAI due to the fact that he
has never been appointed ms removal
was merely an automatic step when
n successor was appointed 10 succeed
Mr.. Taliafcrro
"I don't mind losing my Job" stated
Mr.. Pride ut the meeting. but ! do
not want TO lose 1t in this kind 81
way" He mentioned n conversation
which he had had with n former city
commissioner who had informed him
that tho building code Of this city
should be Thrown away. lie spoke
Of tho operations being conducted on
the new theatre building In this city.
stating THAI when persons representing
the owners had appeared before the
board some time ago. they were per-
trary to the laws of the city, and
that he had performed his duty when
he asked for the approval o, the man
ager of the adjoining building. The
manager had informed him. stated
Pride. tha; nc would write 10 New
York headquarters about the insurance
approval, etc. Replying to chc may.
or's statement That Pride had permit.
ted contractors TO blockade the s;rcds
with Their building materials. prd,
stated that he did NOT believe that he
rs building inspector. should cause any
arrests and thar his mere obsorvonc.
that the streets were being b,oclSldrJ
was sufficient on his part
prlde's statements were for thu most
part disrcgaricd by the board. Tn,
mayor and commissioners were IMAM
lmous in thelr or'non that thcy hi,j
taken tho wrong attitude In regard {,
thc building code IN the past. ant
agreed that in the future ghcy INTENDED
to carry out the building laws to th1
letter
Tho arguments were brought {,
what might bc termed a fighiinl
close when 4. Il. snelson. n local con
tractor. took tho floor and 'set their
right" Mr. snclson. in a siralght-from
he shoulder talk. informed the cit,
officials that the trouble existing II
this city as regards the building law
will continue as long as the conmls
Continued on page %