The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-05-02
PLANT
COMMITTEE
REFUSES JOB
Citizens Appointed by Mayor
To Investigate Conditions
Say Lack Of Cooperation
Threatens Enterprise.
ASK $4,000 TONIGHT

That The very existence OF the NIL
nicipal electric light plant is threaten
ed by the complete lack of harmony
and confidence existing between indi-
Viduals and groups of individuals con-
cerned in the management Of the
plant; and that the technical matters
concerned with the plant are questions
for specialists, are 'Ieasons assigned
by the citizens committee in refusal
to accept the appointments made by
Mayor Zimmerman last Week, to in-
vestigate the light plant affairs and
condition and make public report.
The committee states that unless
harmony and confidence are restored
between the individuals and groups OF
individuals the technical and financial
problems cannot be solved
Six Sign Report.
Six of the eight members of the COM
luittee signed the report, F. s. Ander-
son and Walker Land being abstrt
from the meeting which adopted the
report.
The report follows:
Richmond. Ind. May ., 1921
w. W. Zimmerman, Mayor
Dear Sir:
referring to our appointment by
you as a committee of citizens to re-
port upon the present condition of the
municipal light and power plant, we
beg to state that we are unwilling to
pass upon the technical matters con
cerned, believing that that is uues-
t1on for specialists, and has been
previously covered by committees and
engineers reports. Nor will we at.
j tempt to state what individual, or
srcup Of individuals is responsible for
the present situation.
There is such a complete lack of
harmony and confidence between ini:-
viduals, and groups Of individuals con-
cerned in the management and finan-
cling OF the plant that its very existence
is threatened. This situation. to a con-
siderable extent. has existed for some
/ time, and attempts of individuals, corn
| mittees and engineers to improve this
lack of harmony and confidence have
been only partially and temporarily
| successful
Until. therefore. this condition is
remedied the technical and financial
| problems can not be solved Drastic
steps are necessary to adequately man.
i,rovement of this plant This neces-
| S"1 d1tibA1, lVris IL III NE Ol
your duty and that of the city
council
I'VE thank you for this manifesto.
! tion of your confidence but feel. in
view of the foregoing. that we must
, decline the service you have rendered
Respectfully:
| JAMES A. CARR,
JOHN NJ. LONTZ.
VIM, F. BOCKHOFT,
| WALTER V. REID,
H. R ROBINSON,
w. n. JOHNSON"
Mayor Zimmerman appointed the
above named committee last Thursday
with the intention of having il invest
gate the affairs and conditions of the
municipal electric light plant TEf
committee was to have been approved
by council at its meeting Monday
night, having been previously accept
ed by board of works and appointed
by the mayor.
A report from a substantial commit
tee was deemed necessary by tbs
mayor because of the strong opposi
ton that has developed in council tt
the appropriating of further funds fol-
payment of bills for miscellaneou:
items and repairs at the light plant.
oPPoSe FIiFfh9 engineers
Further objections have been made
by council to the employment of the
expert engineers who have been Al
work IN the plant since last Decem
ber, and strenuous opposition to the
displacement of Will Jeffery as chic
engineer at the plant Mr. Jeffery'I
resignation was handed to James Dill
Ion as superintendent of the plant sew
eral weeks ago and designed to g
into effect May l.
Council will be asked to appropri
ate $4,000 for the city light plant a
its meeting Monday night Mr.. Dillol
made this recommendation to tn,
board of works Monday morning, ask
ing for $4,000 for repairs. $4,000 TO
sundry equipment. and $4,000 for mis-
cellaneous. This is the appropriation
that has been held up by council TO
the last two meetings.
Bills Collect
!, Outstanding bills against the ligh
plant have been collecting during tn
period that this appropriation ha
been hanging fire.
Council eventually will have T.
pass the ordinance or the plant will
, have to be closed" City Controlle
Bescher stated when asked about tn
measure Monday.
Mayor Zimmerman refused to max
any statement relative to the refusa
of the citizens committee to ma ke al
investigation of the break between
council, the board Of works and tn
mayor.
~sA,,uH Ans .>,,>