The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-05-03
WORKS BOARD
DEATH IS AIM
OF CITY DADS
Council Takes First Move To
Secure Direct Control City
Affairs-Pass $4,000 Ap-
preparation.
RESULT OF DEADLOCK

Council made the first move toward
taking direct control of city affairs
when an ordinance abolishing the
board Of public works was introduced
at the regular meeting Of council Mon
day night and passed the first two
readings by a unanimous vote. The
ordinance will be up for passage at
the next meeting of council, May 16.
A committee on public improve
ments composed of members of coun-
Gil to take over the duties of the pres
ent board of public works and the
board of public safety. This commit
tee will be appointed by council, ac-
cording to the provisions Of the ord
nance
The proposed measure calls for the
abolishment of the board of works the
second Monday of June at IL o'clock
noon. This is legal move on the part
OF council, as the question of board
Of works is optional with cities Of the
third class, local attorneys state.
Move Is Surprise
This move on the part of council
was a surprise to city officials and
came as result of the deadlock that
has existed between the board of
works and council for the past month
ever appropriate for the city light
plant.
The introduction. Of an ordinance
calling for the appropriation of $780,
600 for the city light plant, was the
signal for a concerted attack of conn
cilmen on the present administration
Of the plant.
Councilman Ford insinuated that
graft was prevalent in the administra-
ton of the plant, COUGHING his words
in such a manner that City Attorney
Keller was moved to take the floor and
denounce the attitude assumed by Mr..
Ford in attacking Mr.. Lyon, consult
ing engineer Of the plant, and deplore
the copdition of affairs in the city if
they had reached such a stage that
everyone was assumed guilty of graft
until proved innocent.
$50 Urges Appropriation
In introducing the appropriation ord
nance City Controller Bescher stated
that the city light plant would not
function unless the appropriation was
made.
A statement of alleged needless ex-
penses at the light plant was read by
Councilman Ford, who withheld the
names of the party having prepared
. the notes for him. This charged that
General Electric flow meters, includ
ing two new ones. were thrown out at
the plant, costing the city for labor
and meters on this work $500. The
large turbine had been out of service
for three weeks. having burned out
under the supervision of the master
mechanic. that certain boiler had
burned out while the expert was in
charge New offices had been built
at the plant at a cost of $500. A clerk
had been added to the force at a sal
airy of S125 a month. That the ma
chine shop had been made into a lock
er room for changing clothes a a cost
Of s700, that the present power house
help was inexperienced. That 65
men now we're employed at the plant
doing the work that was formerly
done under the direction of Mr.. JEFF
fiery with SO"
Officials Indignant
James p. Dillon, superint tendent OF
the light plant, gained the floor after
the Introduction of this statement He
stated that the charges made were
too fallacious for him to even deign
to answer. Matt Won Pein, presi
dent OF the board of works, stated
hat it was beneath his dignity to &C
into detail on this matter but that he
would deny each and every assertion
and invite an investigation.
Councilman Weidel charged that
there was an organization trying tc
wreck the plant in an effort to get il
turned over into private hands.
After the heated argument by coun
Gil. board of works and Mayor thinner
man. City Attorney Keller tried tc
bring the two forces together in ar
effort to get the ordinance passed.
He stated that the present admins
lration lacked cooperation and conf
dence. That each group was pulling
against the other. and that the only
solution was to get together, put al
the cards on the table and let every
Eody see where the matter stands.
\ public mass meeting was suggest
ed as one means. Council failed to
agree with this suggestion and turned
it down.
Pass Appropriation.
Finally, after virtually every coun
Gilman had exercised his power o1
oratory, Councilman Stegman moved
that the appropriation ordinance be
passed as an emergency measure l.
was voted for unanimously, even those
most fiuenuy opposed to it voting fol
the suspension of rules and the
passage.
A committee Oh public morals wa:
created by special ordinance pre-
sented and passed as an emergenc!
measure at Monday nights meeting
This provides for committee of three
persons to censor all carnival com
panies intending to exhibit in Rich
mond. Before they will be allowed tt
show they must obtain good char
acter permit, and pay fee of s25 ;
week. All expenses incurred must b.
paid by the exhibitors. A fine of no
less than $25 nor more than $500 ant
Imprisonment not to exceed SiI
months is provided, as a penalty fol
owners of carnivals failing to compl.
With the law.
Sam Vigran, Albert Morell and Law
renee Handley were nominated q:
members of the public morals com
nnittee. Their formal election will
until ro~t ro,tncil ~