San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-05
RIEDEN To FIRE
WORKERS UNDER
CITY ENGINEER
Wholesale Discharges May
Follow Open Break
at City Hall. .....
HARRIGAN ON JOB
Commissioner Refuses to
State Status Of Man
= He Fired"

Wholesale discharges in the city en-
cheering department may follow the
open break between Commission Will
liam o. Rieden and City Engineer ID.
ID. Harrigan, according TO reports IN
circulation at the city hall Monday. 1t
was indicated that the street commits
sioner has asked for n list of the en-
ployes remaining in the engineering
department, and it is generally believed
that he intends to make wholesale
cleanup.
There were formerly % employees in
the engineering department. These men
worked under direction of the city en-
gineer. A division Of authority was
agreed upon between the street com
missioner and city engineer last June.
Commissioner Rieden to have charge of
street construction undertaken by city
employees and Mr.. Harrigan permanent
paving and sewer construction. Funds
for the maintenance of the two separ-
ate departments were allotted and the
city engineer has sufficient funds left
to operate his department for the re-
mainder of the fiscal year while Com
missioner Rieden has exhausted his
budget.
Rieden To Discharge Men.
When Commissioner Rieden began
his reduction of force on February j,
however. he discharged % men in the
engineering department, including the
city engineer. Commissioner pfeiffer
at the time protested this action, as
sorting that if the city engineer had
Sufficient funds 10 operate his depart.
ment he should be allowed to keep his
men. He insisted that Mr.. Harrigan
should not be punished for the mistakes
Of the street commission.
The controversy finally resulted in
the filing OF an injunction by the street
fulfilling their duties. Contempt pro-
ceedings were also instituted against
these men late Friday though all of the
citations were not served until Monday
morning, difficulty having been expert
enced in locating some of the men.
Commissioner Rieden's action in re-
Questing a list OF names of the remain
ing employees in the engineering depart
ment was taken Monday to mean that
he expects to discharge additional en-
ploycs who were friendly to the city
engineer. He declined TO say Monday,
however, whether he contemplated such
action.
Harrigan on the Job.
Despite the injunction and contempt
proceedings, City Engineer Harrigan
was at his desk Monday morning. He
is understood to be working under the
agreement reached Friday when the
mayor and three commissioners came
to an understanding whereby Harrigan
was to be reinstated. Ricden is under
stood 10 have declared Saturday that
no such agreement had been reached,
whereas Commissioner John L. Pfeiffcr
came back with the statement that
Rieden evidently had had "a lapse of
memory"
as Mr.. Harrigan fired. or is he
working?" Commissioner Rieden was
asked over the telephone Monday.
"NOull have TO ask him." the street
commissioner said.
well. what really is his status?"
Commissioner Rieden was asked.
Bang. went the street commission
er's telephone receiver which led the
newspaperman to believe that Commits
siopcr Rieden wished to terminate the
conversation without giving any further
information.
Inquiry Of Mr.. Harrigan ELECTED the
information that he is on the job and
that everything is quiet. Mr.. Harrigan
said he had nothing to give out regard
ing reports that he intended to resign.
adding that he had not made any plans
for the future.