HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1915-09-13 MinutesprO.sent.a': ► ''
M ?ed by J. A. i[eDonald,• M►edoliClbd Ary ti.HalECa7a, tl►0 datup6osi,msit► *eOW
of:thin meeting.' Motion Carried.
`fie Clerk read the °all of the Mfjror,as follows:
Miami, Florida, Sept. 13,1916,
To Messrs.
E. C. Romfh, H.AL Ralston, F. fi.Erfert, O. Filer, J. A. McDonald, J. A. Con*
and C. Hefty: Members of the City Council.
Gentlemen.
You are hereby requested to meet in 9 eoial Session at the City Hall to-
niCat at 7:30 for the purpose of considering the $100,000.00 bond issue, reoently
passed by Your Body, and passing a resolution suggested by Messrs. Cladwei4., Masslioh
and Reed, amending the same, and to transaot any other business legally btought before
Your Honorable Body/ -
Respsotfully submitted,
J. W. watson,
mayor.
Notice of said meeting accepted.
Gasper Hefty
Chao. F. Firer,
4. A. Conrad,
H. G. halston.
Served this 13th clay of September, 191b.
Councilman .$ceonald in.roduced Resolution No. 884.
RESOLUi10N NO. 684
A RESOLUTION TO AitFY D A RE30LUTIOtENTITLED " A
RESOLUTION PROVIDIae FOR THE ISSUAHCE OF 100,
000 FUNni:`e Boir.S UNDER SECTION 31 OrTHE CITY
CHARTFR AID FOR A LEVY OF A TAX TO PAY THE PRIN-
CIPAL AND I1'TERE'ST THE":EOF", BEING RESOLUTION
NO. 873, APPROVED AUGUST 19, 1915.
BE IT RESOLVF,n BY THE CITY COUP:CiL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLOHIDA:
Section 1. That Seotion 2. of Resolution No. 873, approved August 19, 1915, be and the
same is hereoy amended so as to read as follows; .
Seotion 3. That said bonds ahall be executed as provided in Seotion 31 of the City Char-
ter and shall be, together with the coupons attaoned thereto, ir. substantially the follow -
in, form:
UNITED STATES OF A FR1cA
$1,000.
No.
State of Florio a, County of Dade,
City of aiiami
. Funding Bond.
Issued under Section 31, uity Charter.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PPESFNTS, that the City of :1ami, Florida, in the County of Dade and
State of Florida, is justly indebted and for value reoeived h,:reby promises to pay to
tne bearer on the day of _ , 19 , the principal sum of
ONE TITOTJSAND DOLLARS
wien interest thereon at the rate of five an-ir axis-ha'TZ per centum per annue, payable
January 1, 1916, anu semi-annually thereafter on the first nays of July and January in.each
year upon the presentation and +surrender of tne annexed interest coupons as they severally
beoome due. Bote principal -,and interest of this bond are payable in e-ola coin of cne
united States, of the present standard of weight and fineness, at tne united States
lortgage and Trust Company, in the City of New York and State of :Tew Ycrk.
Thee bond is one of an issue of one hundred bones of like date, tenor u.nd amount, except
as to maturities, a-r'regatine One Hundred Tbcusane Dull.rs, and issued for the purpose
of funding and paying certain valia and subsieten_ floatine. indebtedness of the City of
iami described in Seotion 31 of the City Charter, under the autnority and witein the
limitations of and in full oompliance with the charter of saiu City and ir. particuaar
Section 31 thereof, and resolution too. 864 duly adopted by the City Council teere of on
Aur_ust 5tn, 191b. The full faith, credit and resources of said Oily of Miami are
hereby irrevocably pledged to the prompt payment of the principal and interest thereof
as the same shall fall due. it is hereoy oertiried and recited that all ants,
conditions and things required to exist or be done precedent to and in the issuance of
this bond by eaiu charter and tne laws and constitution of Baia State have duty happened
and been performed; that provision has b:.:n made for the levy and oolieotion of a direct
*nnuai tax upon all the taxable property within said City sufficient to pay the prinoi-
pAi and interest car tnis bona as the same shad beoo.ce due; and that the total in.LebtedP-
ness'of said City, incluainc this bond, does not exceed any oonstltutionsl or statutory
limitation.
IN 1IITNES'3 R'HEr(EOF, said City of iliami has oaused this bonus to be signed by its mayor ..
anA•Ctsrk un4};its caner -ate weal, and attested by its -Auditor, and the interest cou-
pons ereto abed to be signed with the iaosimile signature of said Clerk, all as of
a
oitnte
HesoutIiio i L o. < '4 PtibttinLtelij
the ,ort day or 44 :. 04a k
Attest:
J. 'W.Bo �rd
(lit),Auditor
COUPON
ON $27gb0
THE CITY or' MtA;NI, FLORIDA,
will pay the bearer at the United States Mortgage and Trust Company, New York City, thi
sum of TWENTY SFZtEN DOLLARS and Fifty Dents in gold coin as provided in and for the
terest then due on its Funding Rona dated July 1, 191b and numbered
Clay Clerk.
; Section 3. This Resolution shall be in force from, and after its passage and approval.
Passed and adopted this 13th day of September, A. D. 191b.
' Attest:
rt _i3_ Aecre
clerk.
Caster Hefty,
Acting Presi::tent City council
A-r roves this 13th day of September, A. D., 191b
J. W. Watson.
eiayor. .
Moved by N. O.Haieton, see;nded by J. A. Cunrru,: that Resolution No. He be adopted as read
On roil call all voted "Yes".
FIt F PROTECTIO*? AP't FILE RISK. CANVAS ROOFS or '=1'4:7- PICTUFE SUPHOU^F:3 AID OTHER
FINE PA'ARPS.
Councilman Hefty stated that the owners of the new rioveng picture show house now in
the course of erection on the corner of Avenue s, and Eleventh Street, desire to use
a canvas roof on the building and stated that he is under the irrression tnat this
is contrary to the City's building code; that the Fire Chief had stated that he would
be opposed to such rooflee on any building; that the owners of tee show houee are
oresent and inasmuch as their buildin` is just now approaohine conr-ietion they want
to knov just what action will be taken. gr. Hefty further stated that the Fire
Chief ha telegraphed an underwriters representative in Atlanta who ha" replied by
wire that he knew of nc such roof that is fire proof.
Or. Conrad stated that if such a roof was not perrniiaibee in the City Ordinances,
that should be sufficient and that if , istakes have been rna.ie heretofore he did not
think the Council could cover them by ma.k in- another and would like_ to hear fro:,, the
Fire Chief on the matter.
Chief Chase stated that he could not approve of a canvas roof on a picture show
house within the fire distriot and anywhere else as he considered euch a roof a
source of dancer at al.t times in case of a big fire in any part of tee City with
flying; sparks, fires are very likely to be spread in other sections and that he
is opposed to any kind of a roof any where in the city thn.t is not fire resisting,
especial.:y so in the business district or theatres; that he is sure that none of
the so-called fire -proof canvas is fire proof after it has been exposed to the
weather for e few months; that he objected to the Hippodrome when it was rut up some
time a o.
Councitrnan Ralston asked why the firrodrome was ai.owed to put on a canvas roof.
Ur. Hefty stated that he oouicl not anower that question, but that quite a number of
things are being allowed and there seemed to be too much liberty taken by th.. 3uileing
lnepector in vetting away from the Ordinances.
ter. Cenra.d stated that he never hard why the Hi;':odroue was allowed to put on such
a roof but knew that several changes were wade by instructioe of tare City Council during
the time the building was being eonetruoted and it seemed to core up to requ__reruents;
that the seats were moved to allow for more space; that he did not think ;Gnat per-
mission was ever given by the eounoil to put on tne canvas roof.
Chief Chase stated that he thought the matter was referred to a Colemittee of the Council
who brougr.t bank the report that it would be all right and that the canvas was fire
reiistingg.
Mr. Hefty stated that be is of the opinion that the Chief is mistaken about this an
the matter of the roof was never referred to the council.
fur. Ralston: I have always believed that so long as we have a law it should be 1 forts$;
the Chief has stated the, Canvas roof is a fire risk an,i endangers Life and property 446
it seems to me our .00urse is plain.
Moved by H. Cr. Ralstn,.. o09004,1?y, .
z#, ' box. Qhe,, t7,*s . eeeeti .
ip:
a
eiti�, f1AlYF�,
it e•:.r►rda .. Conn$)',
din at the corner Avefitie 0 4nci Eleventh Etr#st be n*!t �*
oann* roof and their t i. oth•r Offender" agetnst taw r4tnarioe
sled iatwi,y. Motion Denied. •
four..tiler; We are now tryilg to c ' the others, . at leeet I : itgned a report condem
ing the Air -Dome on 1weifth .Otreot.
Mrs Hefty: i think a permit was given by the Building Inspeotor to put up the Air -Dome 1
in that shape, I do not know what right he had, but he Cave it x understand.
"Ralston: We pay the Building inepeotor to enforoe the building cOde and the law ie very
plain.
-Attorney R. 1. Taylor, representing the owners of the new theatre at the oorner of Ave
Lt and Eleventh Street,addreased the council, requesting that everybody be accorded the
same priviledge and that if the Building Inspeotor has granted a permit which is not in
a000rdgnoe with the law he has gone beyond hie auther$ty and will not stand; The canvas
roof is something that the people seem to. like and on behlaf of Mr. JaudOn and his
partners( we recognise it is, a danger, as the element that goes into the canvas to make
it fire proof will pass out) but you must be square to them anti if you let four or five
theatres have a certain kind of a roof and then you make an example out of him he, of
,course, could go into the oourts. Mr. Jaudon wants to comply with the law but I do
not think it right that he should have to go to the expense of one" kind of 4 roof and
the others have another. kind.. If the act of the Building Inspector was oontrary to the
Ordinance he went beyond hie rowers. We
the material is here for the canvas roofb•
Counoil if you require all of them to have
go ahead and put on the canvas roof and go
sued now.
below*
would like to have this settled to+.night as
we don't propose to eo against the City •
the same roof and if you don't do that we will
into court. It seems that the City is being
Councilman McDonald: I agree in a way with Mr. Ralston's motion; I am up against a
lawyer here now but I don't take much stook in his law. Surely he is not going to tell ,
us that because we have violated the Ordinance for two or three years we cannot atop that
violation. It ma,y be possible that the other people who have these roofs have acquired .
some rights and I am in favor of taki.:.E these rights away. So far as enforcing the Ordi-.
nanoe, I don't wiint to be considered as judging too rashly and if I was goine to make Mr.
Ralston's eotion I would include a refusal to grant a permit for this new roof and then
take hollows the others and if they have violated the ordinanoe and acquired no rights
we should. ;:,o after them.
Councilman Ralston: Whether they have acquired rights or not there is a fire risk; since
there,is a risk and the Chief so etatee to Council, there is no use delaying the matter.
We don't want another roof of that kind and if there is to be a suit let it come.
McDonald: I do not think they have a right to erect any auoh roof simply because it has
been done heretofore.
Attorney Taylor: It is clear upon its face that you have power to declare any building
a nuisance and any building is a nuisance that will endanger neiehborine property, but
I still insist that my law is good and when you had delegated to your Inspector oertain
powers he only can Co so far as these powers and if he rives a man a:permit to do a
certain thing not in accordance with the Ordinance he has gone beyond his powers. It
does not give mean any acquired rights.
Mr. Jaudon etate.i that he and his associates did not object to comply with the City
Ordinance but that they would be very much haddioa;ped unless those who are now being allow-
ed to overate with such a roof are made to comply; That their building is much more
fire proof, with the exception of the roof, than any other building of like character
in the City and that they ask only the same priviledge the other people have and :lid not
think they should expect anything aloe; that the electrical requirements of tie City
have been complied with and that 'it would be a serious handicap to require there to put
on a soli: roof and the others maintain their roofs.
Moved by Ir. G. Ralston, seconded by J. A. Conrad, that the Building Inspeotor and Fire
Chief be instructed to ie eaiately take proper steps to enforce tha law in regard to
canvas roofs on eoving picture theatres and any other structure that is in violation of
the buictine code in the fire limits. Motion carried.
THEFTS OF EICYCI,ES IN THE CITY:
Attorney Taylor mentioned the fact that the stealing of bicycles is being carried on in
the city at a wholesale rate and expressed the opinion that the larger part of the stolen
bicycles are being taken out of town on freight tr ,ir'e and disposed of at points n-:.rth an
south of Miami and suggested that a, special detective be employed to look after this
proposition and travel, if nenessary, up and down the road to locate the missing wheels
and that every effort be made to break up this practice and the offenders be Beverly
dealt with. He ateted that he did not:not offer any criticisms of the Police Department;
that a large number of wheels were stoler. laet Saturday and that he, himself, had recent-
ly lost two bioyoles.
Others in the audianee elect stated that they had lost wheels and one or two of the Coun-
cilmen rerorted that they had bean relieved of their bioyclee.
Moved by E. C. Rorafh, seconded by H. a. Ralston, that the matter be referred to :tire
Mayor to work out some plan: at looking toward the arrest and conviotion of bicycle
thieves and the recovery of stolen property and report to Cbunoil as to wham amount of
money -,be thinks will be needed for the purpose. Motion carried.
Uayor Watson stated that he had had several talks with the policemen about tbe.tbefts.of
bioyvles and that whenever a report is made to the Polioe Department by the party iron
17 ,77i
E
MIME
a
tt
el' bleyele t Otinttift0'
whoa the wheOLis itolen with a deieriptich Of-theil
recover SoMe of tie ebeete but that ik te tipomm*,
a wheel has been Stolen *hen a person is iiipl rids . Ore*
suggested that the License Ordinance requite. t t' s deaers in Sietnidlutit
required to register oi & book a-ful.1-deecti tion'of all'property:pur04404,
tbe name of the party from when it was boUgh •
.The Mayor also stated that the kitchen constructed on the roof of the Totesho On -Teel
Street Was a fire risk and that this same theatre 'hOuse is not proliided.witla proper
exits, there being but one in the front beohume of the fact that a robm has been par,•:.
titioned off in the south-west corner for a restaurant and that he had suggested to the:
owner of the show that the restaurant be moved east & fei feet and an exit be prOVided
in the south-west oorner of the building; that it is neoeseary to provide every
passible faotor of safety in oorrneotion with the show houses; that to the best btf;'
hie recollection the Air -Dome was condemned and the matter put up to tye firs thief
but it seems there was nothing dcne; that he is under the impression that the root
! of the Hippodrome was put on with the approval of Counoil but is not sure, but even
so it would be condemned and the owners made to comply with the Ordinance.
6 ,
(douncilman Ralston 'stated that the enforoement of the law is up to .the Iiipeotors
and that if the present Inspectors are not able to enforoe the lar others should be
employed as it is one of the most important items of the 'City government.
CHARGES AGAr73T BOILER IITSPECTOR ROOS nY Errs AflP IOLLIPAN:
Sept. Nth 1915.
To the City Council,
aiati, Florida.
aentlemen:
1 bee: to renort to Your Honorable r:edy that I have investleated the cares made by
:r. J. C. o1hnand :!.r. J. 7. Edmends, acaenet Boiler Inseee'rer, A. H. Fess, and
:!r. Pendleton 4 aetber of the hoard of Ixaminers, and find,
Firet, that r. Mallihan applied for a first .lea license and wae Oxen the necese-
, ary examinatien, and he was eranted a third elates licenee, which prohibited him from
holdine the rosition at the Poyel Palm Hotel.
Cecond, I find that he held a fleet class license, issued at Phiiadele,',ia and that
it has boen renewed annuaily for six successive yearta He aiso held tettars ef recom-
, mendatlon from his former emrleyers. He 'sae asked 73 questions, many of them, accord -
Ina to his otetement, purely techniceal or catoh questione. NI.r. Ross stated that they
were ::,eoet the usual numeer of auestiens. i found, hewever, that cnly 34 questions
were aezed aneteer applicant for a teirl erede Asenee.
The charze of lieturhine the applicants by taekinz while he wee writinc the ans-
wer° ea!) aaaitted by teec ieEeeete--1; ehee olaimed however that it eaa net intended to
aisturb thzm, hat eas eiarle a ea or eenvereatiee,
er. aekel for a sleecial exaeiretien bcfeee three dieintorested eneireers,
bat ae he is leavine tee eity and eeturnine tc 711tladelphia he 'ee_s me he does net now
wish it.
le reeerd to chareee filed 'ey Mr.' J. n. Edmonds, 1 find that eer. ,:oae eeule
zrant him an exatinatien fcr a )i-he lieense, because he had net held i1 license
for 13 aeetho, Foss takes the poaition that a licence ieereed from another city
:wee not entitle the apelicent to at exatination for a eaeher zrade license ie hiami
but aaid aeplioant .oat held lioense isouel in Meal foi 12 merths befoee ho can
be examined, which rear means that a man may have bell a aecond or taird rI3 license
for 35 years, iesued outside of .aami, yet he auat live in nami 13 aoethe befere he can
be examined for 4 hiehor grade lioenee. This eenstrection of tae oedinance, in my
opirien, 1,9 altoeether ?acne and I beliave any aan iu -ntitled te an eaamination aeo
be eoaes te ,previded has hold a licenee of any erade for 12 months, erevious
to the aay Le is examined, reeardiese of eheee leaued.
At the euezeetion Jf haa roaa, I suieeitted tea aaaetien to City Attorney, A. J.
and hie conetiuction *f the ea.Pnanee la the eeae 46 mine, as above exereesed,See ais
epinion attached aerete).
As to the char; that i. "eeee wee tryin- to se'. him a licenee, I finel that these
lo ao feeaeation for taie atatement. Jeotion 11 of 4.,11,e, erdinance eaye, for eaeh
renewal of license, a fee of 1,shall be cel'ateted, ao r, 7cata waa learly within
want, but wanted aa exaaination for a hieher aieense, whieh 7-oss refuael te elve
the ordinance and hie Auty to oharee him Ye.10 for a renewal; this, Eaaonde aid:!an.et
him. Mr. Elaonde elaims that 'ease ear4,esva eereoaal reudee aealnat him.
Rosa leniea this statement aree elaits he eaaLftIlowine his censtruction of the ordinance,
but it could be easily seem by the actions aael Lea the atatements made. by both parties
that thee eere cot kindly dispesed towards eaee other, and in thie aartioular case,
would recommend that "a:. laitenda he zateentel a seecial examination by Mr. Ross ar.i two
other disintereeted eneeineere to be selected be:the City Council, this I believe would
be satisfactory alike to :re.. Rose and to Elaends. Bused aeor. otutements made at
the examination, and made to me since, and that this beard should be composed
of men 40 near as possib2,e that are aatiefeetory to ietereeted partioe, reoowaend
that hlr. Pendleton be taken frog aail boara: hrst, beoteuse r. Mollihan;. states that
befoee he took the examination that 7.en1leton told him that "these fellows oame down
here from the bie cities and think they are the whoa cheese, but we will make it hard
for the. to L'et In, Second, suited that he made appliosition some three
or four months ago for a second zraee license and was releoted, and states further, that 1
he tot into conversation with er. Pendleton, and from his talk, and the way, he explaine4
it, he was sure he was eeieoted beoaule be rent to work with the Miami Fishopanyl
eelet.4'ee
t4'
.t
7.47kimm
ttt
iitin:-% ' -. -bie,4
libilke It.liOd:iorl)t d ,.,'briat,
,Qrs QX onipioh ever dime hefOre'h. oax e'woul
. Pendleton etated.ffiThat sat Ttib 004140
thAti Zr. Orosland'ime & ()rot*, and was hying to'rO thite&AroUn
oho* hia 4 few things".
All of the above stateme ere denied by Ux. Pendleton, but he ad-
, matted that he stated that the Utast Fish .,was on the Unfair list.
. With the exoeption of tho rang. oonstruotion of parte of the ordinanos
I do not find that Mr. Ross has failed to properly examine the applicant, and he says.
he will oornply with the City Attorneyse opinion in the future on this matter,
101111*******110
To The City Co moil,
Miami, Florida.
Gentlemen:
Respectfully eubmitted,
J. W. Watson,
;4ayor.
September 13,1915.
l wish to ay to Your Honorable Body that there has been oonsiderable
trouble in this departmentfor sometile, and while some of tee oomplainte may have been
wele founeed, one of the, I now were not, and that the examiners were eerfectly honest
in their intentions, and asked only questiens that in their judgment should have been.
It is human nature for a pereon takine an examination of an/ kind to find fault, if he
is rejected, or. fails to pass, and it iA not herein nature for a man to qualify another
man to take 4 position that will conflict with hie own chenoes of getting the eame
Tosition. I do not say that this has been done, but I do eay that the chences for
wronefully construing the report or fineines of any exemine.board should be ae far re -
roved as poosible.
The present ordinance, #159, providing for the appointment of a Boiler
Inspector, &a., &c., in icy judement, can be amended so --hat it will .ssit to aoeomplish
tie purpeee, espeoially in the eanr-r of,aepeintine the examiners. It ,;ow Provided
for three examinere, yet it provides that the grading of applioante for lieense obeli be
at the .e.:eoretion ef the eeiler Inspeotor only. I eelieve it would much better for
all parties to have only ,Ale examieer, the Bolter Inspeetor, eapeoially since the erad-
ine of the lieenee ia left to him. Three examiners are unneceesary. alai expensive;
beeilee, I am sure thatseven out of every ten applicants woeld be satisfied rith tho
finding of the Buller Inspector; again, it ie seldom that the meetings are attended
by every member. I would recommend that the Boiler Inepeotor be the examiner, and aft-
er examination abould any aeelieent be dissatisfied, that be be kJ:flowed another exami-
nation before three disinterested ane competent eneineera, eppointed by the Council, and
at the expellee of he applicant, These three eneineere not to be a eleoe.nent board,
tut to be appointed for eaoh particular vase, after the complaint bee been filed with the
oounoil and d new examinetion asked for.
Thie, I believe, qould avoid many catoh or technical questions, if the
examiner was diepeeed to ask that kind, and mere clearly confine the queetione to prac-
tioal ones.
All of whieh is
Peapeotfuli.y submitted,
J. W.Wateon,
Mayor.
September 7,1915.
Hon.. J. W.Wetenn, Mayor,
Miami, Florida.
Dear Sir:
My construotion of Section 11 of Ordinance eo. 159 in relation to in-
speotion of 9team boilere and lioensine of eneineere.ie that an applicant for 4 hieher
ereete of his present license is not required to allow hee service on his former license
within the City of laami solely. The Section eays that the aeplicant may eply for a
'ijer Grade of 1.1o.enae 63. the expiration of Lis preeent license, providing he has earl,. •
voI one year on his former lioense, in whioh case he may be examined for a gicher &rade
of license. In my opinion, if an applicant for a higher grade of lioenee thanthe
one he holds ean show that he served one year on hie former lioense he is net limited to
show that his service on the former license wae wholely in the City ef 4iahi. If, for
inetanoe, he has a second grade license ane omn abow that he hats aoyac one year under
that license, whetherin Miami or elsewhere, or partly in Miami or ewhere, he is then
entitled to be examined for a higher grade of license.
Yours very truly,
. A. J. Rose,
City Attorney.
4000,010041100,10*
4144.:',81*AVAMPOMOVIMASNikt, '
oar% ,guar j
Charges against Boiler inspedtor 'Roes bt MOWhan'in
sluts `1I. , .Otrilt
To the (ity Council of Miami,
Miami, Fla.
Gentlemen:
Several days ago, I oame to this city from Philadelphia. Before leavingPaola-
delphia, I bad made arrangements with the manageIsnt of the Royal Palma Hotel to be tbitit
chief engineer for this coming season.
1 had been employed in Philadelphia es a liosnsed engineer for six years, having
first olass lioenee.
On arriving in Miami, I applied to the Boiler Inspector for examination for first olae
lioense. I was granted the examination before the loosi.examining board, Ross and,
Pendleton.
From the results of the examination, I was ,ranted a third grade license. This 01014
:of lioenee prohibits me from working at the hotel even as an assistant engineer.
Since the examination, I have learned from good authority, that.one of the examining
board said that they were going to make it hard for outsiders doming to toen, regardless or::
the ability of the ne•rc ,rmer. There were fifty four regular questions in the exaatitation,
according to Mr. Buell but over fifty more were added to the examination for my benefit.
Many of the questions were not practical and in checking up my answers, the examiners
hau several disputes among themselves as to the proper way of answering the questions.
Furthermore, while I was tryine to write, these two men engaged in loud conversation
which greatly disturbed me in writing out the answers.
i admit that I arm a newcomer into your city, but I believe that I should have a fair
sow in the examination, for I must say that I was unfairly discriminated against. If
it could be arranged, I would like to have an examination before a special board of die -
interested engineers, who hold first crass licenses.
rhac.kinr, you i.. advance, I am,
Yours very respectfully,
John C. 'tiollahian.
****************
Liiami, Fla.,
Sept. 2, 1915.
To the City Council of iami,
eliami, Fla.
Gentlemen:
A few :lays ago, I applied to City Boiler Inspector Ross, for an examination for
first olase steam engineer's _icer.se. I had my application for filled out properly
and in ful.i, giving, somet,:ing over ten years experienoe in the line of steam engineering.
in the space for licensed engineers recommendations, I had two of the beat steam engineers
in 'Miami vouch for my ability, one being guy employer, .:r. A. J. Fisher, Chef Engineer of
the electric light and power plant. The paper weeten executed by a notary publio, waking
the application cozpiete in every way.
1 turned tine apeli ration in to Inspector ;toss on last eonday evening, and after
looking over my application, Zr.:Rosa tol.: me that he would not .•rant me an examination un-
til I had written back to Borne of my former employers and secured reference letters, cover-
ing at least six years of my service.
Some of these employers had died or
requires only two letters of reference,
possession which would cover that much,
refused to grant me the examination unt
agreed to try to get this said referent
not grant :rue the examination at all.
;,:e that the power was vested in him to
to give rue the examination.
had gone out of business, and as the City Ordinrnae
I told elr. Ross that I had service letters in my
inclueinr" my experience in t`.iani, however, he sti71
it I would write for the other four years. I
e u.-:i presently elr. Ross told use that he would
He was very arrogant about the matter and told
refuse me the examination and that he did not oa.re
Fina.L y 2.ir. Ross offered to aeie rue a
Ibe Ordinance requires an examination for
without examination, provided I woule pay
and have not for some time.
t1 ird gr, de license without any examination,
aeon license, yet he offered me a third grade
him a certain amount. do not hold a license
er.. Roes carries a personal rude aeuinst aye which ,,:eveloped over an argument we had
eeveral weeks aro, and he has taken advantage of his office to refuse me the right to
work aB an engineer in the plant where I arcs employed. I woul.i not het a fair deal
ever if he would grant me the examination, and therefore I an beeein` the City Courtvil
to appoint a special board of nonintereeted first-class engineers to rive me the examinat,
ion.
Teanking you, I an
Yours reapeotfulLy,
J. R. E.-.mends.
•
Charges against Boiler ina ieotor l oes, by, tdaondi..and go lihin: Othtirelat
Connell rsn Ralston asked the Mayor if he believed that Mollihanvo Oharges that an
itdpossible examination was conducted in his Cave is true.
Mayor replied that not being an engineer he Was unable to say whether. the li eations askek
Mollihsn were proper or not but that he examined Inspector hoes and his e1 ooiate
examiner partioularily along that line and they contend:thee question, Ware proper for
first ;trade license. >
Counoilman Rorfh stated that he thderstood there was some question of the Inspector
about a man having to reside in the city one year.before he could apply for examination.
The Mayor replied that that was the principal objeotion and tlrnt Inspector Rose construe
ii
the ordinance that an applicant must have a lioenee here for la months before he can be exam-
ined for a higher trade lioenee,
ter. Conrad stated thr.t such wA a not his understanding and if that requirement was in the
ordinance, passed, did not think council could pas such a law, but that any man of any
profession with a first class license or certificate to do business should not be de-
prived of his rights by moving from one oity to another and that he did not think it
was the. intention of any oounoilman to take such action and that it is certainly wrong tM try
to deprive any man of his rights and keep him out of a position because be has not lived: in
Miami twelve months.
Councilman hefty stated that that was hie understanding of the intent of the ordinance.
inspector Roes Wes present and stated the the mayor must have misunderstood him in that;
instance but the :`ity Attorney had looked over the ordinance and made an opinion that
would govern his actions but that the ordinance says plainly that a man must hold a.
and or third eadee license, must :use that license one year before he can be examined for:
a. higher grade license, and that was the reason he turned Edmonds down; that he held a
third grade license in this city, issued by the former boiler inspector; that he
hoe never used that li,:enee; had let it expire' That in reeare to :,.ollihan he
consieered the license from another city a reromeendation and he was leaked the same nueher
of questions as asked other applicants for first g ade license and while the requirements
called for ninety per cent of the answers, Mellihan answer. ed 36 and that none of the
questicne are other than would be met at moat any tine by one performing the duties of
first class eheineer and that while he knows nothing of the Philadelphia license he
does know t ney have a 'J.ifferent way of examining men, b,e using demonstratine plants
where a man who is not able to tut his knowledge in writing can show by actual Practice
what he is able to do in the handling of rr :chi:1,:.ry, out the Miami Ordinance previdee
that the examination shoule be in welting.
.r.r. Conrad asked Inspector Rose if oi , ihan wee refused a license beoauee he had not b en
a resident of :eiami for twelve eonthe.
Ross answered that he said not refuse Bien for anything ex,, pt that he did z.ot er.ewer the
questions.
Sr. Cenra.0 then asked the Inepector about Edrmondn and if his reason for refueine a li-
oenee was because he had not orer.ated under the third errad license which he held.
Hoes ar.s , ere u that was, ti.e only reason..
duyor ratson eteste'., that he did not thi rk because a man hers not used his license for
one year Set ie competent to ,tend exaaminen ion for a higher ereee of license, that
he ehoeld be re''ueed such examination but that it should be elver, him.
:Ir. Ralston asked the Inspector if the exaruiratior eiven i,ir, ,:oilihae was the crime
or similar to that deed for al : first grade eneir.eers.
XU:ik, answered that it was net any stiffer or any weaker one that Sr. 1"c111haL was
the first men w. o was rot satiefied with th:; decision; that he would not care to rake
hie list of questions rublio for reasons w;.ieh are aerarent '.ut would not object to
subrniteirr the. to council for examiration in private; that se e one had recently
broken into his desk at the City Ha.li and taken away one set of questions.
:r. Ralston asSied him how lone he .had been Sailer Inspector.
,.:r. Roes .replied four r::onths and that in the neighborhood of fifty had mac appli-
cation for first grade license but only four or five had answered the necessary :ueetions;
that the examination was necessarily rigid because first class en;inetr is usually
in charge of a. plant worth thousands of dol.ars an.i in case the engineer should prove
incompetent the Inspector would be very harshly criticised; that there are seven or eight
first olaes eneir.eers in th City today.
Chairman. Hefty thought the rep: o: neeneatione of the :a.yor should be taken up, as it aid
not seer.: fair that a man who is not Xs able to stand 4 written examination should be
eeprived of his license because a great many men are good practical meehaziics bet cannot
expres.e themselves in writing and thought that probably practical examinations could be
ccndubted in some of the local plants.
The '.mayor asked the inepeotor what he considered a stationary er..ir.eer.
inspector answered, a man who could answer the questions he asked him; that third
grade license takes in hoisting engines, donkey engines, care of water and safety
appliances. Second grade, plants of 300 h.p., including pumps, condensers, etc.
The :aayor stated that the ordinance says "AU ;neabere shall be experienoed engineers,
holain. first olaee license as stationary engineers, issued by any eitye. he
gayer Cher. stated that his attention had been called to the fact that the Inspector
holds first class marine lioenee and wanted to know if the Inspector oonsidered that
stationary engineer's license.
inspector replied that in this oity it was not taken so.
.The Mayor tbov ht that any,, ohe 4n4itied, la hold first clue, marine license would be
:or
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AThargeeagainet Boller Inspector, (OontinUed)_
a qualified stationary engineer, but asked the'Inspeetor that if, UAW'
interpretation of the ordinance, he could hold his poiitions
inspeotor replied that he holds both marine and stationary elegineeve Iidense.
Ur. Uoliihan stated that there had been so Much delay he cQttld not secure the positieji
he came here for now and had arranged to leave the City within a few days.
Ma. Edmonds stated that he was refused a first'oase license beoause he had held a
third grade license one year and had not worked under it; that a lioenee oan be
re-newed without an examination, on payment of renewal fee but in case a license
runs out it leaves the man just where he started and that his first grade examinatton
haki buen refused because he had not used hie third grade lioenee for one year, when,
as a ma -ter of faot, he had been studying and gaining experienoe right along.
Moved by H. C. Balaton, seoonded by J. A. McDonald that Mr. Edmends be given an exami-
; nation for a first grade license by Inspector Bose and two first class engineers (dim.
interested) to be selected by the City Council. Motion oarried.
Moved by H. G. Ralston, seconded by J. A. Conrad that Mr. Pendleton be requested to
reaign from the Board of Examiners. Motion carried.
Mayor Watson stated that there had been considerab:le dissatiefaoti on because of the
fact that Mr. Pendleton was a member of the Board of Examiners. That the Inspector
was appoinied by the Mayor, yr. Buell was appointed by the owners ofthe eeveral
plants of th. City and the Inspector and Mr. Buell selected Pendleton. The Mayor
stated further stated that he thought that It the matter of examination is left entire-
ly to the Inspector and then if the applicant is not satisified , give him the right
to appeal to three competent engineers to co over the examination and pass upon it,
that would be a step toward clearing up these aiffioulties; that while the present
Board are good men it hae been brourht up several times that they are all members of
the s.:11he Union and did not want :lily 11w men here because thee are not enough jobs to
Go around; that if the Invotor makes the examination and the applicant is lie-
altisfied let him make a written statement to Council, the Uouncil to have authority
to appoint an examininr ;(),',rd and give the dissatisfied man another examination at
the appli.7antis expense.
ie!" aoved Rulston, seconded by J. A. Conrad, that City At*:,orney be requested to
draw up an ordinance embodying this sugrestion. Motion car. ed.
ar. Falsto;. asked .,:olaihan if he would1ik nother examir&,tion. r, _ollihan
),rlied that he wouid not as he expected to 1VC thr, City shortly.
Inspector i;oes at this point, broucht up the question of salary which he thought was
due under the ordinance an would like to hav, so; e action taken.
aaiston
:.oved by H. G.L;econded b. J. A. 'or.rad, that the ma.ler of th elar of the Boiler
inspetor he referreA to th Fince -o:a,itteman wit!: r-wtr to act. .otion curried
,,loved by F. ee.3o'ed by C. Filer, that J. A. .;:conald be 1,signated ao
Far,,-3e ommitteeman th, abscce of ..ounoilman Romfh. ot1n arried.
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