Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-09
A Chicken in the Pump-House'

a Chicken III the fump-HOuSe
TWO COMMITTEES IN CONFLICT-WHAT
THE WATER COMMITTEE sAY-WHAT
THE SPECIAL WATER CoMMITTEEsAY-
DIFFERENT CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE
ORDINANCE.
&C., sc sc.
The unusual hour of midnight was that
at which the City Council adjourned Tues
day night, the greater part of the session
having been spent chiefly in discussing a
conflict of authority between the Water
Committee of the Council-consisting of
Messrs. Evans (chairman,) Todd and La
rev, and the Special Water Committee
consisting of Messrs. Evans chairman, J
Fultz and Abby. The main point on which
the conflict has arisen, is as to who is IN
control of the p%ump-house, engine n su-
perintendent. The ground taken by the
Special Committee is, that until they are
officially relieved this matter is in their
hands, until the Water Works are turned
over to and received by the city, and this
not having been done they are unwilling to
bear the responsibility of affairs going
right, while others have the auth ority to
interfere in the management. Both the
members of the committee present, Messrs.
Fultz and Evans, expressed q desire to be
relieved from the further care OF the Water
Works, and during the evening proved
their sincerity by voting against a reSolu-
tion offered by Mr.. WITT, placing the sole
control of the Water Works, engine, &C.,
in the hands Of their committee but they
wish to be relieved in what they say is the
proper way-that is, by the Council Off
cially relieving them of further duty and
responsibility in tie matter.
On the other hand. the regular Water
Committee produced the water ordinance
recently adopted 10y the Council, which
places this committee in sole charge of tie
taatters named, and which i'll addition re-
eokes all other ordinances relating to them.
they, also, desire to be undistusbe i'll the
discharge of their functions as laid down
"A this ordinance, or &c be relieved officially
BY tAe Council from responsibilities which
they are not willing to bear when they haff
lot the control. Both Messrs. Todd all,
Larew expressed their Willingness to be re
lieved from service on the Water Commit
tee, but their unwillinGness to serve undeI
the present conflict of authority.
A third point which it appeared from
the debate might have been put first in
order , as the competency of the Superin
tendent. Both Messrs. FultZ and Evan:
expressed their conviction that he was in
competent to fill the duties of his Office
while the two members of the regula:
committee expressed the opposite opinion
fortified by the opinion Of Mr.. Franz
Smith, the expert sent by MI. Worthing
ton who fully endorsea the Superinten
tents competency. Mr. Evans produced
a very. solemn communication of MI. Don
sent by the Special Committee to investi
. gate the condition of the engine, puml
house, sc. Mr.. Allen reported that he
ad found all in a very dirty condition
Doth engine and house and that he hal
E actually found some ''chickens'' in TIT
! Jump house. The last awful charge wa
80 grave that Mr.. Todd produced a com
nunication from Superintendent Smitl
EXPLAINING how he had bought the chick
ms, honestly intending to eat them, bu
from some unavoidable delay had not, ane
{ they had gotten into the pump house.
The debate on the whole matter was
diversified with personal experiences
views. Sc, which would not be interest
ing to the general reader. The mat
ter was temporarily disposed of BY
the adoption OF a resolution giving sole
charge to the Special Committee until mex
council meeting. In the meantime it is to
De hoped that all the underlying motives
which were made d matter of reference,
but not of explanation, Tuesday night.
viii, Tor the benefit of the Taxpayers OF
stanton, be laid aside. There is one phase
, If the affair that we should like to present
and that is this: the present superint endent
we presume, knows more about running
The engine than Mr.. Evans, Mr.. Todd OF
Mr.. Allen, the three names most promi
nent in his accusation and defence, Tues
day night; he has had the endorsement OF
an expert that he is capable; he has given
security, in 81, 900, that his duties will bt
properly performed, and the city can re-
cover from his s~ureties the amount OF
damage he is likely to do by carelessness.
and he should not be subject to continual
harassing with the opinions of gentlemen,
who know absolutely nothing practically
which would warrant them in interfering,
and from whom, if their advice was fol
lowed and damage came, the city cannot
recover a dollar. Me-. Evans is an adj
mirable tobacconist, Mr.. Todd is an ex-
cellent grocer, and Mr.. Aliens triumphs in
civil engineering III Staunton are too
fresh in the minds of its citizens to need
recalling, but we protest against taking
the control of a costly piece OF machinery
away from an engineer of experience and
giving it to them, without they give bond
in the same um, that the results of their
ignorance shall not be saddled on the tax
payers. If the superintendent is incom-
petent bring charges and turn him out:
and put a competent man in, that
is the business way, the shortest way
and the right way, and let's have the last
of this s'chicken in the pump house,
COUNTY CoURT.-Thomas Fl. Poin-
dexter, colored, for breaking into the store
of G.. s. Craig near Cr%aigsville, was acquit-
ed. Thomas had hardly gotten over his 22d
of February drunk when he did it, and the
jury thinking it would be a reflection on
| the memory of George Washington to con-