Daily Republican., 1883-04-26
Another BOOMERANG.


II is believed now that if William T,
Porter persists in his refusal TO be sworn
in a, one of the Water Commissioners,
Mayor Wales will have the appoint
ment to make TO fill the vacancy. The
law provides that the Mayor shall ap-
point all the members of the Water
Commission as their terms expire, but
if any of the Commissioners resign or
vacancy occurs through any cause
whatever before the expiration of the
term for which they are serving the re-
naming two Commissioners are EN-
powered to fill the vacancy. In the
cast of Mr., Porter, that gentleman de-
clines to be sworn in, and until he is
sworn in he cannot be member of the
Board, and not being member of the
Board he has no Office to resign hence
vacancy occurs before the Board is
organized and which the Board has no
power under the law to fill. Well in
formed lawyers of all political parties
are of the opinion that under the cir
cumstances it will be the undoubted
duty of the Mayor to fill the vacancy.
1t is said that an effort will be made to
induce Mr.. Porter to reconsider his
determination to resign until he is
sworn in and the Board organized, after
which should he resign the remaining
members would appoint his successor.
The partisan object of such a move
ment is plain but we are very much
mistaken if Mr.. Porter will lend him
self TO any such partisan scheme. If
Mayor Wales makes the appointment
there can be no doubt that he will ap-
pointa Republican, giving the Board
two Republicans and one Democrat
This would no doubt be followed by the
appointment by the Board of David H.
Coyie, Republican, as Chief Engineer
of the Water Department, and this will
be followed farther by running the
whole department by Republicans for
it must not be forgotten that though
the Republicans are more likely to run
the Water Department on non partisan
principles than the Democrats they have
made no promises to do 50, and they
would have the extreme satisfaction o 6
not having to break any promises.
There is abundant reason why the gov
ernment of the Water Work. should
remain in the hands of those who are
Republican in political faith. The last
city election was a declaration by the
whole people Of the city that the Re-
publicans should control all depart
ments Of the city. They have not been
permitted to do so for one year yet
Then why change? The terms of the
members Of the City Council will not
expire until the first Of June
The term of the Mayor will not ex-
pire until June, 1885. The term of
David H. Coyle, Chief Engineer Of the
Water Department will not expire until
January next. Fairness and Justice
all combine to say to US that though the
people are compelled to accept an un-
democratic thing like Il Water Com
mission, the Water Department need
not necessarily be run in the partisan
interests of the Democratic party. We
know that this will be something for
-eign to what was intended by the un
partisan CD Legislature that passed
the Water Commission bill, and the
non-partisan (?) intentions of Mr.. Nc.
Intire who lobbied the bill through
while under the pay of a Republican
City Council. But what If it does re
suit differently from what was intended
by the Legislature and Mr.. McIntire?
Citizens have still some rights which
tie late Legislature has not taken
away from them, rights which rise far
above individual considerations, and
those rights should be subserved in
preference TO the diCtiOn Of political
boss who it was intended by the pleas
L.o OF Democratic Legislature should
be independent Of the people and rule
II spite Of the people.