Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-03-29
The water Commission.

of becoming a law. 1t was from the
first obnoxious in its features and prin-
ciples, and in addition had loud to
carry in the character of its chief sup
porters 1t was we'll understood that
ex-Chief of Police Maxwell was TO have
been put in his old position had the
bill passed, and the most objectionable
of the old police would again have
found themselves clothed with power.
No less Objectionable in feature and
character is the Water Commission
bill, and yet it is said that there is a
chance for its passage. The advocates
of the Police Commission are the advo.
Gates of tine Water Commission, but th-
latter has the conditional support Of Il
few who are not favorable to the first
On the whole, it is obnoxious and Oh
jectionable, because it subverts free To-
cal self-government, which is priced by
every citizen that loves umtrameled
liberty of thought.
The chief supporter of the Water
Commission bill is II. r. McIntire, the
ex-Chief Engineer of the Water De-
partment. This alone should make the
bill objectionable, not on account Of
Mr.. McIntire'S personal character, for
we have nothing 10 say against that,
neither on accom-, of his gentlemanly
department, for he has always beer, in "
general sense, afiable and polite; but
because he is ont OF office, just wher
the people by their votes intended h.
should he, and he is attempting, by in,
II uel cling the Legislature by obnoxiou,
legislation, to be placed back i'll his ole!
position which the people, by theiI
votes, said should be given to anoth'r.
1t might be well for us, as Mr.. Mcil.
tire seems to be the principal, and i, i
said the paid Dover lobbyist in favor u
this Water Commission bill, to look
back little over his past record as the
chief water official of Wilmington lol
several years, and see whether ne is de-.
serving of the hi Ii character for eff
cheney which he has set up for himself,
and which seems to be accorded to him
by many good, well meaning, honest
citizens, who have never taken the
trouble TO investigate his official rec
ord.
In opposing the Water Commission
bill We are compelled to oppose Mr..
Mclntire, and in showing the obnoxi-
Gus features of HE bill, We are conpeIl-
ed to strip Mr.. Mrlntir" OF his tOga OF
self.imposed efficiency and ability
which he has drawn around him, and
let the people and the Legislature see
the other side. We are justified in tax,
ing this position because it i, not dis,
puted that if it was not for Mr. Mrln.
tire there would no be the least chance
for the passage of II Water Commissio,
bill.
one of the most serious mistakes o
Mr.. McIutire's administration while il
Office was the bunging and the miscaI
culations made in putting III II turbin
water wheel at the city mill. 1t Wa
by his recommendations, his measure
ments principally, and by his plans tina
the Job was undertaken, and the mis-
take that takes sixty thousand gallon
more water TO run the turbine whe'
than the city is entitled to is no slla
mistake, and it Is this mistake that no.
gives the water right owners Of til
south race their hold upon the city an
for which we are sorry to say the cit
contemplates compromising for ski
thousand dollars.
But this is not ALL 1t is All umdispu
ed fact, gathered from the oitici,
records, that the turbine water whr'
with all the bungling that surrouMdr
it cost the city some fifteen thousall
dollars more than the contract price
Whose fault was this? The recon-
mendationS of Chief McIntire we,
strictly followed. His plans were Il
plans of the Water Committee. II ";
no doubt not intended 10 take SKI
thousand gallons more water than II
city was entitled to, but the arrang
nents and the plans took it neverth
less, and is taking it to-day.
We all remember the trouble the W
ter Committee had with the contra
tors,J. K. Wood & Co., of Phlladclphi
Thrirpay was Withheld until the turbil
worked satisfactorily. They We
hnnet Wirh bungIing, an denOuHc,
"A, being incompetent t" perform ;..'
work. Time after time citizens .at ..c
al at the city mill TO see tn" tim
start. II gave lew 'humps, {"
jumps, mad" IL few spaslnodic rcvOi
lions, and like a baikS horse stood 81
1t hadn't enough Of water. Alteration
were made, and volume of water
which the city wa. not entitled wa, Il
piled, and at last the turbine perform
its work. 1t is not denied now that I
turbin" is tirSt-rIasS pump, but
capacity was too great for tine wat
power in serve 10 run il.
Whose fault was il " Mr.. NJ
lntirc and the Water comml
tee said it was the contractors fan
and it was attempted t" withhold fro
them the reserve payment, But +
contractors brought forward the pla
and specifications ofth" Chief Engine
and showed that they had made tip.
engine exactly according to thos" pIa
L.. 81. 4 T. a,