Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-23
COUNTY TICKET.
0horiff-ERANK G. STIDHAM.
OOrOner-CHARLEs 4. SPARKS.
Tho water Commission

The announcement by the Court of
Errors and Appeals of the constitution
Atty of the law creating Board Of
Water Commissioners, creates no sur
prise. Indeed from the first stand
taken by City Council in opposition to
the Commission going into operation,
there was u large reserved sentiment
ON the part Of both the Republicans and
Democrats opposed to it, that it was
legal and constitutional, and that the
law, no matter hoy tyrannical and un-
popular, would in the end prove strong
or than public opinion. The opposition
to the Water Commission anyhow was
more personal than real, though the
sentiment against taking from the peo-
pie the right to manage their own local
affairs is one that is honest and sincere
and will always be found protesting
against injustice and wrong. No doubt
there will be general acquiescence in
the decision of the court, and the
Water Commission, which has had such
= thorny road to travel, will at last be
permitted to 20 into operation.
The Water Commission, however,
will remain the same engine ofinjustice
no matter how or by whom controlled,
because it overrides the will of the peo-
pie because it destroys the principle
of local selfgoverument, and because it
was created by the dictation of and for
the benefit Of one man. Nobody can
say word against the composition of
the Board of Commissioners. They are
all intelligent and business gentlemen,
and as far removed from the influences
of partisan politics rs it is possible to
be. 1t is hard to see how more capa-
BILE and non-partisan Board could be
selected. The two conference.-the.
Porter and MIR. Gibbons-are generally
classed as Democrats, but it is probable
that two other men classed as Demo-
Gratis, could hardly be found in Will
mington who could be less non BIPARTISAN
than they.
The other member, Mr.. Febiger, is a
well-known Republican, having been re.
peatedly elected TO positions of honor
and trust by that party, and is proba-
bly, the only pronounced party man in
the Com mission.
is concerned We are assured at the start
Of an honest and able administration OF
the Water Department, and this will
60 far towards establishing confidence
and securing d general acquiescence in
ats authority while tue opposition Il
II on general principles will remain
The present Board oi Commissioners art
not even respon >ibl- for the appoint
ment of ii. Il. McIntire as Chief En-
gineer of the Department, IA only Mr.
Porter is LETT OF The original Board tina
did appoint him. For aught we know
Messrs. Gibbons and Febiger, had
they been members of the Board at tia
time, might have favored him also. On
their induction into office they at leas
find hum tue Chief Engineer selecte,
and II cannot be expected that they viii
make reversal OF the choice withou
cause, and with the present com posi-
ton OF the Board it is not likely tina
Mr.. Mclntiie will give any cause for
change.
MIR. Mc1utire has had large expert
ence in managing the Water Works c
the city, and he will no doubt use tina
experience in perfecting the new systel
OF which he is the author and architec
For the present, at least, the people ma
look for an efficient and able adlniln
tration of the Water Department Of I'll
city, though not more 40 than Il
economy, ability and efficiency wit
which it has been administered by TIA,
body from which it has been unjust
wrested.