Daily Republican., 1884-07-28
The - Ross,' BssseA.

OOrOner-CHARLES X. SPARKS.
The 90 Ross" BssseA.
One Of the chief purposes of the Waite
Commission was to give Boss'' Me
Intire position which would not onl,
be lucrative to himself, but plac
him in position where, by exercising
his "Boss-ship," he could do something
towards keeping the Democratic part,
In power. The Water Department wa
no inconsiderable arm of the City Gov
ornment to whatever party happened {.
be in power, and as this strength wa
lost to the Democracy by the Democrat
DC overthrow of June, 1882, somethin,
had to be done to counterfeit the intiu
ence of the Water Department undo
Republican management. To tn
&" Boss" the Democratic party looket
and the " Boss" was equal to the &C
casion. 1t was his boast that the Leg
islature would appoint Water Com
mission, and he would be back in hi.
old position as Chief Engineer Of tn,
Water Department by the following
month of April.
1t was also positively asserted ant
never cOntradiuted that the Boss" hat
the draft of the Wafer Commission bill
drawn up and that he was carrying il
about in his pocket, showing it to q
faithful few soon after the j une election
The time for the November election
came and the Democrats carried all
three of the Counties in the State, and
elected Legislature unanimously
Democratic in both houses except one
Republican Senator who held over. On
10 Dover was the next object of the
Boss" with his Water Commission
bill in his pocket.
He worked his card so skillfully that
he actually gotta Republican City Coun-
Gil TO pay hun, it is said, 500 a month
to lobby a bill through the Legislature
empowering the City Council to pur-
chase the water rights OF certain mill
owners on the Brandywine for $50, 900.
How much of this amount the mill
owners ever got has never been stated,
nor is ii material. The Boss was
paid his price, aud the CRY paid the
$50, 900.
But like all political bosses, our VIII.
miugton B1ss' man .ged to handle
several political irons IN the fire at once.
He found no trouble whatever in hay.
ing the Water Rights bill put through,
but while he had woIl 70 speak in
favor of that bill he iuund il convent.
enl TO speak two OF more Ia favor of hi,
Water Commission. Having actual,
seduced Mr.. Bates to Ins support of IN,
bill under the plea OF .its non-partisal
character, he had no rouble ia couvinc
ing all the other members with two o
three Senators excepted.
He chuckled as he already felt hi
old position once more within his grasJ
Non-partisan pshaw that viii do wei
enough TO tell the marines, no doub
the +" Boss " thought. A Water Com
mission of thee; we'll, no douO
thought Mr.. Bates, there must be tw
of one party, and why not make il tw
Democrats and one Republican? Yol
zee nothing could be more non-partisal
than that. Sly Boss 20 OF course
bill so perfect, so honorable, so non
partisan must pass, and it did pass. -
Now the :" Boss" had everything hi
own way. In ten days the Waite
Commission was TO meet and ratify III
compact by appointing the " Boss" t,
his old position, from which the peopl
had few months before given him
writ OF "Ouster. -
The BOSS" watched things, especial
ly the Commission, and the Commits
sion watched the " Boss and when i
met, true to the implied contract, tn
Boss" was appointed Cbief Engineer
Now everything was t. 20 lovely
What a scattermeut there was TO ~
amongst the Republicans employed il
the Water Department Every MAJ
of them was TO go, for hadn til" boss
authority TO make them go? Did h
not nave the Water Commission bill
put through? Did he not dictate til,
men who were appointed on the Com
mission? Were they not under obi
Cartons to him Tor the positions the,
held?
Though they appointed him, was i
not well known by them that there wa
to be no other choice? Had he not ;
right to he their 'BOss" as well a
Boss" OF the Water Department
Certainly, he was the power, the life o
the Commission, his power there wa
none To dispute. Armed with I'll,
power Of % i;oss" be: went forth t,
boss, but here commenced his trouble
His bo,s-.h!r, ga called int. ou..tian
and the Republican EMPLOYEES refuse,
to be- boss.d The Ciiy Council came :,
The help Of the employees of the Waite
Department The Water Cominissio,
was carried into .he Courts and IN,
Boss" tinding IN. vv,. mo. tho nuo,.,