Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-03-22
The Water Committee and Couucils.

Tho expiring councils do not seem to
have been happy at their last meeting
and the water committee was made the
victim of their wrath. There are other
persons who seem to be angry with the
water committee being people who were
unsuccessful bidders for ferrules and
such things. Mr.. Berger, of the COM
mittee, explained to the select council
that the lowest bidders had not bid for
the kind Of appliances that the committee
had asked for which was a very good
reason why they did not get the
awards; but innocent Mr.. Riddle thought
that the newspapers must have had some
ground for abusing the water committee
about these awards, and he proposed to
condemn it,on general principles, for buy
ing things when they were 30 near the
end of their term OF Office. But the coun-
Gil would not adopt his resolution !;
though he had better luck with another
which he fired at the water committee,
condemning them for reducing the
schedule of water rates as established
by ordinance, for the special benefit of
few manufacturing establishments, as
against the great majority of consumers; !"
the objection being that they transcended
their powers as a committee in so doing.
A like resolution was adopted by the
common council.
It was a resolution that was wholly
unwarranted. The matter was strictly
within the authority of the water CON-
mittee, and its discretion was judiciously
exercised. Exoneration from water rates
has always been within its duty and If
councils did not desire it to exercise 1t, 1t
was always within its power to say so, as 1t
was in Its powt to revoke theexonerations
and to change the water rates as l,
pleased. Manifestly the water commit
tee should have the confidence of coun
ellis sufficiently to enable it to con6de t
It the fixing of the water rates and exon
erations therefrom. 1t sits to hear TIL
parties in interest and decides upon tn
evidence it listens to. 1t obtains
knowledge of the subject which council
cannot have, and can exercise an intelli
Rence in action, which 1t would be hope
less 10 expect from councils.
For there is Mr.. Riddle, vender o
school books, who doubtless thinks he ]
Intelligent, who certainly Is not 80 upol
this water question, else he would no
have thought of ceusuring the waite
committee for making water cheap t
manufactures in town which desires T.
make itself 30 inviting to them that the
will desire to settle down in II (; whereof
population may be increased, houses b.
built and occupied, and water rents in
crease in number.
This whole matter was fully discussed
. few weeks ago before full meeting o
the water committee, upon whom 1t wa
urged by representatives of the manu-
facturers that no more than the pumpag'
cost should be charged against larg'
manufactures of the class that the cit,
needs to increase its population ant
prosperity and about the policy of cheaI
water to such establishments there Cal
be no doubt among sensible men. 1t pay
buc CitiLcHS Wci w hiahc ouSh SohSeSo'oh
for their is figure beyond which manu-
facturers will not 60 for their water, an
It is q low one, because water runs freel
in the rivers by the side OF which the
may sit down.
In our opinion the water committe
has deserved we'll Of councils, and la
earned its thanks for the intelliger
care which 1t has taken Of the real int
ests OF the city, not only in this watt
matter, but in the awards which it hs
made for materials, selecting the best an
paying no more than a fair price fl
them. 1t has been an able and an hone.
c0umittee, and much above the gener;
average of councilmen.