The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-25

IL - highly Important Tor The interests OF
this city Inst he legislature q iss present
ssssion should enact . law providing for Q
Board a Pubic works 70 take charge Of
the watss. sewsrags and other large enter
pfisss seon 70 b sst IN motion hsra There
are many considerations which make the
creation Of such board necessary at this
time. For the handling Of such large sums
- must b involved. there shc1ld b the
highest rssponsibility and the largest busi-
nss capacity. The works. once begun,
should b prosecuted under . continuous
administrativs policy. not subject to change
BY changes in the ordinary city govern
nenk They should b prosecuted In such
way that each viii cid and cheaper the
othsrA There should b no relationship
between these works and current politics.
rhsss considerations are dir ectly at
variance with what must rea sonahiy Be- sx-
pected II the works are left in the hands Of
the ordinary city government In this
event We must expect no responsible lily:
changes following each annual election
with . method and policy changed every
year: and what q even worse. mix ing up
with local politics fatal to ell expectations
OF good work. Whoever doubts this has
only - look 70 the records Of our
own and other cities. Evsrywhsre,
where gigantic enterprises involving
The expenditure Of large sums Of
money are carried on bya political" city
government. there 10 jobbery and extrava-
gancc. seattle VIII prove no excep ton 20
the rule and. unless We shall have Q CON-
misses Of pnhlie works. there viii se q water
Job, . sewer Job. Ere department. Job. q
street department Job and hos, OF other
Jobs. each waxing fat at the pubic cost
Another important consideration Is the
inability OF the council at the present time
70 handle the immense amount Of business
which the proposed works viii make. Al
ready The members OF the council are over
worked Several Of them have declared
recently that Il Is impossible 10 carry the
lead To pat upon these men . fresh
and heavy burden. would be unjust. The
proposition for Board Of Public Works Is
not new. IL has been fully discussed hy
ear people from time 10 time and the
sentiment supporting is is nnanimous-As
least ve have never heard IN adverse ex.
preston concerning IL. while many have
taken strong ground for IL.
A Board Of ruhssc Works TO be useful In
the best ssnss nust be ncn-parfssan and
wholly rsmoved from the Geld OF local poll
tics: IL VIII b Impossible 10 seccre such a
beard Il iss members are to Be chosen by
election Or appointment trom the city
council In either case ws should
have board very closely resembling the
council That something bette. than sAi,
b wanted Il b needless 10 say. The board
should b appointed by the governor. and
sAeula hold okRcs Zoe iocs tsrua Of ysars.
This h The plan n Portland. and ii works
admirably. The water commission Of that
city ccmpsises Ne esss rssponsshisisy and
capacity 10 - found. and the results OF ia
lAhcrs may - sssn In a. iaprev~d water
service ct last Aslf tAs cost Of The torsasr
peores ssrvse>
unlesa tbs pan or scsns ether equally
assuring shall - aiorset. oar people VII
ncs. without many aisgissngs. voss 10