Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-26
MIR. WHITNEY,S WITHDRAWAL
His Reasons for His Resignation
from the Board Of Public Works.
The following letter was received by Al
derman Prince last Monday:

His Reasons for His Resignation
from the Board Of Public Works.
The following letter was received by Al
derman Prince last Monday:
NEW HAVEN, Conn.,, Feb. 21.
Alderman Prince:
Dear sir-Allow me to thank you and
through you the other aldermen who paid
me the compliment of declining to accept
my resignation of the Office of commission
er of the board of public works.
While appreciate the Endorsement given
me, there were to my mind serious reasons
for my withdrawal from the board, and as
those reasons still prevail feel constrained
to beg that you will ask the aldermen at
their next meeting to reconsider their &C.
ton and to elect my successor.
In offering my resignation I did not act
hastily, but decided the matter only after
careful consideration, and I wish it dis
tinctly understood that was not actuated
by feeling of dislike towards any mem
Der of the board, but rather by the convic-
ton that the policy of the present MAORI
ty will be 80 detrimental to tho efficient
and economical administration of the de-
partment, and consequently adverse to the
best interests of the city, that am abso-
lutely determined not to be in any way re-
sponsible for the results which are certain
W IOl1OW 1CS auOpC1Ou, ana W01Cl should
be powerless to prevent.
refer, first, to the plan for dividing the
permanent force, under the superintendent
of street, equally between the commission
ers, each commissioner to have his share
of appointments; the power to discharge
to be taken away from the superintendent,
and to vest solely in the board, or, what
is worse, within his own apportionment, in
each commissioner.
The second, and by far the most serious
change that is contemplated, is to alter the
form of contract now in use. This form
was adopted many years ago by a very
competent committee, after mature DELHI
GRAFTON, as the one best suited to inquire
good work. 1t has resulted in high stand
ard of work, particularly in sewer construc-
has been adopted by a number of other
cities It gives to the city engineer the
control of the execution of important pub
lie works after tho contracts are made and
the power to decide all minor questions
that may arise while the work is in pro-
gress. The proposed alterations would
take this control and all authority over
the contractors away from the engineer
and place it in the hands of the board.
In other words, would substitute an IRE
sponsible committee, totally ignorant Of
engineering, for a thoroughly honest and
competent man whose professional reputa-
ton depends on the quality of the work
done.
1t is not necessary for me to explain the
results that would be certain to follow
this change. Any business man can SEQ
at glance that it would lead to jobbery,
extravaganza and very inferior work.
In closing, I desire to say that my five
years. experience as commissioner have
convinced me that there is little hope of a
satisfactory business administration of the
department so long as it is managed by q
so-ca1led non partisan board, the very
purpose of which is to make an equal d.
vision of the offices of more Importance
than the welfare Of the city. Yours very
ysspscRply, Ell Wuzxsy,n