The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-08
THE MAYORS BIG BOMB
Rs RouadIy Scores the Water Department
and the Police Force.
HIS MESSAGE SENT IN LAST RIGHT.
He Charges Thai the Police Commits
sioncrs Have Taken All OF His
Power from Him, Except the Pow
er TO Suspend Omcers-The Water
Department..

Mayor Petit last night threw a bomb
In the Common Council chamber. The
Mayor had been requested by the Coun-
ellis some time ago to submit his annual
report. Last night he complied with the
request and he did SO with vengeance,
at least in. his reference to two of the
city depar;ments-tha having control
OF the water works and the police force,
at the latter of which he IS the head,
as chairman of the Poles. Board.
The Mayor entered the Council cham
Der little before S o'clock. In his hand
he had his report. II was not gotten up
iu such elaborate style as the one prepar-
ed by the Water Department a few
weeks ago. II differed f:om that one in
that II was not in pamphlet form and
contained no pictorial illustrations. He
simply handed his manuscTip. to Clerk
Steed, conversed a few moments and
then retired.
1t was near the latter part of the ses-
eion when the Clerk took up the lengthy
document. AS he read through the pages
the members seemed pleased until he
reached that part IN which he dealt with
the Water Department. Tbs Is what
the Mayor said:
Another serious impediment lying in
our road 10 rapid growth has been the
questionable momentous oues;ion-of
water, both as TO Its quality and guam
city.
1T was my pleasure last summer TO
addSess n communication TO your Hon
orabic Bodies Oh this subject, giving you
my visws and expressing them vary
plainly on this very important subject.
which communication was not read be-
torc your bodies, but .as l learned, was
referred 10 the Fire Committee, and |
presume was consigned TO the waste
basket Waving for the present the all
u - I'm, h. -
our water. let us advert TO the quantity
OF the present supply. During the sum-
mer and fall frequent advertisements
appeared IN our papers f:om tns Super
tntendent Of the Water Board urging
the people 10 carefulnes:a anCf the str!ctes.
economy in The use Of water. What
effect did this have Oh the prosperity and
growth of Norfolk? Who would seek a
home, invest money. or start an enter
prise in a locality with an insufficient
eEpply of water? Tour honcra Die bodies
by resolution agreed that the Water
Board should be allowed To eXpend $50
600 of the boards money In purchasing
another farm OH which to place gang
well system. But what has been done
has anything been ACCOMPLISHED? To
dam up Little Creek (anoiner little pet
echems) IS but continuance In folly,
evidenced by all the past history of the
water works. The WHOLE thing is wrong
from the beginning and has never gotten
tight. 1t has cost the city as much as
two plants of the same size should have
done. Just three years ago. with the fact
staring the board and Councils in the
face. the inadequate supply expended on
that plant al Moore's Bridges over $780,
600. which act stands as a monument OF
the careless indifference or total inca
pacity of those in authority. Norfolks
people have always manifested a sweet
spirih of forbearance. or as:oical spirit
of Indifference as regarded the manner
In which their funds were expended by
these Councils and boards. Permit me.
gentlemen OF the Councils. TO ask why
the Water Department Is separate and
distinct para from our government pro-
per? Why Is 1t that she has her super
intaldent. treasurer and other officials? :?
Why she assesses. collects and spends
her money In the way she may choose? /?
Why is II not important to have the
other boards and departments OF the
city government run in the same way?
There is the Sewer and Drain. covering
eaveral times in extent tha work of the
Water Department. Why not let her do
so-set up little government of her
own? Why pay g superintendent OF the
Water Department. whose duties no one
can define, 81, 500 per year and treasur
$500 for signing checks, when we have a
Treasurer fully capable of taking care Of
the interests of that department. as he is
or AL the OtncrS. n Chlef Engineer at the
ealarN he now receives. 81 800, Is sufficient
Tor all purposes in this department And
no should he supposed TO have the en-
eire supervision Of this plant. The office
of Chief Engineer is of no good to the
plant with superintendent. In other
words. tho Chief Engineer is the proper
person Qf qualified) TO have the charge
of these works. and the superintendent is
Of no service TO the plant except in draw
sng his salary. thereby assisting in get
ting away with part of the large re-
eelpts of this plant. Permit me to ask
why the revenues from water rents are
not sufficient TO meet the indebtedness
of this plant? And why the people are
taxsd from year to year on their property
TO fill the Golfers of this plant? The ex-
pense OF running this department Is just
simply enormous and should be reducad
by thousands. The bulk OF expense Is
incurred in running the plant at Moore's
B-ldges-a plant erected mot SO much
for service as for show. 1t should never
have been there. The cost of running
this plant for labor only Is $6,1SO per
year, while the same work is done at
Lake Lawson for S2.100. No wonder
that the finances OF the citv are at q low
ebb and that she is compelled to antici-
pate her revenues twelve months ahead
when her affairs are managed as this
Water Department has been. But the
great question hs how are we to pass
through another summer with our limit