Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-19
before the Finance committee ! DO not
CAPTAIN j. w. McARR1cK..

investigate CONDITIONS leaQlnSs up TO,
and possibly necessitating, some such
ordinance TO MEET AN IMMEDIATE
EMERGENCY. AS q general PROPOSE
tion, don't think agents or Temperate
ally appointed representatives of either
public or private corporations should be
permanently clothed with such plenary
powers. I have always been believer
In the best attainable system Of checks
and balances
This is not only Id accordance with
the old adage. that honest men fear no
checks and rogues need them,' but be-
cause even where there is perfect hon.
esty of intention a lack of such checks
leads to loose methods, resultant losses
and opportunities which tempt weak
men to do wrong"
MIR. BARTON MYERS.
II think all departments OF the city
government should be subject to the
portant contracts or In the creation of
offices and fixing compensation.
know no reason why the Board of
Water Commissioners should have
greater latitude than other boards"
MIR. S. S. LAMBETH, tJR.
For reasons which have not time
to elaborate, I very seriously question
the validity of the ordinance passed
February Il, 1898, whereby the Water
Commissioners are authorized to APP
point and to fix the salaries Of the off,
GERS OF the Water Department. may,
however. cite the city charter as bear
Ing upon this point. Section &c of chap
ter W.. after naming certain offices to
be filled by popular elections. provides
that all other officers, clerks and as
sis;ants. whether required by law or
ordinance. SHALL BE APPOINTED
BY THE COUNCILS etc. And section
so of the same chapter provides that
THE CITY COUNCILS shall grant and
pay to all city officers, clerks and as
sstants. ELECTED or APPOINTED.
under or in pursuance of this act SUCH
COMPENSATION AS THE SAID
CITY COUNCILS MAY FROM TIME
TO TIME DEEM PROPER etc.
But whether this ordinance be altrae
wires or not, 1t is, in my opinion, very
unwise. 1t Is to be expected that the
Board Of Water Commissioners Shall be
endowed with considerable authority
looking to the efficient administration
of this partment-authority as to de-
tails. Otherwise the board would be q
mere figurehead and OF no real service
to the city. But such broad powers as
are bestowed by the ordinance in ques-
ton are not at all necessary to the
efficient administration OF this depart
ment. and may be seen to carry with
them opportunities for abuse and temp
tation which, in the light of the ex-
periences of other municipalities. are a
constant menace to the city's interests.
l speak in the abstract, and not with
reference to any particular officers,
when I say that public officials should
never be the recipients of so great
powers as to blind their eyes to the
fact that they are, after all, the SER
wants OF the people. and not their mas
ters. think the ordinance should be
repealed"
MR. PAUL r. HOWARD.
ut IS outrageous to give any board
such powers as are delegated to the
Water Board in this ordinance. The
Councils should have supervision over
all contracts and acts of city boards
and officials. This should be SO in all
cities. There is no reason nor sense
In granting extraordinary authority to
the Water Board. and the ordinance
should be repealed"
GENERAL v. D. GRONER.
las n general. proposition I oppose
giving to any board or city officials
such wide powers as are delegated in
the ordinance you mention. I can
readily conceive that there might be
cases OF emergency which would re-
quire the power of the board to act,
but everything touching the expendi-
ture of money should be passed through
the Councils if practicable. don't
know why the Water Board asked for
such power. 1 can't see that any board
should have absolute power"
DECLINED TO TALK.
The following gentlemen, called upon
by the representative of the Virginian-
Pilot. declined to express an opinion for
publication in regard to the ordinance
passed by the Councils last February
giving to the Water Board such broad
powers:
B. w. Leigh, j. W. Hunter, A. P.
Thorn. Thomas II. Wilcox, B. P. Loyal,
Caldwell Hardy, r. I. Bosnian, j. II.
Waters. w. Il. Brooke.
AN ORDINANCE.
Amending and Re-enacting Section Z
of Chapter 46 of Ordinance of 1894.
Section /. BE it ordered by the Com
mon and Select Councils of the city of
Norfolk that section of chapter XLVI.
City Ordinances, 1894, entitled Water
Department, which was amended and
re-enacted so as to read as follows: 1t
shall be the duty of the Board Of Water
Commissioners to conduct and manage
the affairs of the water department Of
the city in such q manner as will best
subscrve the city's interest; and TO
that end they are hereby AUTHOR
IIGD AND EMPOWERED TO MAKE
CONTRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE
OF THE SUPPLIES necessary for the
daily operation of the works and for
such ordinary repairs to the machinery
as may, from time TO time, be needed:
to enter into contracts for permanent
improvements to the works, subject to
the approval of the Councils; to employ
laborers necessary to the efficient work
ing of the plant; to use the ground or
soil llnflnt. ctr LII