Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-20
COUNCILS RIGHT
TO CONTROL
All City Boards Should be Subject
to Some Discipline.
OPINIONS OF CITIZENS
With 70 single Exception, All VINO
Expressed an Opinion Are Agreed
Upon That Point ono Gentleman
Takes Issue with Legal opInion.
Previously Advanced an TO the
Powers OF Water Board.

In continuing the interviews on the
question Of the ordinance granting the
Water Board plenary powers. an effort
was made to learn from two Of those
Councilman, who voted for the ordi-
nance, their reasons for SO doing These
gentlemen are members Of the Finance
Committee. which favorably recon-
mended the ordinance; but one Of them
could not remember what arguments
were advanced in favor of such a law,
and the other knew of no reason except
that an ordinance similar to this was
repealed by the Prohibition" Councils
Just before they went out Of power.
Neither gentleman would agree for
his name to be given. One of them
said he was not welded to the present
would draw up and submit better one
he would support it.
MIR. c. w. FENTREss.
Il think the Board of Water Com
missioners should be subject to the
same discipline as all other boards and
all important contracts, ETC., should be
ratified by the Councils. am not ac-
quainted with the causes which led the
councils to EXEMPT one board, but
don't see why 1t should have been done.
SUCH ordinances are bad in principle
MIR. IRA B. WHITE.
I think such an ordinance IS with
out law, reason or precedent The
other city departments do not get such
privileges: why should the Water
Board. The Councils are elected to
keep supervision over the boards, and
especially expenditures made by them;
Ia MI o6 &c,
pass upon all such matters as relate to
expenditures, and the action of the
Councils in delegating this power Is I'M
Justified from any standpoint. The
ordinance should be repealed"
MR. l. P. ROBERTS.
''If held a public office of any kind
I would insist that my accounts be
audited by some body or committee
over me, and who had right to call
n check That is the way. in my opn-
ion, to look at such question as this.
cannot see how anyone could want
such wide authority. There Is bound
to be suspicion cast in the direction of
officials who IRE given such power,
whether just or not If I hold a public
position and a great deal of money
goes through my hands, and there is
no one above me to look into my dis
bursements and transactions, people
will be suspicious. No official should
allow himself to remain In position
OF this kind. would desire that every
thing be done In the open. above board"
MIR. JOHN B. JENKINS.
II am not familiar enough with tho
ordinance in question to criticise it In
detail AS n general principle. think
all boards, street, sewer and drain. fire,
water and other departments should be
directly under the SUPERVISION Of the
Councils"
MIR. T. e. NOTTINGHAM.
Are the powers delegated to the
Water Board In this ordinance too
broad?, 1t seems to me that there can
be but one answer to that question.
The Councils should be above the
Water Board. and all other boards. I
cannot see any reason why an excep-
ton should have been made of the
Water Commissioners"
MR. w. II. SARGEANT, JR.
"In my opinion the ordinance is en-