Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-10
THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
The Reasons Which Actuated the
Finance Committee.
IL was Desires TO Give This Dcpatt-
mcnt ofthc CITY Government All.
so'"t' Authority I'm All Matters
Of Detail.

Oh Detuti.
The Councils, Tuesday night. on the
recommendation of the Finance Com
mittee amended the law governing the
Water Department so as to revive the
ordiances in effect previous to 1894
which were amended by the reform
Councils just previous to going out of
power.
The amendments enacted by the re-
form Councils reduced the pay Of many
OF the employees of the department. and
further provided that appointments
should be approved by the Councils.
AT the last January meeting OF the
Councils n communication was receiv-
ed from the Board Of Water Commits
sIoners asking that the ordinance of
~ De amended so as 10 give 10 the
Water Board only the additional power
to employ persons and fix their pay
without any reference 10 the Councils.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE.
The communication after being read
was laid on the table by an almost
unanimous vote.
A-''At4 ~ enc SESSION the vote was re-
considered and the petition was refer
red 10 the Finance COMMITTEES. This
committee reported faVorably to the
councils Tuesday night a resolution re-
ViNing the entire old ordinance. in effect
previous to 1884. This was adopted by
the Common Council and will he acted
on ny the Select Council next Tuesday
night The Water Department has
peen clothed with absolute authority to
make contracts and expend money for
the purchase Of all supplies necessary
for the daily operations of the works
TO appoint superintendent. regis
tiar. one or more inspectors. Il line man
chef engineer. six assistant engineers
and such other officers ana employees as
they may judge necessary. and to define
their duties and 10 hN their salaries.
establish rates for water without the
approval or reference TO tho Councils
Tile present law requiring the approval
of the Councils in the matter of the
appointment; of persons and the liking
of salaries ana the purchase of sup
plies. etc. as aforesaid. was repealed
This action created considerable COM
ment and Tor this reason the gentlemen
who compose the Finance Committee
were requested yesterday To furnish the
NirSinan Pilot a statement of their
reasons for approving the petition OF
the Water Board.
y
Of the following:
y. Bcaman. chairman c. c.
{. II. Consolvo, :. {.
TaZcwell Taylor. c. {.
w. T.. Allen. &. &.
T.. l." Mayer. :. {.
COMMITTEE INTERVIEWER.
All Of these gentlemen could not be
found. but three Of them were and
the Pilot is Informed by them
that they We're all actuated by alike
reasons and motives.
MIR. Consolvo. vice-president Of the
Select Council, said:
when the Prohibition Council was
going out of office one of its last acts
was to amend the ordinances in refer
encc TO the Water Department.
They placed certain restriction on
the actions of the board. which we
thought advisable To remove. As long
as They were in Office they kept the
old law; just before going out of power
they repealed it, taking away the
boards authority.
The conditions are such thai we
have to put honest men in charge of
the Water Department. and trust them
to faithfully perform their duties
I'VE desired to give them the right TO
reward men according to their merit
When the hibitionia;s went out they
cut down all salaries, ana enacted
laws which provided that they could
not b. increased except with the con-
sent Of the councils"
ENDORSED MIR. CONSOLVO.
Mir Taylor said he could add nothing
TO the statement of MIR. Consolvo. which
he thought covered the ground.
Before the action was taken We
1ren-- lliila- Lanlal,. in-a-,Aa question
with the whole Water Board before us.
I'VE simply put the law where it was
before the Prohibition Party came into
power. and AS far as | am advised the
law proved satisfactory up TO that
time"
WHAT MIR. MAYER SAID.
I'VE approved the petition for seve-
raj reasons. one Is; that under the law
enacted in 1884,; the board had no con.
troll over the salaries of its employees;
an incompetent man got as much nav
as an efficient one; there was 10 re-
ward for merit
Another reason is that the board
could not employ additional help. as
occasion might require.
The filter plant is going to call for
more men.
The board is an Independent BODY.
tree from any restrictions which con-
troll other departments. They handle
their own money; make their own
contracts, purchase their supplies ana
pay their own bills: and | think il was
the sense of the committee that they
should be allowed 10 control the de.
partment in matters of detail"
THE VOTE.