Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-17
WHAT CITIZENS
Think OF 1T
The Extraordinary Powers Con-
terred Upon the Water Board.
NOT ONE APPROVES IT
Tho Concrnsu. of Opinion In That
Counc:Ia Acted Unwisciy in Trans
lerring to the winter onn,isstou-
cr- control OF IL Dcpartmen. Tint
ShOuid DO CnntroiIod by Iheae
BODIES Aione-Ihc Interviews.

should DO CnntroIloi by Ihese
| Bodics Aione-Ihc Interviews,
Below will be found the second Of the
series of interviews with citizens and
tax payers of Norfolk, based upon the
action Of Councils in comforting extra
ordinary powers upon the Board Of
| Water Commissioners:
MIR. NJ. L. T. DAVIS.
1.-THE scope of the ordinance of Feb
| ruary Z, 1899, amending an ordinance
| designating the powers and duties of
| the Water Board looks entirely too
broad. Particularly is this true IL it can
be construed that the Water Board has
| the power under the ordinance in ques-
ton to put in water meters, or to go
| to such extremes, which evid emily the
| Councils did not mean at the time 1t
was passed. The people who have been
paying for water in a double form
that is, tax to support the water
works and q quarterly bill for what is
| consumed-should, 1 think, have say
on this question and all matters per-
tanning thereto. In a growing city,
where the revenues from water are in
creasing all the time. we need but to
be economical in order to make our
water works a paying investment, 1t
seems to me-"
MIR. j. SYDNEY SMITH.
''You ask: Should the Board of
Water Commissioners be allowed as
much authority as 1t has been granted
by the City Councils?' Upon q careful
consideration of the matter I do not
think 1t likely that any one would be
likely to take the position that such
great powers should be allowed this
board. and at the same time denied to
all other boards, some of which are
quite as important. In saying this, it is
not intended to reflect on the said board
o. the members composing it; but from
my understanding of the city charter,
the expenditure of the money belong
ing to the citizens and raised from
taxation Is made the especial duty and
care of the City Councils, and the ex-
ercise of that power is carefully guard
ed, so that the money may be proper
IL expended. That being the case, it
would seem that If the matter were
tested, 1t would be found that the City
Councils have no power to divest them
selves of this duty and give to a board
the right to eXpend money without any
report to the Councils as TO sa ex-
penditures until after the money has
already been spent and Is beyond re-
call. 1t would also seem to be exceed
ing the limitations of the charter when
the board Is allowed to fix the rate to
be charged for water instead OF the
City Councils fixing 1t, as 1t could be
fixed once to stand for a long period"
MIR. w. r. FENTREsS.
II agree with the gentlemen whom
you interviewed yesterday on this Ques-
ton. 1 am strenuously opposed to the
Water Board or any other board being
made separate concern, over which
the Councils have no control. The peo-
pie elect Councilmen to look after the
interests OF the city in every way, and
especially should they see that there
is no extravaganza in any branch or
department of the city government. 1t
Is n dangerous policy to delegate such
important powers to any members of
the city government"
MIR. r. w. SHULTICE
AS a general proposition each de-
partment of the city government
should be under the direct control of
the Councils. and 1 do not see why
an exception should be made in favor
of any one department.
II have read the report of the ex-
penditures of the Water Board, re-
Gently published in the Virginian- Pilot,
and. so far as those figures go, 1t
seems that the extraordinary powers
granted said board have been wisely
and properly used, but the precedent
is bad one, In my opinion. and may
lead to abuse should any board in the
future be unwise, eXtravagant or cor
rupt. y proper clerk or agent will
never betray trust or overreach his
authority, but no set of people (not
even city councils) are always sue
cessful in finding such agents and to
keep them true to duty 1t is safest
to have them know that their acts are
TO be scrutinized and approved by the
poor!e. who have the appointing
power"
MIR. JOHN L. FARANT.
4 do not know enough about the
scope of the powers to talk on the
subject. I am opposed, however, to
putting the management of the Water
Department entirely in the hands of
any three men. That department
should be controlled by the Councils
1t is not easy to see exactly how far
the board could so under this ordin-
ancc, but it seems they can do almost
anything besides contracting for per-
mancnt improvements without the
sanction of the Councils The board
should not have the power given IL
over the chief engineer and other en-
playes."
MIR. w. II. II. TRICE.
~ agree exactly with what Colonel
Starke said in this mornings paper
about the extraordinary power Of the
Water Board. AS Colonel Starke saws
no such mower is given tn any other