Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-09
The DANGER or LOOSE Legislation.
Hbn6gdtlOn OF Control Over th6 Water Depart.
Il6Tt by the 6ItU Councils.
"Czen" Makes Pertinent Inquirics-as the Board Of
er Commissioners Exercised the Powers Granted
Salaries Been Increased New Offices Created-H So
What Salaries and How Much?-Has Any Official Re
port Been Made on This Subjec?-D Discrimination Be
tween Department Boards; Why?

1.-THE following communication to the
Virginian-Pilot is from very prom
nent and influential citizen and Demo-
crat, whose views on any question
will commend the respectful attention
of his w-citizens.-Editor.l
Editor Virginian-P Pilot:
l am glad to see the firm and high
ground you occopy in regard TO our
city administration. 1t is n matter
that affects all OF our citizens, but
especially the taxpayers, who have
to Dear the burdens of taxation. 1t is
well TO keep q sharp lookout upon
every department of the city govern
ment. observation-disclosures The
danger of loose legislation is to be
sedulously avoided; and It is only by
the exercise of that eternal vigilance.
which is the price of liberty, that we
may hope to protect and preserve the
interests of the people, against the en-
croachmcnts of interested parties. ]
only desire to supplement, in one or
TWO particulars, what you have so
fully and cOnclusively shown in your
paper of Friday morning.
III is amazing to witness the pro-
ceedngs of the City Councils-the
Legislature of our city. One of the
earliest acts of these bodies upon
their accession to power, was to alb
negate the greater part, if not all, of
their control over one of the depart
ments of the city government--the
Water Department-and to confer up
on that department. the power to in
crease at will the number of it's officers
and employees, nnd to increase at
will the salaries OF its officers and en-
p!oyes. This was an immense sur
N RI TOD
and 1t was Il Wholesale transfer of
those powers to Il subordinate branch
OF the government.
BY section Z. chapter 4G OF City
Ordinances, of 1894. 1t was provided
that the Board of Water Commission
ers might appoint "a superintendent.
4 registrar, n boolekeeper, and an
Inspector" and that ends the list:
that was the old law. and the act OF
1896 fixed and limited the salaries;
but the present Councils, in February
last, made q vast stride in stripping
themselves of power and comforting It
upon the Board of Water Commits
sioners, for they then enacted that the
Board OF Water Commissioners should
have power
"To appoint superintend-
cnt, registrar, one or more inspectors,
n lineman. n chief engineer, six as
s!stant engineers. AND SUCH OTHER
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYERS AS
MAY BE NECESSARY: TO DEFINE
THEIR DUTIES AND TO FIX
THEIR COMPENSATION"
The board is made the sole Judge of
what and how many officers 1T will ap-
point, and what salaries 1t will give
them! Very large powers! Entirely
too large!
Now the question arises, and the peo-
pie want TO know, whether the Water
Board has exercised this power
whether there has been any increase of
the pay OF the officers of the board. and,
if so, what increase? and. also, whether
any new offices have been created, and
what their pay? Has any official re-
port been made by the Board upon
these subjects? If so, Mr.. Editor, please
publish it in vindication of the Board
and to the enlightenment of the people.
And If there has been no report upon