Evening journal., 1903-12-29
Letter President of the
Water Department Sent
TO Friend of the Regis
trar Is Made Public
Says Grohe's Manner of
Treating Clients of De-
partment Is a Menace to
Their SensibiIities

The movement on foot TO remove
John S. Grohe from his position as
registrar of the Water Department has
caused considerable comment. His
friends allege that President Peter J.
Ford of the Water Commission Is re-
sponsible for the move to GUST him.
Mr.. Ford's stand against Registrar
Grohe has been commented upon He
has never publicly given his reasons for
wishing to remove Mr.. Grohe, but let
ter he recently sent TO Henry b.
Thompson explaints itself. The latter,
1t Is understood, wrote to Mr.. Ford in
the interest of Mr.. Grohe and the re-
ply the president OF the Water Depart
ment sent to Mr.. Thompson, explained
his reasons for objecting to the re-
tention Of Mr.. Grohe in Office. At the
request of a reporter for the Evening
Journal Mr.. Ford this morning gave
out this letter which follows:
Wilmington, Del, Dec, %. 1908.
Henry B. Thompson, ESQ., City.
My Dear Mr.. Thompson: letter
of the goth inst. has been received.
While am confident that from your
personal acquaintance with me you
have at no time ever believed that l
would have, in the performance of my
official duties, any consideration be-
fore me other than the management of
the Water Department to the best in
terests of the city of Wilmington, l
feel it but justice to myself to state
TO you explicitly my position.
When 1 was appointed Water Com
missioner I accepted the duties of that
office as a public trust with the firm
60
/ had a voice in its administration.
should be conducted on business prin-
ciples, and that the question of politics
or partisan advantage should never be
allowed to influence my judgment or
actions. nor should political consider
atoms be allowed at any time or in any
way to interfere with the admins
tration of this department of the city
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr..
Grohe is a Democrat, 1 am frank to
say. in reply 10 your letter, that my
best Judgment is that a change should
be made in his case. l am not at vari-
ance with your opinion that Mr.. Grohe
is in many respects a competent official
From observations 1 have made and
from what / have learned about the
department, I believe that many OF the
commendable features in its manage
ment are in the main due Mr.. Grohe
During his long service Mr.. Grohe has
made his impress on citizens both
favorable and unfavorable. He is, In q
place which bring him into personal
contact with clients of the Water De-
partment, and his manner Of treating
them has been Tor years q standing
menace to their sensibilities. Ar
American citizen is entitled to at least
ordinary courtesy from an official witt
whom he is compelled to transact busi-
ness. Yet not only in cases where there
may be a difference OF opinion regard
ing the rules or methods of the depart
ment, but also in many cases where
rudeness was purely gratuitous anc
unnecessary, Mr.. Grohe has been ir
his manners, bearing and language
rude to citizens coming to him TO trans.
act business connected with his oificia
duties. The Water DEPARTMENT like
other departments, is owned by ths
people. and / feel that the people ar,
entitled TO be treated by the official.
of the department with IT least sucl
consideration as you and I accord L
any individual in our business rela'
tions. In my opinion Mr.. Grohe doe
not act in accordance with this idea
and l am not willing 10 tolerate tn
continuance of that condition in tn
department Mr.. Grohe is not the oni!
competent and efficient man who cal
be found. ] favor replacing him oni!
with a man equally competent ant
efficient and who win be polite to tn
people who come to his Office TO pa,
water rent and to transact other bust
ness with the department. 1 disclain
any personal feeling in the matter
Mr.. Grohe has always treated me per
sonally with the greatest consideration
doubtless he has also always so treatel
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