The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-19
BIG DEAL ON !.
IN WATER DEPT,
OFFICE OF SUPERVISOR MAY BE
ABOLISHED.
Plan Considered Is to Divide Authority
and Responsibility Among Four Men
Ulterior Motive Attributed to
Those Who Favor It - How the Pro-
posed Change Would Work.

Efforts are being made in certain
quarters to abolish the office Of super
visor of waterworks and it is by reason
OF this movement that the waterworks
committee passed by the position when
the department. officials were selected
last week. The change will mean
radical reorganization of the depart
ment if it is carried out.
The law makes the supervisor the
chief executive of the mechanical de-
partment Of the waterworks, as the
registrar is the head Of the financial de-
partment. He has general supervision
Of the pumping stations, the pumps and
the reservoir, lays all the mains and
directs the permanent street crew which
looks after the distributing system. The
position is one of Importance.
The proposed change provides for
division Of authority. The construction
in the same. manner as sewers are con-
structed. The chief engineer Of pumps
is to be given more authority and to be
in supreme control of the pumping sta
ton. There will also be an independ-
ent head to the street department, the
street foreman being given more power.
The clerical work will be passed over
to the registrar. In other words, the
authority which is now. centralized in
four departments. @.~
sPlan Is Opposed.
The plan has encountered consid-
cradle opposition. It is argued that the
waterworks department is too
important, is too Intimately associated
with the daily life of the people, to be
placed in position where there is con-
slant danger of conflict Of authority.
More than any other department Of the
city a responsible authority is demand
ed for the general supervision OF the
water service. .-..... o.ssS ..,-
Aside from this feature it. is argued
that the proposed changes will not be in
the interests Of economy. With add
tional responsibilities and great authori-
ty, the chief engineer of pumps and the
street foreman will be entitled to high
er compensation, while the city en-
gineer, if called upon to lay water
mains, will require additional help: The
salary Of the supervisor, which. is IN
adequate in view. of he responsibilities
The city engineer 8 assistant will cost
that much if not more. The increased
salaries Of the heads Of the pumping
and street divisions will simply be add
tional expense. -.. .,s-s -
!. =. Aimed at Mcconnell.
It is boldly declared in some quarters
that the proposed plan is simply rus'
to Dust J. H. Mcconnell from the Office
Of supervisor, and to increase the au
thority and salaries. of W. E.. Moore
chief engineer, and W. j. Bowen, stree
foreman. Many efforts have bee1
made to get rid Of Mr.. McConnell--onc
he was replaced by a man recognized a
one Of the best mechanical engineers il
the northwest, but the authorities wer
only too glad to get Mcconnell bacl
again There have been numerous can
didates for the position, but none tina
the members of the waterworks com
mittee dared entrust with the responsj
bility.
It is understood that the only metho
Of abolishing the office is by an act Q
the legislature and this may not b
such simple matter. = -.