The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-05
G. WHITE TOLEAD MUST KEEP IT OUT
Little ShortstOp Cap Business Men Discuss Conduct
tain Washburn. Of Water Plant.
After K Game Insist That
Saturday. Should Control.
TAKES A NEW BRACE. LET VOTE BE TAKEN
ashburn Athletics in Much This VIII Determine How the
Better Shape. People Stand
Prospects for Next Seasons Heavy Tax Payers Discuss the
Football Are Bright. question
Insist That Observation-Disclosures
Should Control.
LET VOTE BE TAKEN.
This VIII Determine How the
People Stand.
Heavy Tax Payers Discuss the
Question.

Question.
The business men of the city and
those who have large property interests
vested in the city are anxious that the
/ city waterworks plant be managed by
a board of commissioners and entirely
separated from political influence. They
are unanimous in favor of that system
of management and are asking that the
council take some action at once with
out further delay. They are against the
tendency on the part Of some of the
councilmen to delay adopting the law
and blocking the attempt to call a
special election at this time.
They are asking for immediate ac-
ton. It is significant that in securing
the expressions of the business men on
that matter that not one opinion was
expressed faVoring delay
Several of the councilnen believe that
since the Edison franchise question is
out of the way for the time being that
the WaterWOrks management question
should be revived.
From the expressions voiced in the
interviews it is evident that the people
are divided concerning the size Of the
board-a majority faVoring one Of three
members. This is not in accordance
F. Street of New York, former owner Of
the waterworks in a recent letter to
Mr.. Green wherein he states his hope
that a board OF five will be selected.
Here are the expressions:
Lose No Time Says AIulvane.
John R. AIuIvane said: BY all means
it should be taken from out of politics.
It should be given into the care of
business men and run in a business
like way. believe that the sooner it
is taken from out of the hands Of the
council the better it is for the plant. 1
don't believe in waiting a year or
half year before it is turned over to a
board Of commissioners. 1 have exam
ined the law passed by the last legisla-
ture and I think it is a good one. 1
think this talk Of putting off the man
agement of the plant because the law is
thought to be undesirable in some par
ticulars is all foOlishness. I think the
councilmen would be a great deal wiser
if they washed their hands of the man
agement rather than to cling to it. II
they cling to it they will be unable to
please every one and the people will be
sure to take out their vengeance upon
them when it comes around to election
time. 1t Will mean cheaper rates to
place the plant under a careful man
agement and it will mean extensions
and improvements. The commissioners
will have to go at this matter in
businesslike way but these extensions
3
I think that the matter should be sub
mitted to a vote and that the board of
commissioners should be appointed as
/ soon as possible. I am in favor of a
board composed of three men. I think
it would work better that way. OF
/ course there is something in that argu-
ment that a board of five would hold
| office longer but should think that it
! would be wise then to appoint the
| board of three for longer terms"
Board of Five Says Knowles.
+ A W. Knowles is in favor of a board
] of mmiSsioners of five members. He
said: ct haven't looked into this to
any extent. But it strikes me that the
council should as soon as possible put
this plant in the hands of board of
/ commissioners. am in favor of a
board of five men. They would hold
Office longer and there is less. chance
for them to get into a rut. board
of three commissioners presents more
opportunity for that sort of thing"
P. I. Bonebrake who has had some
knowledge of waterworks plants and
their mana cement said; Z have had
considerable experience in the man
Iagement of WaterWorks. I helped
build, and manage the waterworks
here and so I feel some acquaintance
with It. 1 think as straight PROPOSE
ton that the sooner the plant is gotten
out of politics and in the hands of a
board of commissioners the better.
am in favor of q board composed of
three. Five is too many and as a rule
it SINNERS down as the work of one
man. I know how it goes
c. z. Hawley, cashier of the First
National bank, prOfessed unfamiliar
ity to any great extent with the situa-
ton but stated that he thought that it
would be a wise move to place the
commissioners in charge.
No Politics Says Page.
Thomas Page of the Mid Continent
mills favors the appointment of a
board Of three commissioners and
said: Il believe that the council
should relieve itself of the RESPONSE
bility of managing the plant as soon
as possible I think that the plant
should be entirely away from political
influence I looked over the law
islature and [ was favorably i'm
4 pressed with its provisions"
J. B. Billiard, the miller, said: ''I
j think that the council should not delay
any longer than it is absolutely neces-
sary in transferring the waterworks
4 management over to a board of com
nniSsioners. I am in favor of a board
! of three as believe that generally
Z such a size board viii be more eff
4 fective than one of five
NJ. c. Holman, president of the West
ern Wooden Mills. though discIaiming
familiarity with the WaterWorxs cues
: ton is emphatic in his declaration that
the plant IN order to be run successfully
/ must be taken out of the hands of the
council, away from politics, ana placed
l with a board of commissioners. He sup
ports the idea Of board of three on
? the grounds which have been previously
mentioned that they could accomplish
{ more work than a larger sized board
E. G. Arnold. president Of the Arnold
Drug company, said: 'I was not in
2 favor of city ownership of the water
works from the beginning and I have
= never felt kindly towards the city man
aging such a plant but I think if they
/ expect to run things right they should
: take the plant out of the hands OF the
: politics as they can. They should take
i it away from this tranicking in nosi-