Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-08-16

Present Year.
That politics does in many cases
probably large majority of cases-en-
ter into the management Of water
works owned and operated 10y cities
aud towns will hot be denied. And that
this Is not right, IS absolutely menace
10 the health and welfare of the citi-
zens IN many cases, as well as a great
financial loss, will not. | think. be de
nied. Too much depends upon the
proper mana cement OF a public water
| supply 10 make it safe or right To al
low politics to control or affect it.
To be d good waterworks super
intendent or manager requires. In ad-
! dition TO ability and adapta hility.. long
study and practice. If these managers
are 10 be changed every time the city
administration changes. IL is evident
that they can never have the expe-
rience that they should have To per
form their duties properly. No matter
how good men they may be they will
still lack the proper training and ex-
perience.
This follows throughout the entire
staf-oftice force, Inspector, street
foreman. meter readers and repairers.
engineers and firemen-in fact. the en-
tire force
Again, Will men who only expect to
hold the Job" for two or three years
give It the study and attention that il
should have? 1t is not natural that
they should; there is little incentive for
them 10 do SO; they know that the
next election is likely to go the other
way, 50 that they will We to 90 at
some other work.
Then they have other duties to per
form. other masters to serye-the men
or party that put them in the position
Party allegiance must be observed at
no matter what cost TO the citizens
The men are employed for their poll
tics, not for their worth or fitness for
the particular position.
Under these circumstances. are the
best men always or even usually
chosen-the men fitted for the work?
The pubic water supply is matter
too all important TO be made subserv-
lent to politics or any consideration ex
cept that of the very best possible sup
ply of the purest water obtainable. All
must use water. If It is pure and good,
the health of the people will be good
and the community will be prosperous
T.. ,f+ II,
typhoid death rate home seekers will
be attracted to it, But without proper
supervision and management the puri-
ty Of the water will in most cases al
ways be in danger.
These political changes are often
brought to the writer's attention in his
capacity as secretary Of this associa
ton, one of his duties being to try and
keep track Of the waterworks people Of
America. How frequently he finds
these changes-for purely political rca
sons-going on, How many changes
have TO be made in our list of members
for this reason, In looking back over
the years of his connection with the as
sociation the number of such changes
that come to mind is almost as long as
the present list of members.
A man drops out. Is not heard from.
One of our associate members calls
and in the course Of conversation tells
OF q visit in Grafton" Asked about
Smith, the old superintendent, he says:
why, hadn't you heard: At the last
election there was complete change
IN the political complexion of the city.
Smith and all the old commissioners
are out Jones Is the superintendent
now" The commission is new, the SUI
perintendent is new, just because there
has been a change in the political con
troll Smith was a good man for the
position. had had long experience. thor
oughly understood the work in every
detail, was familiar with the works,
knew all their weak points. In his long
years of service he had gathered about
! him a corps of able and trained assist
ants. The works We're well managed,
the quality OF the water above Suspi-
cion, the quantity ample. The manage
ment was economical: waste was kept
| at the lowest possible point. The plant
was In first class condition.
! But Smith didn't belong to the right
political party. He was not an active
| politician. but he hadn't helped the
| party now "in'' had. In fact voted
against them: hence he must 20. No
matter if the quality of the water is
not kept up. If the quantity Is lacking
| when big fire occurs because waste
! had not been watched: no matter If
typhoid fever breaks out because the
water supply has not been properly
guarded and sickness. suffering and
! death follow. the active politician, the
men who helped the party, must be
rewarded.
Jones is an "active politician" He
tan-in fact. did-carry the Seventeenth
ward for the party in Hower He Is
a good man. sober, Industrious and in
tellgent. There is nothing against
him: no fault can be found with his
appointment so far as character goes
He was clockmaker and good
one. but had absolutely no knowledge
,r experience with waterworks man
egement
Then O'Sulliyan had strong pull In
The Seventh and controlled many votes
which he pulled for the dominant par
ty. He had run an engine In Alder
man Riley's wood yard-he knew the
difference between the throttle and the
exhaust: hence he was put in charge
of the expensive machinery at the
pumping station.
S+onnlabein was n clerk in MeiSner 5