Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-12-02
EVIL OF POLITICS,
How It Shows Itself In the Con-
duct of City Waterworks.

tary of the American Waterworks
Association, at the Meeting Of the
Organization Held In June of tho
Present Year.
That politics does In many cases
probably large majority of cases-en-
ter into the management of water
works owned ana operated by cities
and towns win not be denied. And that
this is not right, is absolutely menace
to the health and welfare of the cftt-
Gems In many eases, as well as great
financial loss, will not, think, be de-
MED. Too much depends upon the
proper management of public water
supply to make 1t safe or right to al
low politics to control or affect It.
To be a good waterworks super
Intendent or manager requires, In ad-
dition to ability and adaptability, long
study and practice. II these managers
are to be changed every time the city
administration changes. it 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 viii
still lack the. proper training and ex-
perience.
This follows throughout the entire
staff-offfce force. inspector. street
foreman, meter readers; and repafrers
engineers and firem Chin fact, the en-.
tire force.
yAA Nv n
hold the LOB" for two or three years
give it the study and attention that 1T
should have? It is not natural that
they should; there is little incentive for
them to do so; they know that the.
next election lis likely to go the other
way, so that they WIFI have TO- go at
some other work.
Then they have other duties TO- per-
form, other masters to serve-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-tite men fitted for the work.
The pubic watar supply is q 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 obtainablas An
must use water: n IL Is pure and good,
the health Of the people will be- good
| and the community will be prosperous.
Because IL is healthy city with low
| typhoid death rate home seekers win
! be attracted TO it. But without proper
supervision and management the purf-
| ty OF the. water will in most cases al
ways be In danger.
These political changes are often
brought: 10 the writer's attention Nm his
capacity as secretary Of this associa-
ton, one, OF his duties being to- try and
I keep track OF the waterworks people OF
America. How frequently he finds
| these cnargeS-foF purely political rea-
sons-gotng 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
ISOLATION the number Of such changes
that come 10 mind is almost as long az
the present nst of members.
! man drops out, is not heard from
! One OF our associate members call!
and IN the course of conversation tell'
r OF VISIT In "Grafton~ Asked abou
+ Smith, the old superintendent, he says
: ''Why, hadn't you heard? At the las
election there was a complete chang
i a., - h. ii
{ Smith and all the old commissioner
: are out. Jones is the superintendent
now" The com mission is new, the su
3 perfntendent is new. tust because Their
} has been a change IN the political con
! troll Smith was a good man for tn
) position, had had long experience, thor
oughiy understood the work in ever
detail. was familiar with the works
r knew all their weak points. In his lon
years of service he had gathered abou
him a corps OF able and trained assist
ants. The works were we'll managed
the quality of the water above susp
cion, the quantity ample. The manage
S ment was economical; waste was keT
V at the lowest possible point The plar
e was In first class condition.
d But Smith didn't belong to the rigt
r political party He was not an acttv
politician, but he hadn't helped til
party now "in." had. in fact. vote
J., against them; hence he must go. n
matter If the quality of the water
>, not kept up. If the quantity is lacflfr
: when a big fire occurs because, was
: had not been watched; no matter
= typhoid fever breaks out because II
water supply has not been proper
guarded and sickness. suffering ar
& death follow, the active politician, Il
men who helped the party. must
rewarded.
Jones is an "actfve politician" T
can-in fact. did-carry the Seventeen
ward for the party IN power. He
= good man. sober. Industrious and
a. telligent. There Is nothing again
: him; no fault can be found with b