The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-30
MARSHALL CHOICE
OF POLITICAL RING.
Attempt to Elect Outsider as
Water Superintendent Meets
Serious Opposition.
OLD MEN IN SERVICE IGNORED
Conservative Members Of Council
Want to Defer Election Till
Settling Basin Is Finished.

Notwithstanding tho powerful effort
of an alleged political ring in tho Coun-
ell to elect William r. Marshall Sup
trintendent OF tho Water Department..
tho fight against him has reached tina.
poln. where 1t Is believed the cppo-
sisoE can succeed In holding off tie
election until July Tho fact that tht4
so-cnlled ring has picked up an out
slider, absolutely unfamiliar with the
wnris of the department, ~ the same
time ignoring men of oEi'ity, VITO
have served the city with fidelity for
more than n qiu.ter ofNa century, has
p.cycked no end OF adverse comment.
Think Boiling Should Complete 1t.
With tho hope OF having Mr.. Marshal,
placed in the office made vacant by
the promotion OF City Engineer Boiling.
the faction supporting him Is seeking
to prevent any change in the ordi-
nance by which n consolidation OF de-
partments might be effected. The opin-
ion of the older and more conserva-
tive members OF the Council Is that no
election should be held until July, at
which time Mr.. Bolling's term as sup
erintendent would have expired. The
main reason for this Is that Assistant
superintendent Davis can carry on the
work of the department. while EnEi-
neer Boiling NAV have an opportunity
a project which involved the oXpendi-
ture OF about 100000.
II Mr.. Marshall should be delegated
to complete this undertaking City En-.
gineer Boiling would refuse to be re.
sponsble for II.
Mr.. Boiling has made no statement
one way or the other as to this matter.
and. indeed, he Is taking no part In
the contest. although his friends de.
clare that his responsibility would
cease with Mr.. Marshall's election. II
is the desire Of large number of
members that Mr.. Boiling be permitted
to continue supervision at the settling
basin.
Sir. Bottoms Clean Record.
ALTHOUGH he is not Candidate
First Assistant City Engineer Jackson
Eolton is regarded as the most capable
IT is known. however. that he would
gladly accept. II elected. Had Mr.
Eoiling been out of,the race Mr., Bolton
would have been made City Engineer.
and, this being true, It Is pointed out
that he would be far more .capable
head of the Water Department than
Mr.. MARSHALL. who Is new and green
In city affairs. For more than thirty
years Mr.. Bolton was the trusted lieu
tenant OF City Engineer Cutshaw. He
served the department with the utmost
and there was never
hint OF suspicion; against his private or
public record.
This. together with the fact that he
is tirst-rate engineer. with close
knowledge OF the water works system.
would make him the logical man IL
Council would be guided by fitness.
Great Opportunity for Gruft.
During the current year the depart
Dlent will disburse about S125,000. This
amount has been much larger in years
past Had Mr.. Boiling been an I'M
scrupulous man he could have made j
fortune by dark deals with supply
establishments. His one aim, how
ever. was to give the city the best
service and products. being satisfied
with his salary and clean and honor
able record. The same can be truth
fully said Of Mr.. Bolton and Mr.. Davis
whose efficiency and honesty have
never been questioned. For these and
other reasons the argument Is made
that the city should promote officers
whose ability and Integrity IS recog.
nized. without going outside to ey.
pertinent with new men-the choice OF
politicians.
There would be less objection to Mr.,
Marshall If his election should be de-
ferred until July. thus giving CIV.
Engineer Boiling an opportunity TO
turn over the settling basin as a I'm.
tSned and successful enterprise