Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-05-08

Paper Read by John M. DiVen, Secre-
tary of the American Waterworks
Association. at the Meeting Of tho
Organization Held In Juno Of tho
Present Year.
That politics does In many cases
probably a large majority of cases-en-
ter into the management of water
works owned and operated by cities
and towns will not be denied. And that
this is not right. Is absolutely a menace
to the health and welfare of the citi-
financial loss, Will not, think. be de-
61ed. Too much depends upon the
broper management of public water
kUpply to make 1t safe or right to al
bow politics to control or affect It.
TO be good waterworks super
mtendent or manager requires. in ad-
dition to ability and adaptability. long
study and practice. If these manaG \
are to be changed every time the city
administration changes. 1t Is evident
that they can never have the expe-
ricnce 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
staff-ofiice force, inspector. street
foreman. meter readers and repairers.
In, 20 a
tire force
Again. will men who only expect to
hold the Job" for two or three years
give 1t the study and attention that 1t
should have? 1t is not natural that
they should; there Is little incentive for
them to do SO; they know that the
next election is likely to go the other
way, so that they will have to go Mt
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
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 public water supply is a matter
too all important to be made subserv-
lent to politics or any confederation ex-
cept that Of the very best possible sup
ply of the purest water Obtainable. All
must use water. II It Is pure and good.
the health Of the people will be good
and the community will be prosperous.
Because It Is a healthy city with low
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 rea-
sons-going on! How many changes
have to be madeun 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 IL almost as long M
the present list Of members.
A man drops out. is not heard from
One of our associate members caiiz
and in the course Of conversation tells
Of a 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 ST.
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 corps Of able and trained assist
ants. The works were well managed
the quality Of the water above suspi
cion. the quantity ample The manage
ment was economical: waste was KEEP
at the lowest possible point. The plan
was In first class condition.
But Smith didn't belong to the ri9h
political party. He was not IN activ,
politician. but he hadn't helped tn.
party now ''in." had. In fret. votet
against them; hence he must go. N,
matter II the quality of the water Il
not kept up, If the quantity b lacking
when a big fire occurs because vast
/ had not been watched; no matter 4
typhoid fever breaks out because tn,
water supply has not been properly
guarded and sickness. suffering ant
death follow. the active politician, tn,
men who helped the party, must b
rewarded.
Jones is an "active politician" II,
can-in fact. disl-carry the Seventeenth
ward for the party in power. He Il
good man. sober, industrious and In
telligent. There Is nothing agains
him; no fault can be found with his
appointment 80 far as character goes
He was clockmaker and a good
one, but had absolutely no knowledge
or experience with waterwOrks man
agement.
Then O'Sullivan had strong pun II
the Seventh and controlled many votes
which he pulled for the dominant par
II. He had run an engine In Alder
man Riley's wood yard-he knew thu
difference between the throttle and The
exhaust: hence he was put In charge
OF the expensive machinery at tn