Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-27
THE NEW COUNCILS RESPONSE
Bllt1IES,

Ottumwa to adopt the commission
form Of government was the success
achieved by the commission or three
men in charge Of the municipality
owned waterworks. The state :aw
gave the trustees full and absolute
control of the management of the
waterworks. The city council had no
supervisory powers over the trustees
and as result there was no o1liclai
red tape, no reference of admins
trative affairs to committees. Win tne
consequent delay. The water plant
was put on q paying basis rom the
start because the city was fortunate
in securing the services of able mon
and men who were patriotic enough to
give large part of their time TO the
work. The services of such men could
be secured because it was position
OF honor and trust. A position as
trustee of the waterworks is now q
responsible position, and with this
responsibility, authority is given the
board to carry out its policies un-
hindered.
Under the commission plan the three
councilmen are given all the
powers and duties now exercised not
onlv nv the board of waterworks
trustees, but by the park commits
sioners. library trustees and the fire
and police board OF these boards that
in charge of the waterworks Is the
most important, because it disburses
the largest fund and calls for the
greatest business experience In its
management. II board is appointed 1t
will not have any power as its men,
hers will act purely in subordinate
capacity, and such a subordinate posi-
ton might not be attractive 10 men
needed, to carry on the business OF an
institution as big as the waterworks.
The present waterworks Doafd IS
the only body that has anything to say
about the waterworks. 1t signs all con-
tracts. buys all pipes, and supplies
that are used. The present city coun-
eli or mayor cannot check nickel out
az the waterworks fund. The state law
specifically says that the city treas
urer cannot pay cent out OF the
waterworks fund, except on the order
Of the waterworks commissioners:
They are now In absolute charge OF
the waterworks. They make contracts
and sign them. -
On the other hand, the law says,
after the new council takes charge,
that all the powers that are now
vested in the waterworks commits
sioners are vested in the council. II
that council should appoint a board Of
vaterworks commissioners, that board
would not have any power. Everything
or anything 1t would do will be SUB
1ect to approval or rejection by the
council.
There is no reason for miscnder-
standing in the matter. The law Is
plain.
Suppose the new council did enact
an ordinance authorizing itself to ap-
point q waterworks board, and would
then appoint q board, the same coun-
ell could repeal that ordinance and
kick the board out any time the board
did something that did not agree with
what the council wanted done. 1t can
not do that now. That Is the very
feature that makes it incumbent upon
the citizens Of Ottumwa to select from
the list Of candidates, three NEIL who
are competent to successfully and
economically manage not only the af-
fairs of the city, but also those of IKE
waterworks, parks and library. No city
council of Ottumwa has ever before
had the responsibilities that the three
men elected next month will have.
Heretofore the mayor and council
have only had the city government to
attend to. The new council will haye
that, and in addition, will have the
waterworks, parks, and library, all OF
which require successful financial
management. It will also have full
control Of the police and fire depart
ments.
Even II 8 waterworks board was ap-
pointed it would be under the direc-
ton Of the council, and anyone hay
ing business to transact with the
waterworks would be likely to ignore
the board and go direct to the council.
VOTERS HAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
whon NttDmwa 1Oes under the