Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-12
DR.. CUSICK EXPRESSES
HIS PRIVATE OPINION
Is Decidedly Opposed to Purchase Of
Water Plant and FavOrs Install.
Ing Filtering System.

II wonder" said DR.. w. A. Cusick,
while standing on the street corner,
speculatively stroking his Van Dyke
beard, "if the taxpayers Of Salem, who
are so anxious that we should have a
municipal-owned water plant, would
be willing to turn over their business
interests to the members Of the city
council and permit that body to con-
duct them?"
81 also wonder" continued the ply
sician "why the enthusiasts for mu-
nicipal-owned water plant can't re-
alize the utter incompetency Of the
councils heretofore which threw this
city in debt thousands Of dollars by
reason Of improper judgment in con-
ducting the city affairs when the sew
er question was first brpached? An
other question, which | very much
doubt If the water enthusiasts can an
swert Is why should they presume to
place such a pedestal Of knowledge
under body Of men who doubtless
never had any connection with a water
plant, with the exception Of paying
rent, when those experienced owners
Of the present plant cannot make the
Salem Water Company's plant pay?
TITS strange, to say the least, why
some people are falling over them
selves to purchase this old, antiquated
plant when an efficient filtering plant
could be installed at very reasonable
rate. II the city Of New York can
hardly cover the expense Of operation
Of a municipally-owned plant, why
do these Salem people believe city
the size of Salem can survive such an
Indebtedness responsibility? Here are
few reasons why I believe this mat
ter Of purchasing the Salem Water
Company's plant should be dropped,
and filtering system seriously con-
sidered.
First Does the condition of our
city affairs, especially as 1t relates to
matters Of sewage and where proper
ty owners of Salem were compelled to
mortgage their homes to the tune Of
$3S0,0OO to cure the results of the
blunders Of our city government, war
rant that the blind and incompetent
be asked to further plunge us in the
slough Of despond?
Second. What does one single men,
ber Of the city council know about the
management Of our Salem water
plant, which its present owners have
not known for years?
Third. What can a city council
man learn in two years service, which
endows him with knowledge superior
to that Of the owners, who have been
in the business for many years.
Fourth. Municipal ownership, doz-
ems say. Why bless you soul; don't
you know that II costs the govern
ment, from national to municipal,
about TWICE as much to conduct any
kind of business rs It does individu-
al management?
Fifth. Don't you know that If mu-
nicipal ownership we're universal, 1t
would entrench q coterie Of mercen-
aries and grafters who would manip-
ulate their employees and satellites on
these municipal-owned plants until
honesty and decency would become a
by-word?
Sixth. New York City government
costs more than that Of the United
States, and 80 per cent Of It Is graft.
Municipal ownership, of course.
"Now, these are but a few reasons
in my mind why Salem should 90 slow
before taking up this purchase ques-
tion again, II It is considered at ALL
II the people who want the council to
conduct the water system are 80 trust
full and enthusiastic over that bodys
ability, why don't those advocates Of
municipal ownership turn their per-
! sonal interests over to the body Ia
manage for them? The very fact Of
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