The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-14
DAVIS GOES OUT
IN BIG SHAKE-UP
Board Wants Salary Doubled,
So 1t Can Get New Water
Department Head.
MANY RUMORS AS TO CHANGE
Politicians Say Boiling Will Sue
coed Davis, and Beck Will
BE City Engineer.

Behind n resolution which virtually
means the dismissal of Eugene Davis,
superintendent of the Water Works,
the politicians yesterday figured. 1t out
that the Administrative Board is pre-
pairing to make City Engineer Boiling
The head of the Water Department, at
a salary OF $4,000. while Henry =. Beck
will resign from the board TO become
City Engineer
On motion OF Commissioner IIirsch-
|, pcrS, the board voted unanimously to
ASK the Council to increase the salary
or the superintendent from $4,000 to
so.Vpo effective July /, provided that
'hc superintendent shall be qualified
engineer. The board, which has
charge OF tho Water Department.
realizes that, with the annexation of
new territory and the increasing duties
ana responsibilities of the Office. n
man with more technical training il
required. Along with the report OF
changes, there were many people
around the city Hall who stated that
Colonel c. L. l.. Burgwyn was the man
me board had in mind as AIR Davis's
successor The refusal OF anybody in
a"thority to talk naturally left tho
hcld orcn To tho political dopesters
Wants IIiEh-CIasr Engineer.
III mas been known for months that
inc board was not altoe ether satisfied
with superintendent Davis. Some of
inc members felt that a moro expert
ended officer was needed, and that
lceiinS is publicly expressed In the
resolution adopted yesterday. While
II was argued that the Finance Com
inittce is not disposed to favor tho
lhdiscriminate incrcasc OF salaries it
would not oppose any direct plca
from the beard which related to the
welfare of the Water Department.
member of the Common Council
said last night that if the board prc-
scented good reasons for the incrnas.
the Council could not afford Tn r.fuse
Ii.
Under the law the city cannot no
outside for an experienced engineer
'he man elected must he :, citizen and
Il voter. Although a member of Conn
ell cannot be elected by the Counci,
10 any paid office until he has been out
OF me body for twelve months this
provision does not apply to members OF
inc Administrative Board. \ member
OF inc board could resign to-day ana
NJ elected to any Office within rs, DOW
er on Monday. In view OF this com
mon understanding of the law the pol
ltlcians assumed that Mr.. Beck would
become CITY Engineer. although men
Close 10 the board asserted that this
vas the mcr"st suppos!tion.
Snys ItnmOrS Arc Wong
When the hoard Is really trying to
Improve the service In the various CITY
dcpartncnts IL Is unfair to assume that
'hcrc is always a joh-sccking move
incnt behind every act" said Il friend
OF thht organization last night The
city - handicapped by bcin. forced to
PICK all OF Its 'AErrt material from lis
own limits. OF course, the politicians
have taken II for granted that Nj. Boil
ing is to take over the Water Depart
ment and that Mr.. Beck is to succeed
MT. Boiling, but ! do not believe there
- any ground whatever for that the
DRY. There arc capable men in Rich
1nond who would be attracted ~ the
offer $4,000. believe the board has
one In mind. | believe that Mr. Boil
ing VIII stay where he IS and that
Mr.. i;eck Will remain on the board
Ihc only thing that is certain in the
;hah cup Is that Superintendent Davis
VIII be retired These Boiling Beck
rumors have sprccd all o-cr town, ana
you can't stop them bu: for once be-
l:"vc the politicians "ill have their
calculations upset"