Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-09
.CRITICISE ZEAL Of
WATER DEPT. HEAD
Orange Commissioner Taken TO
Task by Colleagues for
Methods.

Commissioner Harry D. Nethling
was taken to task by his colleagues
on the Orange Board of Commission
ers at the meeting yesterday after
noon for giving publicity to alleged
violations of water department rules
as a result of theofficial's action in
prosecuting former Surrogate Isaac
Shoenthal and others. On Mr.. Weth-
ling's motion that he continue to
make his reports public at the Com
mission meetings he was outvoted
forr TO one.
Mayor Daniel f. Ainihan and
Commissioners William Calhoun and
Frank II. Murray criticised Mr
Wethling, who is head of the water
department, for his action in going
10 the police court with complaints
and submitting in open meetings his
allegations that the accused had
used water without paying for it.
Commissioner William F. Kearney
voted with the others against Com
missioner Wethling's motion.
The lively discussion was preeipi-
tated when Mr. Wethling produced a
report by his department men al
la ug that a meter was found tam
pered with and dumped in the cellar
of the three-family house at 4S9 Main
street. which is the property, the re-
port stated, of Morris F'riedlander.
According to Mr. Wethling the ten-
ants had been enjoying the water by
use of a straight connection, in place
of the meter. When the criticism
for prosecution of Mr. Shoenthal was
begun Mr.. Wethling asked how the
evils he was fighting We're to be
stopped unless publicity was used
Fasors Treating All Alike.
Mayor Minahan retorted that injus
tice might be done a property owner
if he had taken his plumbers word
for it that a meter was properly in
stalled He suggested that the par
ties in question should be billed for
the water used. Commissioner Weth-
ling asked if the commissioners want
ed all cases reported publicly or only
some Some should be reported
when serious, and some not" replied
the mayor.
IAN should be treated alike said
Mr. Wethling. 81 will not take the
responsibility for publishing some
offenders and not the others.
Commissioner Calhoun remarked
that his ms lciate would not report
minor inffaCtions by his employees
and said it would be wise to report
only serious cases, letting minor vio-
lations receive treatment from de-
partment heads.
Commissioner Murray Endorsed
Commissioner Calhoun's stand and
added the water department head
should not go to the police court
with his complaints until authorized
by the entire commission.
Afraid Of No One"
Commissioner Wethling then said
he knew of no good reason for not j
making a public report on violations !
unless the officials were afraid OF "a |
man in town or a couple of men,
Pm afraid of no one" he SAID |
warmly. ANY person who is a cltl-
zen of Orange should be publicly re-
ported for any breach OF the water |
department rules.
When the vote was announced on |
Mr.. Wethling's motion to have the |
public reports continued the latter |
prophesied the water department
would wind up in a tangle as IT had
under the old council.
The police hearing on the Shoen- |
thai and other cases will come up to- |
morrow in the Orange police court. |
Following the meeting Commissioner
Wethling voiced his disappointment
in the attitude of his colleagues IN
refusing to stand by him IN his task
of lettering water conditions ana ne
remarked he had gotten well along
with the work up TO the present
time