The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-26

the management of the City Coun
GILL Why then was the law passet
changing the management? It will
not do to say that there is gener
al law on the subject and that al
but few cities and towns have
commissioners. Because everybod!
else in the community exposes them
selves to smallpox is no reason
I why man who is looking after hi:
health should do so. The fact that
a general law was first passed by
the legislature and that, one after
another well-governed city anc
town in this state has applied to
the legislature for a change in the
law so as to get rid of these commits
sioners would seem to indicate that,
at least at some places, either this
plan of managing matters is not sat-
isfactory, or the commissioners have
been carrying things with a high
hand and the community has been
forced to get rid of them.
We have inquired from people in
every walk Of life in the city, and
none of them have been able to tell
us anything about why the law was
changed. No citizen of this city
and, no member of the present city
council so far as we can learn ever
heard of the proposed change until
it had been made law and then
they didn't hear of it from any of
those responsible for the change ex-
cept in a roundabout way. One
former member of the city council
told us that some two years ago
when he was on the council Mr.. An
derson was advocating Commission
ers of Public Works, and we have
heard it stated that this law was in
troduced in the Senate at the sug-
gestion of DR.. Gambrell, and that
the Senator, when he introduced it,
supposed that he was acting, not at
the solicitation of DR.. Gambrell,
personally, but that the whole mat
ter was understood and desired by
the whole city council. This, how
ever, seems to have been mistake.
If Senator Nickles had this impress
sion he can likely tell US who is re-
sponsible for such impression. He
can likely tell us who asked him to
the Bill changing the law.
Now, why did Mr.. Anderson want
a Board of Commissioners of Public
Works? He came here as hired
from another city, and his
business was to keep the plants rum
ming. We cannot see that there
would be any more water in Savan-
nah River for running the plants,
nor that the wires would carry more
or carry less current, or that the
machinery would run smoother, or
the expenses of doing his work
would be more or less, whether the
governing head of the plants was the
citv council, or the Commissioners
of Public Works. He was elected
bv the City Council and not by COM
missioners of Public Works, and it
must seem strange to some people,
at least, that he would 60 around
and try to destroy the authority un-
der which he obtained his job, un-
less, perhaps, he sought some private
advantage. Of course if he could
mack the Board Of Commissioners
with friends of his, one holding for
four years, and one for six, ne
would have the job nailed down, and
his board having arbitrary. pow
ers, he could run matters with q
freer hand, and manage the proper
ty of the taxpayers in this city more
in accord with his own ideas. Is
that what he has been seeking? Does
the fact that he has not been able
to get everything he has wanted from
the full council and the fact that he
has not always been in the best Of
standing with certain members o:
the council, indicate that Mr.. An
derson has a personal interest in tn
L.. how aronfnH4 Wa