Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-22
OUR CITY AFFAIRS

I'M Il lllt btSlll VI Ailt NteNA
our municipal authorities have
~ been in a constant state of up
heaval, not unmiXed with indecision
and uncertainty, as to their proper
course in certain important matters.
Much of this situation has been the
result Of inability to agree on fun
damentals. Before the year is a
day older the gentlemen of the City
Council should consider among
themselves in the most serious way
whether they are going to give Har-
risburg the best that is within them
from the standpoint of administra-
ton. Unless and until they deter
mine once and for all that the well
fare of the community is first and
the interests of individuals or their
hackers are secondary they will get
I. nowhere.
With respect to the several SUBJ
jects which have been under con-
sideration the one Of prime impor-
tance is that involving the Water
Department. Above all else this
stands out as the one thing which
should have the earnest considera-
ton of every member of the Coun-
ell. Simply because the supervision
of the water supply is placed under
the control of DIR. Samuel L. Hassler
as the head of the Department of
Public Safety it doesn't follow that
tho otbar man, hers of tho Co,,, ~, ;s
sion are relieved of all responsible
ity. 1t is up to them to see to it
that the department which involves
30 much of the comfort and safety
and health of the community is
given the most serious thought and
without any disposition to shift re-
sponsibility at any time. Too long
this department had been allowed to
run itself until it struck a snag.
Now it must be placed in first-class
shape and from the standpoint of
maintenance and operation must be
kept in first-class shape every day
of every year.
Dr. Hassler is a practicing physi-
clan and doubtless will give this de-
partment some supervision, but he
bught not to be expected to act as
operating head of a department EN-.
bracing technical difficulties. There
Mould be no question of false econ
omy in securing at once a capable
assistant, whose duty it will be to
constantly look after the affairs OF
the Water Department, which as
sistant must have experience ana
skill and good sense. DR.. Hassler
realizes this and every other citi-
zen must realize that the operation
of the department should not be
left to- mere subordinates.
The deploTable controversy over
the disposal of the garbage and
ashes which has aroused public dis.
trust and criticism ought never, to
occur again. No further time ought
to be wasted in see-sawing over the
collection of ashes. Our people are
not willing to go back to the village
days simply because we are in the
midst of a great war. There is
enough inefficiency in high places
without having it permeate every
corner of our municipal administra-
tion.
Let our councilmen get together
and keep together with the constant
thought in mind of doing those
things which are necessary to the
safety and welfare and comfort of
the people of Harrisburg. All other
matters are of no Importance as
compared with these.
We believe that the five gentle
men comprising the present Coun-
ell want to do the right thing. For
getting their differences and the
shuffiing and lack of decision which
have characterized the municipal
activities thus far in 1918, let our
Commissioners take up all the slack
and lost motion and make a fresh
start toward the goal of the best
/. municipal government in Pennsyl-
.ania