The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-15
WILLS WILL MAKE
ELECTRIC PUMPS
QUITS CITY JOB
Water Commissioners Want
Hydraulic Expert as Sue
CeSsOr They Say-Not PO-
litiCaI Move Saws Mr.. Wills

Nirt J, Wills, who has been general
superintendent OF the city water de.
p~arIt9eIt Tor more than 10 years, will
establish a plant for the manufacture
OF his electric hydraulic pumps at once.
ne VIII leave the department as soon
US the board Of commissioners choose
his successor.
Mr.. Wills. as members OF the board
ana many Of his friends know, intended
10 resign four years ago in order 10
establish the business OF m~anufaeturinR
ms pumps, which he invented and pat
ented several years before. But owing
10 the war, and the impossibility OF
establishing any new manufacturing en-
terprise, he deferred his resignation.
IL was written, as a matter Of fact,
and delivered to j. Thomas Wexford,
sept. IL, but vas not acted upon until
the meeting of the water commissioners
Tuesday afternoon.
Speculation in political circles at once
arose as to who viii succeed him. The
general superintendent is appointed by
the water commissioners, but the com
missloners are elected by the mayor
and city commissioners.
When Milton j., Anderson was elected
more than a year ago, II was rumored
that }. j. Williams, who was at that
time temporarily out of a political job,
was slated to succeed Mr.. Wills when
ever he should resign.
Efforts were even made to secure
proof that Mr.. Wills was not conduct
ing the department efficiently. A COM
mittee made a complete investigation
and followed 1t with a lengthy report.
This year, when Thomas Il. STRAIT
ton was elected to a place on the water
commission, political rumor mongers
again became busy and asserted that
Charles B. Quinn was loking for a soft
job, when his term as a city commits
sloner was out and that the job Of
superintendent of the water plant would
exactly, suit him. ]. ]. Williams had
meanwhile been elected clerk of tile
criminal court, so that he had dropped
his claims to the place.
Mr.. Wills and Mr.. Quinn are close
personal friends and that fact seemed
mors.
But as the board Of water commits
sioners is now constituted, Mr.. Quinn
could not be elected If he wanted the
Job, and he and his friends say he
does not want It,, as he has accepted
an offer from n large insurance COM
pany which he viii represent after
Jan, !, when he retires from the city
commission.
Only Mr.. Wexford, the chairman, and
Milton j. Anderson were at the meet
ing OF the water commission Tuesday
afternoon. Mr.. Stratton was not In
me city. h commissioners say that
they intend to name a man as super
~intendent who has some knowledge Of
hydraulic engineering, II such a mar
can be secured at the salary which the
position pays. The water system is an
engineering problem, needing technical
knowledge as well as business ability.
An expert survey Of the entire sys-
tenn Is to be begun next week, the
first ever made since the city ac-
CURED the plant about II years ago. Mr..
Wills said Wednesday that he DELAYED
his resignation partially on account Of
wishing to have such a survey made,
before leaving the department, but that
he could not much longer neglect his
private business affairs. He expects
to leave the department certainly by the
first of the month,