The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-05-15
the wages lost by. the. .workmen thrown

the wages lost by the workmen thrown
out Of >employna ent, is not considered.
1S. My INVESTIGATION of the present
Fsaut down has convinced me that it
IS caused not only by lack OF ordinary
intelligence and foresight, but utter
incompetency or gross neglect. and
has caused me to doubt if all Of the
past shut downs were unavoidable. 1t
has appeared strange to me and per
haps others that boiler troubles should
develop so frequently and so close TO-
scth.r. | would like to know how
many times leaky fueS have been
caused by allowing the water TO. get
SO low in the boilers as to burn them.
causing them to leak and compei q
i:shut-tiown: This information might
develop further carelessness IN the
management in not looking after what
they are paid to do.
After seeing conditions at the plant
land obtaining information from Mr.
FBrown-bS asking questions. ana teei-
ing that the loss and inconNenlehceS
enforced ontae public and n1Hsel1 were
the result of poor management. / so
expressed myself to Mr.. BroW.t .
this he took exception and stated tu:
ther that he objected to belnS crl,i-
cisetl. ] reminded him that he was an
official Of the City and i, a clliZeh.
and / would criticise him or any one
else under like conditions whenever
was sure I had a just cause. Ii ne
objects to honest criticism he shoulA
do one of two things: either to man
age affairs in such way as "o'l','
prevent criticism tor. resign. 1t NJ
fails to do the former Counclt shou''
give him the option Of doing the lattcf
or fire him
Perhaps it may not be amlss 10 aS<
here what and others have asked ih
private. Why a City Manager If he
does not manage? If you vii: per
nit me / would like to sugges; that
you. have a, public investigation so
that all interested may be present 10
get and give all information possible.
because only by demanding competent
and efficient management on TIE part
of those. responsible will the VISION:
Of municipal ownership Oh pHbif;
utilities (Which believe IND he prov
en. There is no. sane reason why q
CITY cannot operate. its public neces-
sites as efficiently and zeconoimicaliy
as a private corporation. keep that
it seems to be a settled pole that
when a city employs a man, believing
him to be the proper person for the
place. they take it for granted that
he is making good and never dis
charge him if he don't and the cItl-
zens who do happen to know he is
not making good keep their mouths
shut or if they do open them, it is
only to grumble in private. But with
a private concern the interested par
ties see to it that he makes good or
get some. one else who will and should
they. in Il rare case, fail 10 do so, the
com plants of the public will compel
shem TO take notice. I. for one. be-
.ieve that cities, should own certain
public necessities and intend to assist
the City Council by furnishing the
Council with the information. as in
this instance when am sure the
management fails. as. aside from the
loss TO me individually. I am stock
holder in the City Of Sumter Corpora
ton
Trusting that these charges will re-
ceive prompt investigation by your
honora bic body-I beg to remain.
Respectfully yours,
NIcLJEEEp