Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-22
BROKEN WATER PIPE
ST|RS CITY OFFICIALS
Failure TO Remedy Trouble Taken
Up by Council President With
Department Heads.

i broken water pipe in the house NO.
,105 Lombard street, occupied by 1eofee
Harris. which has accumulated an Ice
hrrg in front of that house and the next
one. 5O1. was the cause of Il lively otflciai
pou.woy at The City Hall last night. The
commissioners of the Water, Police, street
and Sewer and Health Departments had
been summoned by President Of Council
LYON to the Council chamber last night,
because of the broken pipe, but rs they
had not been told why their presence was
desired. the responsibility was not fixed.
Mr. lyon said two weeks ago he re-
ported the trouble, by telephone. 20 the
Water Department and asked that the
water be shut off. This was not done, he
said though the break had already existed
tor six weeks Next he saw Street and
Sewer Director Rudolph, who said 1t
vas not matter for his department. Next
ne saw an officer of the Board of Health,
but still he trouble was not remedled.
Hc wanted to know what ought 10 be
done in eases Of this kind. lie thought
there should be greater cooperation
aInong the departments, so that neglect
and DELAYS could not occur. This, he SAID,
was proof that Wilmington needs COM
mission government.
To the suggestion that he should have
zone further when his reports were un-
needed MIR. LYON SAID:
1T is the business of the department
notify 80 take action, and not my place.
That is the trouble with Wilmington
everybody has been passing the buck.
Whnt We need is the commission form of
government.
Asked whv he did not get after the
owner of the property, Mr.. Lyon said !:
4 didn't want ia be accused Of PLAYING
poluics. He said the tenant called the
tttcntion of 4 health officer 20 tho matter
and hc replied That's your hard luck,
and went on Lyon said he had asked 4
policeman 10 look INTO the matter and
he replied that that was the duty of tho
Beard ol Health
Water Commissioner Ford was unsblc
iu explain tho apparent neglect II his do
partment If nc had known before
last night s meeting. what ne was sum
fnoned tor. hc would have investigated
and could have given tie desired in
formation.
President Smith Of the Police Commis-
sion had learned just before the meeting
What It had been called for and he gave
what information he.could The police
records showed that Tpatrolman liynson
hau TFnartcd the matter ON JANUARY -
and did what he could 10 remedy it,
reporting The matter 10 the owner and the
proper authorities and following it up.
lie reported again on the 18th, when
he trouble still existed. Since then thc
remedy has bccn applied Mr.. Smith
,iidnt know why The police had not made
.sn earlier report. which considered should
have been done.
Police Commissioners Mcgear thought
IL. should have been advised of the object
of the meeting, 50 that an investigation
could have been made.
Street Commissioner pieTson said COM
alsint was made to him on January ;
and nc had referred the complainant to the
Wstcr Department. where he considered
ii belonged He said the departments ARC
Working IN harmony and he didn't know
+, hy tho matter had not been attended 10
President FlIegood Of the Board oi
Health hsdnt hesrd Of the complaint
before the meeting and he couldn't give
any information.
As only two or three members ot
Council knew the ohiecrof the meeting,
councilman Murray considered the others