Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1959-06-18
Political Sewers?

Political Sewers!
Half million citizens depend
ent upon the Washington Sub
urban Sanitary Commission for
water and sewer service, essen
tial to their health and welfare,
should be concerned about the
reckless political game being
played by the politicos.
With a callow disregard of the
principles of good government
for which a primary campaign
was fought in Montgomery
County, the old-guard leader
ship greases the wheels of the
political machines by passing
out as political plums without
regard to qualifications for the
jobs the important positions of
managing the $3.50 million pub
lie utility upon which the sub
urban Maryland communities
depend for their health and
safety.
Nominated by the leaders and
appointed by the Governor for
political services rendered the
machines, are a retired restau-
rateur, an insurance man, a law
yer, village superintendent, a
real estate broker, and a mems
wear merchant. Not one OF the
lot is a qualified government or
business administrator, or an
engineer or technician capable
in the field. Taking office but
two weeks ago, they ran true to
form by Immediately engaging
iE a political squabble over the
craftsmanship plum, instead OF
getting on with their important
public business and selecting
the best qualified Tor the least
worst qualified, unfortunately
the present vice-chairman, real
estate broker who never should
have been appointed in the first
place owing to potential conflict
Of interest of private real estate
business with his public du-.
tiesD. The Commissioners are
responsible for management OF
a public utility spending $50 mil.
lion annually of the taxpayers
monies.
In the meantime the Commits.
sion has lost by retirement its
Chief Engineer, Harry Shaw,
who has guided its activities for
many years under the nominal
supervision of the political ap.
pointees-leaving in charge the
minor bureaucrats who auto.
cratically have so tied up new
water and sewer applications in
red tape as to substantially in.
crease the price of housing to
the public as builders have long
and loudly complained.
In the interest of good gov.
eminent, the Democrats in
Montgomery County fought
bitter primary campaign, and
then closed ranks to elect to of.
flee a fine congressman, John
Foley, a good delegation to An.
napolis, and a superior county
council electing four qualified
lawyers who have governed the
county well under the leadership
of the experienced and consci.
entious Stella Werner. They
failed, however, by a narrow
margin and by a Free Demo
craft diversion engineered by
Senator Northrop TO throw out
the old-guard political leader.
ship.
The old-gusrd machine, al.
though cracking, still holds the
margin of power and has
learned nothing. II is necessary
for those interested in good gov.
eminent still to carry on the
fight within the party. II is nee.
essary to demand and to obtain
the retirement of old boss Ward
Caddington whose backward pol.
icies continue to split the Demo.
Gratis and TO put out to pasture
his henchman in the decaying
Brooke Lee machine. Aided by a
turncoat liberal who went over
to the machine by way of the
Free Democrat diversion, the
is able to railroad to its
inner members all appointments
las in the Sanitary Commits.