The Political War Over the Board of Public Works

The judiciary committee of the house of delegates met the commissioners of the board of public works yesterday to confer on resolutions introduced earlier in the week. Major Rinehart, Heilbron, and Cochran attended for the board, alongside Corporation Counsel Donworth. The committee sought to determine the necessity of an ordinance that would shift control over the board's functions. Mr. Heilbron defended the board’s independence, noting it was established as a co-ordinate branch of city government, similar to the fire or police departments, and designed to function non-politically. He argued that board members, who manage city purchasing and infrastructure, must balance diverse duties that extend beyond office hours, and that the charter mandated the appointment of subordinate officials to handle specific technical roles. Corporation Counsel Donworth, while having drafted the resolutions, characterized the move as 'unwise and inexpedient,' warning that any attempt to force the board into political alignment would be viewed as a partisan maneuver. He concluded that the board had served the city faithfully and that the proposed changes would likely prove inoperative and detrimental to civic stability.