The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-21
MONEY READY TO BE USED.
It Is Claimed the New Water Con-
tract Can Be Forced Upon the City.
The Democratic Members of the Council Be.
come Supporters of the Water Company
Against the Taxpayers Interests.

The efforts of the water company to choke
ocratic Councilmen no longer turks behind soft
worded appeals. At the next meeting of the
Council the opposition to the amended contract
$40 Cor each fre-plug, with drinking-fountains
free, and a three-years' term will be clearly de-
fined by the Democratic friends of the company,
led by Sim Coy. They propose to accept moth
ing but a fve-years' contract at $50 for each fire.
plug. When the difference of opinion occurred
between the Board of Aldermen and Council
men, as to the first contract reported. the former
voting for a rate of $45 and sixteen dur
alton, and Council ~favoring a rate Of $50 and
the sam length Of time, the matter was
referred to the finance committee of the two
bodies. acting as a committee of conference.
Two weeks ago the committee met, and, al
though it was ready to come to a conclusion on
a basis satisfactory to both bodies, the water
company people asked to have a further hearing.
It was given out that General Morris and Major
Hendricks desired to make propositions which
would be. as it was represented. acceptable to
both the aldermen and councilmen.
The chairman of the committee called a meet
ing for Saturday night, Oct 2. Noperson in be.
half of the company appeared, except Mr..
Wishard, its attorney. He told the committee
that ne could not speak positively as to the
wishes of the company, but he knew General
Morris and Major Hendricks desired to be
heard. 1t was his belief that the company
would accept nothing but the terms of the old
contract, without alteration. He further init
mated that the company would not concede free
1850. / - 49, -As- L-k - 49,
matters lie would like to have the committee
hear from the officers of the company. If the
question could be deferred he was sure these
gentlemen would be present. This did not i'm
press the strongly, but in order to al
low the company a fair hearing, they agreed
to postpone further consideration for q reason
able time.
Last Saturday night the committee met again,
and for no other purpose than to hear from
General Morris and Major Hendricks. Both gem
tleEen again failed to come, but the company's
secretary was there, and went over the same
ground he had before canvassed. He made no
new suggestions, offered no new propositions,
but insisted that the company should have the
five years contract, without alteration as to the
price of plugs. He did not think the company
would accept any other terms.
The committee felt that, after all the waiting
and desire to deal fairly with the company. it
had nothing before it to warrant anything but
amending the first ordinance acted upon by
.OE - kNtG VIZ $3.50 N1NOC
years. 1t was expressed that If the city's
revenues justified it there would have been
some reason for ~favoriDg the company, but, as
the company admitted it made no money except
from the city; that it's private customers had
increased only 164 within three years, and that
the total of this class of customers, and the only
one, except the city, amounted to ] 700, out of a
population of 100, 600, the committee did not see
that 1T ought to keep up the water-works at the
expense of the tax-p yers. 'Had you treated
the CltlZ9nS with AnV show of GhAralitv " aaid
one OF the committee to the pleading secretary:
your company would not have to ask the city
to give it a five years contract. SO it can float its
credit" The company admits that it wants to
borrow money and cannot do 1t unless it has a
FIVE years. contract from the city. ut wants
the taxpayers to pay it at the rate of $32, 0C0
per year" remarked a city official, $50 it can go
into the Eastern markets and effect a loan after
Claiming that it has no other resources but the
city for profitable consumption"
The charter of the company places the maxi
mum price for each ~fre-plug at $50. 1t can ask
no more. Furthermore, the charter contem-
plates the placing of plugs at every l 900 feet,
but Council has been liberal in this way, and
stretched a point by causing ire-plugs to be put
down at every 500 feet. There are COS in the
city, and the water people get for each one $50
per year. Two-thirds of these plugs are hardly
ever opened. and, considering this, the commit
tee proposed to reduce the number of plugs in a
fve-years' contract, but this the company said
it would not accept.
Last Monday the secretary o: the company
told one or two of the city officials that he had a
plan that would go through. 1t was to charge
$50 per plug and have the term at FIVE years.
1--WE have got the Councilmen." he said, who
vote and carry this measure through Some
days ago a man connected with the company
said: There will be no trouble about a FIVE
years contract at the old price. When the time
comes. $500 is ready to be used on the Council
men," Monday evening, Sim Coy and all other
Democrats but DR.. Edenharter voted in favor of
the company by postponing action on the COM
mittee's amendment to save over Sd, 900 a year,
until the next meeting of the Council. AS this
will come the night before the election, it is not
probable that anything will be done until after
that event. The water company owns the
Democratic vote in Council.