Telegram-herald., 1890-02-15
Carries the War Into ths Enemy's 5
Camp.
WHICR OF Is Is INCONSISTENT?
he Declines 40 Bs Placed ia that oheo1-
toas tatsgors sod Adduees the hee-
Ords a. Proc Of HIS CONSISTENCY
On Property ousilncstl0n.

the council and strenuously INSISTED
that property qualification was il
shame and and An outrage, he tells a
talsehoOd, pure and simple. can
bring witnesses 10 prove that have
always been IN favor Of proper safe
guards to municipal property, ana have
always asserted that a property quallh-
cation IN regard 10 voting on the dis
position of the financial affairs Of
municipality worked 10 harm or detri-
ment to the non-taxpaylng or transient
voter.
AS a proof that was opposed 10
striking out the clause he refers %, let
me cite the vote taken at the last ses-
son of the council at the time tie
amendments were made. Ii cap be
found IN the printed proceedings OF
lsS6-S7, page 502, and dated February
10, 1857
When the question was called that
the council approve OF the action OF the
committee OF the whole, the vote stood
rs follows:
Yeas Aldermen Brenner, Creque,
DeIiraat, Doyle, Hayward, Hunuey,
Launiere, Maris, Pantlind, Richmond,
Saunders, Stewart, Thum-l3.
Nays-Alderman STEIN.
At that time the same interested agi-
tatlOn was on foot As now, OF an out
side syndicate TO obtain possession of
our water works, and the last amend
ment proposed and adopted, was that
10 amend section 30 of title 10, OF the
charter, to provide that the council
shall have the power TO sell the city's
water works, and striking out the words
resident tax payers III the section re-
ferred to.
The alderman assertion, "that am
today fighting to insert the property
qualification INTO the charter" IS SIM
ply bOsh. ] am only fighting to ward
oil the dangers to which its striking out
subjected us to.
The alderman claim that whatever
else he may be entitled to, his position
on the water question has been consis-
tent. This Is certainly refreshing.
December >, 1889, he comes with his
name signed to a long and exhaustive
report Of special committee, winch
report was signed by every member of
that committee, and which report was
accepted and adopted 10y a unanimous
vote of the council, and, on mOt.tn of
alderman Launlcrc, 1000 copies were
ordered printed for Use of the public.
Now, what was the purpOrt Of this
report:
Briefly, then, our conclusions arc:
"First-It is not advisable to sell the
city water works to any one, on aay
basis yet presented for our considcra-
ton.
"Second-It would prola hly be good
policy to buy the plant Of the Hydraulic
Company if IT could be obtained at Its
true value.
Third We are satisfied that VIC now
control and can furnish an abundant
supply. under good pressure, aIl over
the present and future city, of a, good
water as we need, for from 90 10 o. per
cent. of all the uses TO which water j.
applied, leaving but , to 10 per cent. 90
bcotherWise provided If it shall bc found
necessary.
"Fourth-Our present plant has not
cost nearly as much rs the average OF
such works IN the country, and in no
event do We anticipate that our bonded
water debt need ever exceed sl,2oU, ,00O.
which. at or 4 per cent. would easily
hc controlled 10y the revenues, with a
certainty that in tine near future all
public water would be free, and the
rates TO citizens reduced to a mim-
num-
And here are the names: Thos. p.
Gilbert, {. G. Comstock, Julius House
man, Harvey !. lIol.i-tcc, \. j. >trb-
bins, Louis l.. Lauu.Crc, Frank 4. Rod
gers. committee.
Two short weeks aftcr-on December
l6, l,o3-thc alderman comes 90 the
front i'm the council with the following
resolutions:
frst-ltIs NOT advisable 90 sell the
wItcr-woTks 20 any one ou any basis
Yet presented for Our consideration.
>ccoud-lt would probably l'c good
policy 10 buy the plan, OF the liyorau-
lc Company + It could De 05 tanned 2t
t, true value, winch SAID report was
mously adopted h1 said Common
Come. {. therefore,
Rc..Itd. That the following propo.'-
u1u- %. suhm tied to ths c.,ctor, Of tto
clty 0t Grand Rapids at q ~p.c'a. c..c-
ton &, be- duly called for That purpose.
F.rst-~haii the Common Council he
authorized 20 bond tae C.tF for use
huuJrrd Thousand dollars for tIe par-
pose 0t exftudug and mluroF ~ tlo
ma.u au3 q -tubulng ppe- % sld ,.tt
4ua ur1vd sn aiI.talaI supply ut
wat.f. -a5 bonds t5 um lor 3 t'r. oi
noe exceed lC twenty years. al4 ~ q
atc ot interest mot exceeding psr
cent. pcr tHHu0
second ~naH thc Common Cauar.
ue autaort... 70 iunt t.c efv inl t.fe
.u.frr.Fzn nt ..rrr.... -...Y -... s.. miami "a.