Telegram-herald., 1890-02-12
Accepted aaa placed on nle.

Accept ana t.atr4 OF me-
MAyoa's OrIcF.l
GaAAD RAplBs. Mich. heb. 10. l>.'.
Gentlemen II the Couucll-In anticipation 81
a report from the special committee on wafer
works and in compliance With section one u
title four OF the charter which makes u ire
duty - the mayor 10 recommend 70 the Com
mon Council such measures as he shall deem
expedient IN the Advancement of the prosper
uy of the city. desire 10
call your attention 10 certain facts
and conditions apparently Involved In Inc
question now In the hands OF your special com
mittee relative 20 submitting 10 a vote ol the
people the following proposition:
shalt the Common Council be authorized TO
sri the wafer WOTKs.'
80 nrst thought 10 would seem right aud
proper lo submit all questions touching thc
Interests OF our citizens t. a vote OF the people.
aud under The law prior 10 the amendment oi
ls>7 10 would be sale 10 do 50 in all eases
bus that amendment permits the transient
voter who pays no taxes. has no interest Ia
common with permanent citizens. except 10
gain residence for the purpose Of voting Tor
paw. 70 come IN aud ca his vote In favor oi
selling your property and then bid the tax
payer good day. Now in anticipation OF what
may be- said by some person In the employ ol
the concern which is at the front hrst. last
and. always. IN forcing this question. viii say
right here that | introduced the bill IN the
Legislature which produced the above d
scribed result; but want you 10 understand
most cmphatically that the result was pro
duceI in the senate. after il left my care and
control. by striking from the eleventh line Of
Sec -. title lU. the words resident taxPay
erS.'
III. constitution OF the state provides that
-. h.aFh Fh.ar fslf
questions SHALL be submitted 70 vote OF the
people or not
The charter Of the city Of Grand Rapids pro
vides that the Common. Council of said city is
the proper body TO decide whether certain
questions shall bc submitted TO a vote Of the
people Of the city or not.
In either case the first step taken is the pre-
sentation of petition from the people 10 the
proper le slslatiye body 10 that effect.
The people have not been heard from in this
case, except il be the clamorng OF a certain
private corporation and its well paid agents.
who Tor the past three years have exhausted
every means within their power TO get control
Of the city water works. knowing on the one
hand that for them 10 undertake 10 compete
with the city in the business of supplying its
peorls with water, means financial ruin 10
them. and on tha other 10 become the owners
of tho citvs water plant means BONANZA well
worth ans and al time and money expended
10 accomplish their object.
ssNOt long since we found one Of the time hon
orcd ard persistent advocates OF the sale oi
our water works 20 a certain corporation,
/ launching his canoe in the River Grand al the
/ city of Jackson. with a blooming rose adorn
Ing its bow. The canoe IS slowly padded TO-
ward Lake Michigan. At intervening cities
l - q,
noble river and launched in the nearest cess
/ pool cor sink hole from whence sletter lrelchted
| with the surroundings of the writer is sent O.
/ headquarters and dished ont at the evening
4 meal OF the voters OF our city iOr the purpose
I OF beiogginE their Judgment and making 1t
possible Tor them 10 east their votes In favor
/ Of selling the cltys water works 10 this corpor
alton.
/ This same nonsensical drivel was transmit
I ted from nearly every city and village con
/ tiuguouS TO Grand river between Jackson and
Grald Rapids. either IN the interest Of the
/ dear people or the corporation. Let the pe0
/ pie decide. and after passing Judgment thereon
! II found iu the interest Of the corporation. ths
/ object is apparent We all know that there
/ arc many worthy citizens not having time &
/ give this matter careful consideration whos'
/ vote might be cast the wrong WAY after r al
/ Ing such articles.
/ Now. being of the opinion that the Submis
/ sion OF this proposition Is not demanded by
any considerable number ~ citizens. but on
! the contrary. is being forced n the interest o
! certain corporation Who are very desirous g.
/ become the owners OF the Grand Rapids wate
/ plant. And. further. being of the opinion
that 10 we could get the ear of our hest citizens
men who have given this matter careful con
1 slde~aOon in sll aspects. they would u u
/ &C. IS dangerous % the public welfare OF 0u
+ city 20 submit this question under eXiStir.
circumstance.
Section E8. of title ~. 81 The charter a.
amended in i.s-. provides that the Common
Council mag sell the present water works sys
tom. including the entire plant on the mos
favorable terms ohfaiuable provided. how
ever that before any such sale Is cousum
wA'ed the question Of such sale shall hs
authorized iy majority of the qusli1e'
+ electors OF said city voting iu their respective
ward. At any regular election. or specis
/ election called for TIE purpose of voting o.
that question.
Ian willing and do admit the rizht of ever
citizen 20 sapplg of as good and pure wste
I a. orr situation vi1 warrant. on the of3c
Z han rhrarfnifv i1frrse fbe orflion of Aid
stein ne printed in fhr TrrrGetw Hgptrn. ?
.t-rt4vrrs ar fhe owners ~ tho weta
works ant their voice or the question o
F ssfrrz their ovn property ought net % Pc a.
fssfeH Pr sra silent voters or desicnln,
seheraers many ~ whom never paid dof' ar
ar n the c'fv
Tffss question IS slhr1 -fed unfer fht pres
ertIs the criminal ara the psupe- vha ..f
ths v'.r7 o. fhe c7raf7 fail har v-sfer a.
walks NJ 10 the poass1f Offsets fhe vote 0
sav ef -rald Esr 'fs heaviest tavEsvers v nF
gentlemen perhsps thts state of affairs vI.
sair the pzrti-s wne are c.amoring z Or 81 s4f
uirtng this aaest.sa. hur assure VOC e is 81
rzh u Isl aer les- IS - uct On tas best inter
esf of aar fsV0aY'a- rsmraaHfy 80 dang
ers f'r maag reasons rf 0hifh fha read r
ulh s.r-asr aware faa II rhrh fs fh
rers srs-r sEsrf 5u -he 7arf 70 ere ~eu p
rvr~h ssrs ~ persons M thrI~ heha r-v
ri vHare fhe m re ~ re voters p, fr fr-.
oa~rese se f-r distance erf vprv forg sar
enc ~ enr pror-lrerf eltr osst.sfs i-f.rr-s
-se tazs ~ Rad beer srvrrsrnei ~ this .ae'
ren saf h.ssi1 eo rsa
NrW rrnrfan-4n .roarsrv herr rHsf -
slew sr8 gfe fsfs ~efts- frs
-s-s 1s~sfi en naf,rs voH even
ta even snaH1tf ree frasrfa fa faa ge-7
fa~ eE.srir- sirel instances
Respectfully saarslr'ss f,r ver ffr'
usa-
Fefesy.
Slayer
Ad 1rr1as n-r-s refer tt
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