Telegram-herald., 1890-02-26
VOTERS VOTE?
Alderman Turner Propounds the
Question, Full OF Meaning,
WHOSE WATER WORKS ARE THESE?
The Hedraalie CompAns's system simply
tue Product OF the sitaation-A Bosi.
ness view of the hstter-fhs feo-
pie VIII fes settle 81.

favor of submitting 10 a vote OF the
people, was borne by Hon. Thos.
ID. Gilbert on the one side, and by
Alderman /. NJ. Turner on the other.
Mr.. Gilbert's speech had been
previously written outand the reporters
were able 10 give very full report the
next morning. Mr.. Turner made
very able argument in favor Of allowing
the people to decide whether they
want to buy or sell, and the TELEGRAM
HERALD is pleased TO present his speech
herewith. Alderman Stein had also
spoken against allowing the people TO
vote, and In reply 10 him and Mr.. Gil
bert, Alderman Turner said:
Mr.. MAYOR-I desire 10 say a few
words at tins stage OF the discussion,
and | shall endeayor 10 be very brief.
The alderman from the First ward
says that he finds a very anomalous
situation of affairs, and he bases that
opinion, he tells TINS council, upon the
reports which have been made by the
TWO special committees. | think II the
alderman had read those two reports
carefully instead OF basing his opinion
on the communications which have
been sent TO the council from the out
side, he would not have found such an
anomalous state of affairs existing. lie
tells us he read in the report of the
first committee as the conclusion and
recommendation which they made TO
this council that sit would be probably
good policy to buy the plant Of the
T,-dr ~ ,rl,f. l'ppana,U &c ~ could lsn "a
tanned at its true value" That propo-
sition or recommendation is worded in
very cautious and careful language so
that nobody would be committed by il,
and it is undoubtedly the language of
that shrewd gentleman who has Just
addressed US. the chairman of that
special committee tMr. Gilbert. The
second committee that was appointed
to take into consideration the resolu-
tons submitted by Alderman Launiere.
have made to this council a report that
in their judgment these questions
should be submitted to the people.
FIRST, will you give this council author
ity TO sell the water works on the best
terms that can be obtained? Not as
these gentlemen would have us believe
'sell these water works TO Mr.. Crow for
body that will buy; Mr.. Crow IS not the
only man that will buy these works.
And second the precise recon-
mendation which these gentlemen
made IN the first report. "Will
YOU give the council authority to buy
the Hydraulic Company's works If they
can be bought for a fair price?'
The gentleman who has Just preceded
M a.,
filed tonight recommending the sub
mission TO the people would undoubt
edly be interesting reading If you could
look them through and sec VINO signed
them, and 1t would be interesting to
know how they were obtained. / think,
Mr.. Mayor, il would be equally inter
csting to any citizen to read the peti-
tions which were presented against sub
hitting it to the people. The language
of these petitions dodge the question
and they assume that the submission of
this question to the people means that
We would simply sell TO VI. r. Crow for
what he offers and that nothing else is
involved. 1t would be interesting TO
know who drew up those petitions. The
municipal committee Of tho Board Of
Trade have submitted to the Board of
Trade and they have transmitted to Us
certain report in which it is said that
the question now pending before the
Common Council is. "Shall the question
of the sale of the city water works by
the Common Council he submitted u a
popular vote?' This loses sight Of The
main question in the case. "Shall this
Common Council be fully authorized
TO make the best deal for the city they
can, "and" viii YOU give this Common
Council authority to buy or sell?'
That * the question proposed Tor sub
mission and not the question set forth
in the report from the Board Of Trade
which IS signed by the gentleman who
has preceded me, and il is the very
thing which be has said in his very
carefully worded language was prob
ably a good thing to 10.
The alderman from the first entirely
dodge the issue. Hc.leaves the question
which is the main question IN the case.
IN the back ground and sets up n man
OF straw to knock him down, and that
Is all there Is of the arguments which
have been advanced on the other side
Of this question. Did you ever hear
the old adage, "The wicked fec where
10 man pursueth?'' 1t Is found IN an
old book which these gentlemen are
doubtless familiar. Laughter The
chairman of tins first special committee
tells NJ here this evening that be does
not believe there j any citizen who
thinks that this question ought 70 be
submitted. VINO believes that It should
be submitted. ] am one of those cit
zens who believe that these questions
ought TO be submitted 10 the people and
believe I have got good grounds fOs
it. lie SAYS further that bis committee
reported that they "wcre satisfied that
We now control and could furnish an
abundant supply Of as good water as
We need for from ~ 10 o5 per cent. for
all the uses % which water i appl led.
leaving bat , to 10 per cent. to be other
wisc provided # Il be found necessary
i!c says that Is a position which has not
been coutrOverted. I don't suppose
ANYBODY would care % c0ntrovrrt the
fact that thev could furnish it for tho
great mass of uses for which water j
furnished. fOz the water pumped hv
the city pumps and sent through the
CITY pipes is good 70 fcTtilEe lawns
with, IT = good 20 flush sewers aith, and
good enough 70 run elevators with but
it IS not any good r. drink. oT 81 least
you can notmake the people Of This CITY
beileve e e. When You 20 and turn q
tap which supplies CITY water and see 2
ran ont Of the color and consistency ~
mix. Won can not make ANYBODY le-
leve lt i good water Whv. they won 6
even JOS the aldermen drink e unti u
has passed through a Pastour filter