The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-12-28
" How Blessed, Etc.
Another Open Letter on the
Water Question.
councIImen Granger. Jones and
Sanner Have Their inning.
70 he cTii.en, Or .s,ms,,of B,r,n,6 !.

LIS ASAHathdolc tclttfs octtlslOIl IcPig
to an article which appeared in the Standard
and to which Messrs ogie, Davis and Pisel
have attached their names, is the production
OF The ffst named gentleman and contains
50 much Of that which every one knows
lawyer must make use of when he has a
bad cause-sO much that is deceptive and
misleading and calculated to obscure the
real issue--ihai e too in justice 10 ourselves
feel constrained TO speak out and lay before
the people such facts as in our judgment
viii aid and assist them in reaching con-
clusion as 10 the 'true status ofthis perplex-
ing question, question OF which il is no
injustice TO say owes very many of its per-
picking features to the actions Of these three
gentlemen.
They do really admit the fact that a ma
jorily Of The voters OF the Borough bave vot-
Ell that the Borough should be bonded for
the purpose Of building water works to be
owned aad operated by the Borough This
vote having been given after there had been
a fall and ample discussion of The whole
question in every possible phase that could
be presented, must De accepted as being the
viii OF the people on the water question, and
these gentlemen are now engaged in futile
effort 10 excuse themselves for their refusal
to carry out that will so solemnly expressed
at the ballot box.
1t is also true that one John K White did
send an offer to the Council to put in water
works for Somerset for the franchise and
the payment Of twelve hundred dollars per
annum on the part Of the Borough.
We hsveRever proposed to give him this
sum, say these gentlemen. Well, since Mr.
0gle is entirely TOO modest to tell the people
how near that sum he was willing to Sc. the
figure that Mr.. White ought to have, and
which 50 far as be himself could do. be tried
20 give him. We will tell the people for him.
On the 5th Of August last Mr. Whites let
ter was laid before the Council and read.
MF. Ogle promptly drew from his pocket the
following ready cut and dried resolution
which he offered 10 the Council:
WHEREAs, an offer has been male by Jno
I X. White and others to sapply the Borough
with an ample supply Of water and full and
complete IRE protection upon the considera-
ton of the Borough granting unto said par
! ties the right Of way through the streets and
I privilege 10 put in a system Of pipes, etc,
and the annual payment by the Borough TO
said parties the sum oftwelve hundred dol
Z lars for a period Of-yeaTs.
4 Therefore be il resolved that the said priv
/ ilege IS hereby granted 10 said John X. White
and others 10 supply said water and put in
said system pipes for conducting said wa
ter through the streets Of the Birough 20
! supply the fire protection aiosssAiI al the
Z walter 10 such private consumers as tuay de-
sire 10 contract with the said John X. White
ard Others for the same aad that the sum Of
one thOusand dollars be annually paid to
the said John X. White and Others for the
I term Of 10 years, conditioned that this ac-
ton be approved by the citizens of the BOr-
I oUgh and that said approval may be had or
refused
Belt further resolved, that a special cleo
! ton be held on the day Of, 1892, az
I which The legal voters may adopt or reject
/ the provisions OF the Act Of Assembly ap-
I proved the l6ih day Of April 1879, Z. L. s.,
and lst Of May 1876 p. L. q3. and May 5,
I 1876. P. /. AZ, aud 18th ofJune, 1891. z. l..
352, By voting for water tax or against a
water tax.
Mr.. Ogie expressed the opinion that Mr..
White would accept less sum than $500
year and that one thousand dollars would
be accepted by him.
He labored earnestly with his colleagues
/ to adopt these resolutions but when the vote
was taken be alone voted for them. As Mr..
Davis and Mr. Pisel both voted against them
We have no criticism TO offer here as to their
action al this time. We leave il to you, fe,-
low citizens, to determine for yourselves
whether Mr. Og,e did or did not, on this Oc-
cssian, do his level best to help Mr. White
get one thousand dollars year for period
of IS years.
This matter was then seemingly permit
ted TO rest for the time being but on The p
OF December the specifications for the water
works were laid before the Council and real
and motion was made that the Council
| proceod % advertise for bids on the same.
Messrs- Ogle, Davis and P.sel voted agains,
this motion, We voting for il. Then Mr.
! Ogle again offered the resolution AZ already
| gwen above-the same almost word for
word "a few words are omitted that in no
wise change its scope or parpor). Il retains
the words "and that the sum Of one thons-
and dollars be annually paid to said John
X. White for the term Of Is years" The
same As when it was offered he first time
We think it needless to repeat it at length
second time but if any exception IS taken to
our not doing 50 We will yet print it.
The resolution on his, the second time OF
its being offered, was seconded by Mr.. Pi-
/ sci.
We are however ereditably informed that
| he has since declared that be would not
hsve voted fer It in that form. We are at
loss to reconcile bis action in making this
seoOnd with his aficr declarations
Just here wss made the discovery Of that
I shocking ignorance of the President Of the
Council in Parliamentary lax which these
/ gentlemea seem to take 50 much to heart
Wen. any one can see that Mr. White is
stiil u have his thousand dollars a year
from the Borough last ss well as first-nO
1 discount as yet-no desire expressed as to
letting any other fellow have chance Of
making grab at 4 snap like that.
But these gentlemen further say I'VE have
never proposed 10 give him (Whiie) this
franchise st all without your permission"
We are not 80 certain about that. There is
room for doubt as TO that
Il IS true that the first resolution docs say
that it be conditioned on the approval Of the
people. Bat there is really no provision Tor
taking their sense on this question II Mr.
/ Ogle had really desired a square vote Of lle
people on this question his resolution would
have provided for an election at which they
might have voted-for the granting of tie
water franchise 10 private corporation Tor
10 John X. White with an annual bonus Of
one thousand dollars or against it. Whist
the resolution at the tail end says abou, an
eleciiOn is a string OF an entirely different
sort, from holding an election as 10 wheth-
er this water franchise should be granted to
q private corporation or not.
Mr. Osle is seeking TO effect an entirely
different object, as We shall presently show.
Il is an absolute fact that there are only
two things that town council are required
and authorized by law to submit to the peo-
4 pie OEe is when they desire to increase
the debt beyond certain limit, and they
must witb'it state the purpose. The other
is to gain the acceptance on the part of the
voters OF the Borough Of certain laws which
aaihorizs the levying of an additional tax
to the amount Of as much as mills on the