The Portland daily press., 1893-02-07
He Says They Are the Very Best
Yet.
THE MAYOR is BOUND TO HAVE
WATER CONTRACT IN POLITICS. {

Lion-A1derman Josselyn Exposes eio
Bare-faced Democratic Gerrymander
of the Wards-The Board of Health
Saws the High School Building Is I'm
healthful- City Government Meeting
Where Many Things Were Considered.
The meeting of the city government
last evening was devoted largely to the
manufacture of political thunder. Since
Mayor Ingraham found that he must run
again he has been casting about for some
tissues" A year ago he came in on the
cry that he was going to shut up the
agency and do great things for the peo-
pie. Not being able to point to any full
filed promises, or any great things done
for the people, the Mayor naturally be-
gan to look around for some new noise
which he could make to commend him
self again, and make people forget the
old promises. He turned to the Port
land Water Company, against which
popular prejudice has existed on account
of its rates. Before Mayor Ingraham
came in Republican city government
had decided that the rates were too high
and had taken steps to have them lower
ed--by means of commission, which IS
now at work. This commission will,
within few months, brings it's case be-
fore Judges Foster and Peters as referees.
1t is expected that the conclusion OF this
case will result in substantial reduc-
ton of the rates of the individual water
takers.
In his search for campaign thunder
Mayor Ingraham found that the city had
contract with the Portland Water Com
pany whereby the city agreed to pay
$4,000 yearly for certain water supplies.
The city also specified in this contract
that the Water Company should be as
sessed at certain rate of taxation. y
Mayer Ingraham thought he saw in
this $4,000 which the city was paying to
the Water Company chance to play on
the prejudice against the company, and
reap part of the credit which belonged
rather to his predecessors. So he came
forward with scheme to stop the pay
ment and break the contract. This
scheme was brought forward with great
blowing of horns, and heralded as agreat
stroke for the people.
The Water Company, which did not
seem to care greatly about the annual
$4,000 which the city pays as compared
with the many thousands of revenue
which the work of the commission is
likely to take away. appeared anxious to
have the matter settled at once, and pro-
posed that the validity of the contract
with the city be referred to the Law
Court, all payments under the contract
to be suspended pending the decision.
The Mayor and Aldermen agreed to
this, and except that the Common Coun-
Gil sent the offer to the committee on
judicial affairs, the incident seemed ter
minated. The Mayor had not made any
campaign thunder.
3 Meanwhile the payment Of the $4,000
was suspended, and the Democratic city
government put that sum into the street
department where it was much needed.
There was also suspended $4,000 in
taxes which were due from the Water
Company, and which came under the
terms of the same contract.
As Was discovered afterwards neither
the Mayor nor Auditor Deake discovered
this when they joyfully tucked away the
$4,000. They discovered it only when
a representative of the Water Company
called on the Mayor to suggest that as
the question in dispute had been referred
amicably to the court the city and COM
pany might waive the clause about sus-
pension of payments.
The Mayor didn't see it that way at
all.
The representative of the Water Com
pany suggested that his company owed
the city $4,000 for taxes.
This was the first news the Mayor had
received that in holding back the $4,000
from the Water Company he was holding
back $4,000 from the city; and it COM
pletely dumfounded him.
He called for the Auditor, and the
Auditor also was dumfounded.
1t is said that then the Mayor began to
walk the floor in what would be called
rage in one not a statesman. He is credit
ed with various forcible explosives like
"Abominable, Outrageous, etc., and
many and various gestures of disgust.
In the course of several days the Mayor
cooled off, and decided to carry forward
his plan to make more campaign thunder
by twisting the tail of the Water Com
PAW lion.
Last evening the following report came
in from the committee on judicial pro-
ceedings and claims:
The Joint standing committee on judicial pro-
ceedings and claims to whom was referred the
order Of January End, last, with the commun
cation of the Portland Water Company of Same
date, proposing reference of the contract of
September Oath, 1870, has given said company
hearing.
1t appears that the conditions imposed by the
water company involve a suspension of further
payments of all taxes due the city, that Of 1892.
amounting TO S12 600 being yet unpaid. uniil