The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-23
FREE WArER pEBArE.

MeSSrS- L. T. Hall, j. j. COrum, II.
w Lawrence. A. ]. Orem and John
question. Resolved; That the water
supply of the city should be provided
by general taxation"
l. E Hall spoke in the affirmative
and argued that such was both Justice
and for the welfare of the people. and
] quoted Governor Pin~ree as advocat-
ing that system Water should be free
CITY Creek ran free before the region
I was settled The water belongs to the
people and in the city's early history
what water system then existed was
maintained by taxation on the prop
erty- The water rate plan started as
the system became more perfect At
hrst the rates were light now they
are quite heavy. The revenue last wear
from water rates was $685. 900 and the
expense OF maintaining the system was
put Szl,O0O making a net gain TO the
city of So. 900.
j. J. Corum in the negative said the
subject was really a subject of taxa
ton and the desire was to adjust that
taxation equitably among all the peo-
pie The city owns the waterworl<s
The city laid the pines and brought
the water in and the expense of that
work was defrayed by the city and
the CITY owns the system The city
mas no right to tax parties for water
when those parties have not got he
water 1t would take IS. 600 COO to pipe
the water into the houses of all the
inhabitants. AS it is now the big
users of water paw for the water thew
get; under the proposed se-called free
water the big users would pay very lit
tie, not quarter what they pay now,
While the Door people. who use little
or no water would be paying for what
the Dig consumers use. A free street
car system would be better and more
sensible than free water so-called
Mr. Lawrence, in the affirmative.
urged that water was a necessity. like
light and air. and should not be mo-
nopolized- The city is the people. and
the people should not be deprived of
the water because they can't pay for
IL 1t is a necessity and they must
nave 1t. The streams, rivers and the
oceans are free 10 all. II is altogether
wrong for the city TO make revenue
out of necessary article. Many fam
ltes are deprived of water because
they can't raise the S. or SO a year to
pay Tor it, Water should be supplied
at bare cost; so should light. Luxuries
are the things to raise money from
taxation and municipalities should
curtall their expenses like individuals.
free water will not come this year.
but 1t should be agitated The CITY
should own the street cars, the gas
works, the electric light wOrhs and
should supply the people with these
necessities just at cost
o. j. Orem thought the only argu-
ment advanced by the other side worth
answering was that it was wrong to
charge exorbitant prices for necessi-
ties The answer was that he water
rates should be reduced to cost. Ii is
contrary 10 the genius of the epublic
70 tax people for anything they cont
get, and the property of paO Die Who
get no water should not be raxad to
pay for the water used by other reO-
pie.
Miss Hurlburd read an article N the
pace or municipalities in government,
deprecating the presence of politics in
municipal affairs. Owing TO this mu-
nlclpal government was the one failure
oI the United states system of govern
nent- Cities are worse governed in
America than anywhere else IN The
world, because the worst classes con-
-rol. and the more the population israv-
tateS TO the city, the more absolute
VII become the control of The vicious
;lasSes, because the population in cities
would exceed that of the rural districts
ind the result would be that instead
II these classes controlling the munich
)allties only, they would control the
.ntire government of the county.
JOHN STUBBS' GRIEVANCES.
John Stubs was lot an The pro-
but that made 10 difference.
As seif-styled representative of the
aDorlnS classes he wanted to raise his
-olce for free water and nOtwfthstand-
ng an evident Discrimination on the
art of the chair to recognize hun.
ohn got the floor and probably would
ave heid 1t the remainder of the even
nS II ne mad not been requested l,y J.
Corum and others to resume his
eat. John said he had been unfairly
reated in the matter Of Water He
'as called upon TO pay IS a year water
ak, but couldn't get any water until
e had fought single-handed and alone
nd finally conquered the whole city
his tongue. Pat Moran
ad deeply insulted Mr.. Stubs on one
ccasion. Moran insisted that Stubbs
admit paid anything for extending
'ater mains-that he only imagined
e had-but John said he promptly
fenced the Irishman by informing
i'm that he (Stubbs) was not nearly
} big fool as Moran.
Free water was the only salvation fer
le working men. and Mr. Hall and
is free water scheme were all right
The five minutes, the limit on
'eeches. having expired, the chair
lpped for John to sit down COrum
nd others backed the chair and John
u UOWH with the remark that they
/ objected TO him, and a wOrkingman
Id no chance anywhere.
John at the last meeting chiDoed in
hen the hat was passed, and he felt
Try sore at not being allowed to give
III expression to his pent-up feelings.
MEET THE POLICE COMMITS
SIONERS.
Mr.. Smith inquired if any steps had
zen taken with regard to a committee
ON the league meeting with the pO-
e and fire commissioners for the our-
'se of outlining some plan of cam
ign against saloons gambling md
her evils. He was informed that The
mmittees had not yet been named,
ID then the meeting at DR.. Silver's Of
e mentioned at the beginning of this
icle was arranged for.
Several new members were admitted
d each member was urged to use his
her best endeavors to obtain re-
1its of a desirable kind. and it was
reed that any member proposing a
rson for membership would be re-
ested to vouch for the character and
lcerity of the applicant. The meet
: then adjourned for two weeks.
At Ingleside.
san Francisco, April 22.-Weather