Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-12-11

| pdStS Ill tue COuS TeSSlOudl IteCOfu.
The Mayor contended that the Coun-
Gil could look out for serious competi.
ton with the old Water company next
year, because Mr.. Sprigg had found a
new well and that some system of as.
sessment, more equal than the present
one should be adopted. He recon
mended that houses should be listed
according to number of rooms, and not
by number of persons, and that the
property owner should he charged &C
cordingly, whether water is used or
not.
Mr.. Shuckhart thought that Council
could not set the price low enough to
compete with the old Water company,
and if water rents were not sufficient
tax up the deficiency to the property
owners.
Mr.. Nickel became deeply serious at
this point and commended that these
matters ought to be disposed of with
out attacking any institution or class.
The hotel,' said he, ''has nothing to
do with this question. The Mayor has
said that the hotel uses as much or
more water than 40 families. How do
we know that9 That is matter of
calculation, and not one of assertion.
We are told about hotel bath tubs
that | admit, but these tubs are only
used IN proportion to the number of
guests entertained. | would like to
see Il system by which the poor people
could have bath tubs also, but | do
not believe it necessary to drive the
hotel from our town system to do so.
There should be allowances aud con-
cessions all round"
The Mayor thought that he had been
misunderstood, and said that he was
making no attack upon anyone, but
that he did feel the hotel management
had acted in bad faith by dealing with
the old company after the town had
given it such low rate. He contend
ed that his only wish was to treat
everybody upon equal terms.
Mr.. Nickel declared that it was i'm
possible to treat everybody equal ac-
cording to number of persons, because
there were conditions and circum-
stances that must govern particular
cases.
The Mayor said he did not want to
fight anybody, but was contending for
d more equitable system.
The Forum man, from DR.. Griffith's
problem could be solved by the town
buying out the old water works.
The Mayor responded by saying
that repeated attempts in that dlrec
ton had been made and that the old
company gave the town authorities the
''horse laugh every time.
And then there was in the neighbour
hood of the doctors chair a thud that
was dull.
Mr.. Nickel said that if the town was
in a hole on the water question, which
thus far had not been shown, let there
be Il REIMBURSEMENT of rates and good
management. He did not think, how
ever, that now was the time to draw the
lines tightly.
Mr.. Shuckhart said that he believed
the people understood the situation.
If the town water service did not pay
they expected an extra tax would fol
low.
The Mayor contended that under
the present system those who were
patriotic enough to take the city water
at high rate would still have to paw
an additional sum in the way of extra
taxation, a condition he thoug ht ought
not to exist, and that it was the duty
of the Council to devise some plan by
which these burdens are placed where
they belong.
Mr.. Nickel promptly responded that,
while he was not taking the town water
he would promptly pay his assessment
for do finlanav md no vvD,,1l fl.,
town $lo now on account. am will
ing to pay my part extra to sustain
low water rent. But, remember, if
you take the cheap rate of water from
the poor men. you must not complain
if they go where they please.
Councilman johnson then moved to
withdraw the 20 per cent. increase
heretofore ordered on water rent.
The Mayor suggested that the Coun-
Gil had better go slow in matters of
rates, and Mr.. Johnson motion failed
for want of second.
Mr.. Nickel thought that the Mayor
was unnecessarily agitated, and that
the Council could deal with the matter.
Said he, when the Mayor had re-
funding proposition in mind he came
IL hSio WIN q 'Jpo-"iltleu StdIeueut
as to details, but in this case he only
tells us that something must be done.
The Mayor should have brought in
some direct proposition, as he did in
the bond and other matters"
The water question was finally
dropped without action, and
Mr.. johnson moved that the Coun-
ell buy the night policeman a regula-
ton overcoat, and with modification.
upon the suggestion of Mr.. Nickel,
that an appropriation of SIS be made,
same as in the case of the Balliff, the
motion, carried.
The amount of appropriations so
greatly exceeded the revenues that
Mr.. Nickel called attention of Council
to the matter.
The Bailiff, of course, came in for a
share of criticism for not collecting
more closely, and finally
ID. ID. Price moved that the Mayor
and Clerk be authorized to borrow
what money was necessary to pay the
bills against the town in the event the
Bailiff's collections are not sufficient.
Adjourned.