The age-herald., 1898-02-11
TWO WITNESSES EXAMINED
Prol. ". B. Phillips on the Quality and
 ". B. Foster on the Charges.
ADJOURNED UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON
Superintendent W. J. Milner Will Take the d-Inyestigation Will Probably Be Concluded Today-Mr. Tam
 ner Takes Hand.

The water investigation has begun anew. The special committee of the city council met yesterday afternoon and examined Prof. Phillips as to the quality of the water, and w. B. Foster as to charges made by the company.
 Today Maj. Milner, superintendent of the water works company, will be examined. The meeting was held at the council chamber There were present: Aldermen Meighan, Drennen, Mcknight and Kerr, and Mayor Evans for the city. James L. Tanner, attorney for T. H. Moton Capt. w. J. Milner, and Attorney Alex T. Lon don, as representatives of the Birmingham Water Works company. Alderman Kerr presided.
 During the session two witnesses for the defense, to use court expression, were put on the stand, Dr. w. B. Phillips, a chemist and w. B. Foster, bookkeeper for the water company. The first named tes- tified to the quality of the water, and the latter in reference to the policy of the company in regard to charges made for water service.
 During cross-examination by MT. Tan ner MT. Foster admitted that where the water was measured by meter the com pany fixed minimum charge and conSum- CTS were made to pay the excess accord
  less than the minimum charge, no rebate was allowed the consumer. He said, how ever, that often the consumer was not called upon to pay for as much water as the meter registered.
 Minority Report as Basis
 Mir. Kerr on taking the chair stated that the minority report was to be taken as the basis of the investigation and the water company be allowed to ansger the char ges therein. Attorneys on both xides announced that the arrangement was perfectly sais- factory to them.
 Dr. William B. Phillips, chemist was sworn and testified as to the character of the water He said he had made analyses of the water and the results were favora- ble. He drew the water from which the analyses were made himself, from hy- drants in different portions of the city. He considered them samples of good drinking water. pr. Phillips was cross-examined by At torney Tanner. The witness said he did no6 remember the rainfall for 1S97 He said he had lived in Birmingham for sev- eral years and had drank the water all the time He had never used a filter. He said that sometimes the water was clearer than at others and this was owing to the rainfall or the stirring of the sediment in the pipes. At the time the analyses were made the water was clearer than he had seen it.
 w. B. Foster, bookkeeper for the Water works company was then examined. He said he had been with the company for five years. They now have 4,094 hydrant attachments. MT. Foster then called over the names of several corporations, With the amount of water they consumed and the price charged. He stated that an average charge of about 5A cents thousand gal Ions was made to consumers.
 No Complaints
 ,&Ia ,iof, were under charge of MT. Motion, as agent, from which no complaints had been made about the charges for water. He said that meters were not put in unless requested, and then they were always supplied.
 Cross examination-For the First Nation al Bank building a fixed rate of $10 month was charged. If, according to the meter reading more than $l0 worth was consumed, the occupants of the building were charged the excess. When less than S10 worth was consumed, we cnarged elo No agreement to this effect was made with MT. Motion. The rates were fixed before I became connected with the com pany Complaints come In everyday about the price charged or something else Me- ters are not put In for residences unless they are boarding houses. l understand that the high pressure machine about which there has been so much talk has been removed.
 Meter Reading in Excess Redirect-In nearly every instance the meter reading is largely in excess of the quantity charged for.
 In reply to question by Alderman Drennen, MT. Foster said that they made reductions from correct bills in order to satisfy their customers.
 The committee here adjourned until this afternoon at 2:3O Major Mlner was pres ent during the session yesterday after noon and will be placed on the stand to- day The investigation will probably De concluded this afternoon.