The age-herald., 1898-07-09
heSSrC. Altman and Kerr Will Assist
 City Attorney Love.
CITY WILL BEAR ALL EXPENSES
Meeting of Special Committee and Counsel Held Last Night in Col. Altmar's Office Statement in Reference tc Pay
 ment of Water Rent.

That the city solons propose to stand by their guns in the present water tight is evidenced by the action taken yesterday at a special meeting of the city council. The meeting was called to order at noon with the following members of the board pres ent: Mayor Evans, Aldermen Ashford, Rainbow, Kerr, Mcknight, Drennen, Alt man, Hamiiton Gray and Henuschel.
 Mayor Evans stated that he had calied the board together for the purpose of talk ing action in regard to the enforcement of the new water schedule adopted by the board.
 Alderman Altman, chairman of the judi ciary committee, was recognized and moved that the board go into executive session, which was carried.
 TEe Resolutions
 The council chamber was then cleared of all outsiders, and after a spirited session the following resolution, which had been adopted was given out for publication:
 Resolved by the board of mayor and aldermen of Birmingham, That the city of Birmingham assume the expense of the necessary litigation. civil and criminal. to enforce the ordinances passed on the - day of June, 1898, and - day of July, 1s9S in reference to the Birmingham Water Works company.
 Resolved second, That a committee of three, consisting of Aldermen Mel Dremen, H. Hentschel and T. T. Ashford, is ap- pointed whose duty it shall be to see that civil and criminal proceedings be taken, as it may be necessary in the opinion of the city attorney. to sustain the resolutions and ordinances hereinbefore referred to.
 Resolved, third, That the c1ty attorney be authorized to employ such assistance as he may deem necessary.
 To Begin Action at Once
 A resolution was also adopted employing Mes5rs. Altman and Kerr to assist City Attorney Lowe in any legal proceedings that might be taken.
 It was decided to begin action at once, and notice was given that meeting of the special committee and the city attorney and his assistants would be held at the office of Colonel Altman at D. m. to formulate the plan of action to be adopted.
 On account of illness City Attorney Lowe was unable to be present at the meeting last night but Messrs. Altman and Kerr, his assistanhs, and Me'ssrs. Drennen and Hertschel of the special committee were present and the question was thoroughly discussed.
 The committee had nothing to give out for publication, although it is probable that some line of action has been adopted.
 A Safe Course to Pursue
 In reply to the question, "What shall the people do about paying for water?" the reporter was handed the following statement the sense of the meeting
 "We do not feel that 1t is our duty to give advice in the matter and do not do so, but we think a safe course to pursue would be to tender the company the amount due according to the new schedule of rates. If the amount is not accepted then there can be refusal to pay or a payment under protest, according to the old rates
 'fIf a payment is made under protest it would probably be the safe course for such payment to be made only after the water is actually cut off there is direct threat by the company to cut off the water"
 Although nothing given out regard ing the course to be pursued it is probable that test case will be made by some citizen whose water is cut off for refusal to pay the old rate. the city bearing the expense of the litigation.
 The officers of the water company have manifested a desire to settle the matter without litigation, but say that they will resist the enforcement of the new schedule which they claim would be ruinous to the company.