The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-24
IN LIVINGSTON.
Water Works Question Arouses n Lively
Discussion.

Water Works Question Arouses n Lively
Discussion.
Special Correspondence of the Standard
Livingston, Nov. 21.-The city coun-
Gil held an adjourned meeting last
night. A full board. with the exception
of Alderman Harvey was present
After the transaction of some routine
business Alderman Nelson started the
ball rolling by moving that the coun-
Gil proceed to take up the question
OF submitting the proposition to bond
the city for 100000 to buy the water
works to vote Of the people. The
motion prevailed. Aldermen Doonan,
Robinson and Nelson voting in the af-
ftrmative and Hefferlin and Jones OPP
posing the measure ..y7.
John R. King, manager of the cleo
trio light plant, arose and asked per-
mission to address the council upon
the question. He did not believe in the
measure. He thought that the water
works system was a poor one. He
was of the opinion that the members
of the council who believed in the
measure proposed had not given the
matter sufficient thought and intimated
that he could give them few point
ers on how to do business on a large
scale. He thought the ordinance pro-
posed was poor one and did not pro-
tect the interests of the taxpayers as
he would have done If he had been
drafting the measure.
Ex-Mayor Thompson followed Mr.
King with few remarks. He said he
was not opposed to municipal owner
ship of water works. but he didn't pro-
pose to give the water company boz
nus of 100000 for it's plant. He
thought $4,000 was a good price for
the system: that 100000 was an eXor-
nj tn fn,- r fI,t
the city would wait a few years he
had no doubt that the plant could be
bought for great deal less money.
Judge Savage, city attorney, who
drafted the ordinance concerning the
water works business, replied to the
rather wild remarks INDUCED in by
Mr.. King. He stated that he had not
intended to say anything on the sub
ject of purchasing the water works
for as matter of fact he did not care
whether the purchase was made or
not, but he thought when citizens came
into the council room they should be
actuated by spirit of fairness, truth
fulness and honesty, and with desire
to assist the members of the council
and not to mislead them. The judge
said he didn't believe Mr. King had
read the ordinance, for had he done
so he could not see how he could have
made such a fragrant misstatement
concerning its provisions. Mr.. King
was evidently moved by the remarks
and repeatedly sought to interrupt the
judge, and was called to order by
Mayor Smith. Judge Savage discuss
ed the subject in a calm, clear and
logical manner. He said he was some
what conversant with the system of
water works in this city and had no
hesitancy in saying that it was good
system as there was in the state
H. 4 =
by the company. The gentleman said
that the statement made by the Post
in its last issue concerning the OK
penses and annual net profit of the
company was a fair and truthful eX-
hibit. He believed that the plant, TN
Ter municipal ownership. would not
only yield revenue sufficient to pay
the interest on the bonds, but would
yield an additional revenue of some
$4,000 a year. He regarded the pur-
chase of the water works at s1009
as paying investment and that the
bonds could all be paid in the course
of rs years with revenue derived from
the operation of the plant, without
increasing the levy of taxes for water
works purposes. Besides said the
Judge. IF the statement is true. and
have no reason to dispute it. that the
assessed valuation of city property is
constantly in the increase the present
levy of about 4 mills on the dollar
which levy this ordinance does not
propose to increase. the money collect
ed under this mill levy will annually
Increase in proportion to the increase
of taxable property consequent upon
the growth of the city, so that it is
reasonable to presume that the bonds
could be paid off in a much less time
than 20 years, while at the same time
no increase in the present rate of tax
alton for water purposes will be made"
The mayor suggested that 1t was
getting rather late and that the speak
ers would be limited to five minutes
each. A. Kreiger and others made some
few remarks and then Alderman Mel
son arose and said that those who
were friendly to the proposition of
municipal ownership had been accused
Of an attempt to railroad the mat
ter through the council. The accusa-
tion was untrue and as proof of his
assertion he would move that the ques-
ton be laid over until the next regu-