Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-11-04

was to ascertain if the waterworks pro-
posed at the citizens mass meeting
were to be extended to the Capitol addi-
ton in which he was interested. He
wanted to know by the estimate of an
expert if they could be so far extended
with the bonds proposed to be voted.
Several gentlemen were seen regard
ing the petition yesterday evening. Dr.
Purman said that it was plausible. but
for one thing. It does not only suggest
4 delay of the consideration of the
waterworks question but also neglects
to set any time for the subject to be
taken up. Il believe" said the DOCTOR
I lit is a dangerous thing and taxpayers
should be on their guard. l tod Mr..
Collins that it was not unreasonable, on
the face of it, and that if it definitely
fixed a time for dispOsing of the water
works question in good faith no serious
fault could be found with it. If. on the
other hand, it was a scheme of the wa
ter company it was damnable and the
company should be given no further
consideration.
Speaking of the petition and its circu-
lators, Major J. w. Evans said: I
have not seen it or heard of it. but the
relations of Collins to Sherman are of
such nature that he cannot have the
I interests of the community at heart.
Collins is Sherman in this matter and
if the city permits him to have the di
rection of its affairs it needs a guard
ian. 1 do not think Phoenix needs a
guardian just now. General Sherman is
by far the smoOthest man that ever
operated in Arizona. but he has just
now the hardest fight he has ever had.
He will leave nothing Undone to run it.
He will make use of every financial,
social and personal influence so that it
will take a strong couEcil to resist the
pressure which will be brought tobear."
Major Evans said he had understood
that the council ha1 already agreed not
10 submit the bond proposition next
Monday night rat that plan suggest
ed by Mr.. Sherman had been formed.
A committee is to be appointed to de-
termine certain things in Connection
with waterworks. The committee will
choose an expert to determine the
value of the water company's system
and make a report. This report pre-
pared by Mr.. Sherman showing the cost
of water works, public and private,
will be calculated to stagger the COM
munity and make it imagine that it is
L
business yet.
Among the signers OF the petition
was Geo. H. y. Luhrs Mr. Luhrs said
it was presented by Mr.. Ainsworth. He
was very busy and merely glanced at
it, but meanwhile Mr.. Ainsworth eX-
planned it's object. which Mr. Luhrs I'M
derstOOd to be to ascertain the expense
of maintaining a public plant. Mr..
7 nh he in fa1 Of a
municipal system and believed that
now that the city is charging is a good
time to put it in. He did not under
stand that the object of the petition
was to effect a delay.
a gentleman who preferred that his
name be not mentioned until after next
Monday night, said: THE council
ought to be given the benefit of a pre-
sumption that it intends to be square
with the people. The councilmen have
, their own good names to guard as well
as the interests of the taxpayers and
! if they defeat the resolution to give the
taxpayers a chance to say whether
they want public waterwOrks or not a
bad construction will be put upon their
action. In the first place they have no
legal right to deny such an expression
and then there is another thing which
will have a nasty look. About S265,000
of the water company's bonds are held
by the Chemical National bank of New
York. AS is not generally known the
payment of these bonds is guaranteed
by a Los Angeles bank and it is of
supreme Importance to Mr.. Sherman
/ that their value be maintained. A
municipal system would absolutely de-
| stroy these bonds. Mr.. Sherman and
his associates could afford if necessary,
! to leave say half the value of these
( bonds in Phoenix, if necessary to pre-
vent their total destruction. Now I'M
derstand me, 1 wouldn't intimate that
! Mr.. Sherman would so recklessly eX-
/ pend money and far be it from me
to hint that a million dollars would
warp the judgment of any member of
! the council. But you know if those
three members of the council should
decide that the taxpayers are incapa-
! BILE of knowing what is good for them.
a whole lot of people would believe
and say that Sherman had got in
his work"