Arizona republican., 1901-12-16
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A special meeting of the town council was held last Saturday evening at Odd Fellows hall. In addition to the com- mon council there weae many citizens present. The meeting was called fo1' the purpose Of discuarsing the water works question. but more particularly to decide%o the validity of certain contract said to exist. with the Phoe- nix ~7structiosss scofnpany, to construcI watertwerks system for the town Of Temne a~
 present to defend the interests of George sturdevant. president of the construction. 'e'7~ii
 A -uniber of the citizens of the town and wyers were permitted to express their tiews. Councilman Brown took the hoors and -emphat1caiiy declared himself as opposed to the Sturtevant contract and made the following mo- tion: "I move that tie city council does not recognize Mi Sturdevant' 6 contract any further, and that we now proceed to get new specifications and new bids Before the motion was sec onded Mir. Millay arose. protesting that he had been invited to attend the meet ing and resent the Sturdevant side of the question. and requesting the coun- cil not tn act hastily in the matter.
 Mir. Ni'lay was allowed the floor and proceeded to recite the history of the first bond issue: the bonds being de- clared illegal by bond attorneys. so that Sturdevant could not accept them. q second contract was then drawn up. all lowing the construction company an extension of time until the bonds could be made valid. He. then recited the fnany advantages to be derived by all lowing the -Sturdevant contract to stand. It appeared that Sturtevant had all the supply houses ready to fur nish material at prices that ruled a year ago, as wen the. railroads wera ready and waiting to carry the mate rials at unusually low rates.
 Lawyer Richardson answered MT. Millay's argument. MT. Millay endeav- ored to pin him to the statement he had made a few days previous. that the Sturdevant contract was perfectly le- gal Mir. Richardson dodged the ques- tion by claiming that new light had been thrown upon the subject after his having examined the minutes of the council, a number Of which he had copied and read. His remarks shed new light upon the subject. as he brought forth many points unfamiliar to the general public -'A-
 Lawyer Goodwin in his speech per-
 
 haps brought to light the. weakest point in the Sturdevant contract. which makes-it invalid. George Sturdevants name was signed by C. A. Weeks. In the case of an individual power of at torney may be given. but with a cor poration it will not hold good.
 Mayor Knight was in favor of with holding action until the council could consult with Sturdevant. and fix up the matter amicably. Councilman Brown. however. was set in his ideas and in- sisted on the clerk reading the motion. Councilman Dimes then seconded the motion. It then, carried. .annulling th.. Sturdevant contract.
 This undoubtedly is the best way out of the uiuddle and the council is to be commended on their prompt action. The course now to be pursued is to hire ., competent engineer to draw up speci- fications in the proper manner as they should be to meet all conditions Then the council can advertise for bids and hire a man to oversee the work and see that it is done in proper manner. so that when the water works are com pleted the people will feel satisfied