The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-19

That Would Have to Be Taken.
President scranton's Statement
Concerning the Advance in Prices.
The announcement published In yes.
terdaN's papers that President w. w.
Scranton had decided to increase the
water rates TO domestic consumers
thirtN-three ana q third per cent ar-
ter January ! next was the main topic
OF conversation all over town yester-
| day ana many and divergent We're the
views expressed.
The feasibility OF the proposition
embodied in the resolution adopted BY
the board of trade, namely. the estab-
li5hment OF Il municipal water plant
| was widely discussed and at least one
| councilman and several citizens seen
| by a Tribune man seemed to favor the
idea.
city solicitor George NJ. Watson
stated to The Tribune man that the
first step which would have to be taxi
| en- would be the passage of an ordi-
| nance by councils providing for sub
mitting to the vote of the people the
question of issuing a certain amount
| of bonds for the purpose either OF
| building and epuppng q new plant for
tn" city's use or of acquiring the pres
ent plant of the Scranton Gas and
Water company.
"DO you consider that under existing
laws and conditions the city would
have the right to bring condemnation
proceedings to acquire the plant of the
Scranton Gas and Water company?'
The Tribune man asked.
CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS.
II most certainly and un1uestionably
do replied the city solicitor. II be-
licve that if the people authorized the
issue of a sufficient amount of bonds
say $..00O,00O or s.. 500. 900, that the city
could go into court and bring condem-
nation proceedings. Court would. be-
lievc. appoint appraisers To iiN n true
and equitable value of the property to
be condemned. While the company
would. of course, raise all SORTS OF OBJ
iections, am confident that the city
could win out in the end. because she'd
have right OIL her side
1t would seem at first glance rather
Il staggering thing TO ask the property
owners to authorize the issue of two
or three million dollars worth OF bonds
but conservative men who have given
the matter study do not hesitate to say
that a sufficient profit over and above
the actual running expenses of the
plant could be realized yearly to retire
the bonds as they fall due.
Recorder w. l.. Connell. when seen
yesterday afternoon and asked for an
expression of opinion on President
Scranton's announcement and on the
feasibility of the city's acquiring the
Scranton Gas and Water company's
plant, said that he Was not prepared
just at present to say anything for
publication on the matter, but might
be little later.
II have given the water question
quite II little consideration recently"
said he. "bllt I do not feel that ] can
give expression to my views Just ut
present"
THINKS IT y BLUFF.
Councilman d. w. VAughan's comment
on President ScrantOn's notice. Its
just another case of bluf1ing without Il
thing in his hand like his announce
ment Il little while back that water for
in the future. He came down off his
high horse then all right.
Its high time that the citizens of
this city get together ana decided
whether on not they are going to be
bossed by this august gentleman
whose motto seems to be the public he
damned I most heartily approve of
the idea Of municipal water plant
question To the voters at the coming
city election. l think that public senti-
ment could he sufficiently aroused to
carry the project out. 1t will have my
hearty ANA unqualified support"
Common Councilman Luther Keller
wasn't prepared to discuss the FEAST
bility Of the municipal water plant
idea.
Il do say however" said he that
President Scranton has taken stand
that is altogether indefensiblc and um-
iustiiable and a stand that no man
who has the best interests of this city
mt heart should think for Il moment Of
taking
ANOTHER REMEDY.
There is still another remedy that
the citizens have and that is TO peti-
tion court, in case the increase be-
comes an actually, that the water
rates are unreasonable ana ask that
they be- reduced. Judge Edwards, in
his opinion in the case of Conrad
Schroeder against the scranton Gas
and Water company, pointed out that
the courts have the power in this state
10 regulate water rates in case they
are unreasonubly high An appeal
would h. We To be taken by every per-
son using water who complained that
his water rent is too high That would
be impracticablc because of the en-
pense and for the further, reason that
ii would load down the courts with
more work than it could possibly give
attention Ia,
y An appeal in the Schroeder case in
which it was decided that municipali-
ties have not the power to establish
water rates, has been taken to the su-
perior court by l. II. Burns, attorney
for the plaintiff. 1t will be argued in
January.
MIR. SCRANTON'S STATEMENT
With reference to the increase in the
water rates, President Scranton has
given out the following statement:
"Our lawyers tell us that on lhe
first OF June, 1902, We have 10 hand Il
statement of our gross receipts for the
preceding twelve months' business.
and that on the first of April, 1909,
must pay the five per cent. tax levied
thereon. We are not taking the city