The age-herald., 1901-08-10
MAYOR OPPOSES WATER SCHEDULE Against New Proposition of the
 Water Company MEET TODAY TO CONSIDER II MT. Drennen Says It Will Not Be Ac- cepted In Its Present Form.
 Some of the Objections
 Raised.
MEET TODAY ID CONSIDER II

The proposition for cheaper water rates submitted to the City Council at it's last meeting by the Birmingham Water Works Company will be considered at joint meeting of the finance, fire and wa ter committees this morning.
 Considerable opposition has already developed to the new schedule. Among those opposing the plan in its present form Is Mayor Drennen, who has taken considerable interest in the water rate question before and since his election to the head of the municipal government. Water formed one of the principal blanks in his campaign platform and the May or laughsngly remarked last night that 1t was the one which elected him to office.
 Alderman Henry Gray gave notice of his opposition while the proposition was being read to the council by Alderman Graham. Other members of the board of aldermen are said to oppose 1t.
 The meeting was called yesterday after
 
 at 11:so o'clock. Superintendent Lynn of the water company will be present to fur ther explain the proposition and answer any questions that may be asked.
 Cannot Be Considered. "The proposition Slnnot be considered by the city in It's present form." said Mayor Drennen in discussing the mat ter last night. Ut Is not at all likely that it will be accepted without changes. The citizens would not submit to it,
 There are some good features to the proposition" he continued. "I believe that the meter system Is the most fair and equitable method of fixing water charges both for the consumer and the company. I object to the clause in the proposition that for the minimum charge of a per month 1000 gallons of water shall be allowed I believe the minimum should be placed at 5000 gallons, as 1t Is in Atlanta"
 Mayor Drennen also objected to citizens | being charged extra for water used in sprinkling lawns. To substantiate his position he says that the present contract with the water company reads some | thing like this, "On and after date of this contract the prices charged for water for domestic purposes shall nexer exceed the following rates," and then nothing is said about water for sprinking purposes. q contend" said he, "as I always have that the water company has no right to charge for water for sprinkling purposes At.I. tS1 ot,.lo | Is purely for domestic purposes. Has Been a Long Fight. | The fight for cheaper water rates Is one | of long standing. The water company has | submitted several propositions, the last | one having been placed before the Board | of Aldermen some time ago. It was re- | ferred to a committee, and on account of
 the opposition 1t was never reported back
 to the Council, notwithstanding the fact
 that a resolution was gotten through
 the Commercial Club endorsing it.
 At that time Mayor Drennen opposed
 the clause placing the minimum amount | of water to be charged for at 5000 gallons. | It is placed at 4000 in the new proposition.
 Alderman Harry Jones wanted the rates l | per year. The rate Is fixed at s45 In the
 new proposition.
 | Considerable opposition was developed
 among private citizens to the clause giv-
 ing the company the right to place meters
 where 1t desires The clause reads: | Any consumer to have the right to de-
 mand meter and the water company to | have the right to set meter on any con | sumer and charge. in cases where a one
 half inch or five-eighths inch meter is
 used. a minimum monthly charge of one
 dollar, except where the charge by annual
 assessment would be less than SIP per an
 nun, in which case or cases the minimum | monthly charge shall be one-twelfth of 1 what the charge would be by annual as- l sessment according to schedule of annual | rates named in the contract.
 | Minimum Charge Clause. For the minimum charge of s1 per month | 1000 gallons of water shall be allowed, and | q proportionate amount of water shall be l allowed for other minimum monthly | charges. In case any water Is used in ex- | cess of the amount allowed by the mini mum monthly charge it shall be paid for according to the schedule of meter rates l named In the present contract. l No meter rent shall be charged in cases | where a one-half or five-eighths inch me l ter is required. In cases where a meter | larger than five-eighths inch is required, | all water used shall be charged at regular meter rates, and meter rent shall be l charged as follows:
 | Three-quarter inch meter .....$ 40 month | One-inch meter ........ .6O month