Arizona republican., 1902-08-07

It was pretty well settled last night that the people of Phoenix do not want an extension of the Phoenix Water company's franchise. It was also pret- ty we'll demonstrated that the people do not at present feel kindly toward two members cf the city council, but that they are exceedingly grateful to the other three.
 All these were impressions that one could not help gathering at the mass meeting at the courthouse last night called by the board of trade on the motion of MT. J. C. Adams and others for a discussion of the proposed ordinance granting the water company an extension of its franchise for fifty years and under certain conditions for seventy-five years.
 The district court room was packed. The crowd was made up of the tax payers, including the leading business and professional men of the city. The meeting was called to order by H. l. Latham of the board of trade. and Df. Ford was made chairman. In the course of a brief address he said that he understood that the meeting had been called to consider an attempt by the water company to fasten itself upon the people for a long period. He hoped that this consideration would not be unnecessarily attended by personal ob- servatiCns, but that the subject De handled in q businesslike way. C. H Davidson was made secretary of the meeting.
 Eugene Brady O'Nein took the floor, and it was not long before the audience had an inkling of what was going to 4 hoT mored that there was an effort by ccr- tain members of the city council tc deliver the city bound hand and floor to the Phoenix Water company. He would not yet make a charge, hut th- runner involved Councilman N. 4. San ders and it was generally understood that he was particeps criminis. The speaker said disclosures had been made to him by Councilman James Shott. who was present and would himself in form the meeting of the attitude of the various members of the council toward the franchise. MT. O'Neill said that he would not discuss the franchise except to say in a general way that it was rotten. and that he believed that on June ? of this year MT Shott had been the savior of the city. Then, turning to Councilman Sanders (the speaker hay ing warmed to his work by this time). he accused him of having attempted to betray the town into the hands ot M. H. Sherman.
 MT. O'Neill introduced Mir Sh0tt, who proceeded to relate the history Of events which have been much talked about within the last two months. He said that on June he first heard of the franchise. MT. Sanders called his at l,,, to go to the offices of Millay & Christy and L. H. Chalmers and look over the ordinance that it could be voted upon that night. He did not go, he said, because he was too busy. The attorneys telephoned him to come. and later he received q telephone messa ge from MT. Sanders asking him to go. He still did net have time and then MT. Sanders asked him to come to the council meeting early that he might look over the document. MT. Shott ex- plained that the reason he had not gon.- to see the attorneys was that they were lawyers for the water company. and as councilman he wanted to get his legal advice from some other source
 He went to the meeting early and found the attorneys there. Mr. San ders was also there. The councilman LOOK nm Into another room and tOlt, him to look over the ordinance and let him know at once if he would support it. All this time MT. Shott said the doors of the council chamber were locked and remained locked until d large crowd had gathered and clamoreG for admittance. Mr. Shott said that in the brief time he had to examine the ordinance he found several things he did not like and declined to vote on i, that night. It came up again at the July meeting of the council. In th5 meantime MT. Millay for the water com pany had been very active, and Onc5 seeing Messrs Dunlap and Shott to- gether he said to them: If you folks don't pass this franchise you will mis. the best thing the city ever had This reveIa tion by MT. Shott was greetet with shrieks of merriment. The coun- ciIman said that up to this time he hat never been allowed to have copy o the ordinance that he could call hi: own or have for leisurely investiGa ton Finally Mir Millay provided him with CODY. but q day or two later cami around after it. saying that it was tn, only one extant and he wanted to hay. some copies made of it. MT. Shott re fused to give it up. He closed his mar ration by saying that if he had beer misled into voting for the ordinance oI the night of June ? it would hav' passed and that if Mayor Talbot ol MT Dunlap could have been prevailed