The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-06

Bcerd of Trade water committee, replied to Major Milner, saying:
 ',That decision was several years ago and provides that both sides stand by the contract. The water works company agrees to furnish a sufficient amount of pure and wholesome water and I know there are a large number of citizens of Birmingham who will testify that the water works company Is not living up to that section of the contract"
 Major Milner then took up the insur- ance clause of the Board of Trades re- port and was on that subject when he was ruled out Of order by the president Sig Steiner then moved the adoption of the report of Major dilner in order that something might be before the house.
 w. B. Leedy arose and asked to be ai- lowed to discuss the report. He said:
 w. B. Leedy Talks.
 ''The city of Birmingham is able to float bonds to any amount at par with 4 per cent interest. and could easily do so and purchase the water works plant or build one of its own. I want to tell my experi- chce with meters. A year ago the water works company offered to allow 100 citi- zens to use meters and I rushed around to get one. I got the last, ninety-nine people having been before me. The meter was put in and the first month my water bill was three times the size 1t had been under the flat rate. I had my pipes exam ined and even tore up the ground, assisted by an employe of the water works com
  for several months the prico was two or three times what 1t had been. I called at the office of the company several times and they cut the amount down, but finally decided to live up to the contract and paid my bills. At the end of the year had the meter taken out and re- turned to the fiat rate I want to protest against the meters in residences, and be- lieve they will hurt the people of the city"
 Oliver Chalifoux Makes Statement.
 Oliver Chalifoux then arose and asked permission to state the facts of his trou- ble with the water works company sev- eral years ago. He said he had made the statement before the Board of Trade and that he wished 10 correct the state ment made through the columns of the Age-Herald yesterday morning by Major Milner. MT. Chalifoux brought out in an interview with him published several years ago in the Age-Herald in which he showed that he had been paying 6S per cent more than he ought to owing to the fact that the meter on his building was running .6S faster than 1t should. He showed a list of figures and receipts for the money he had paid the water works company and denied that he had been reimbursed for the amount which he had paid over and above which he should have paid, owing to the incorrect meter. He showed that 1t had cost him $500 in excess of the correct amount in three years. He said he had not faith in meters. and believed they would work hardship on the people of the city if they were put in the residences.
 Amendment Proposed.
 Sig Steiner then proposed an amend ment to the resolution to adopt the re- port of the committee. moving that the Commercial club pass a resolution that the city authorities of Birmingham issue pohNo anu PbiSAdSC tnc present. water works plant. The motion was ruled out of order, as the present contract does not permit the water works being bought until after the contract for thirty years is over. The motion also carried with 1t a provision for issuing bonds.
 B. Steiner then proposed that the club | adjourn until o'clock Wednesday after | noon, which was adopted.