The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-14
MAJORITY REPORT ADOPTED
CONTINUING WATER CONTRACT
 PASSED BY COMMON COUNCIL.

Session Until 1;15 o'clock This Morn.
 ing-A Large Crowd of citizens Inter
 ested Spectators at the Sessions of Both
 Boards.
 The aldermen and councilmen last
 night at adjourned meetings voted to
 accept the recommendation of the ma
 jority report of the special committee
 on water contract and to adopt the so
 called continuous contract recommend
 ed in the majority report, final ac- tion being taken by the councilmen at
 1;15 this morning. The chambers at
 both sessions were crowded with inter-
 ested citizens.
 The aldermen met first and at the opening of the session considered a few
 minor matters before beginning con- sideration of the water contract mat ter
 The mayors veto of the order for lamps on the Boulevard was read and on motion of Alderman Savers was taken from the table. Mr. Savers nov ed that the order stand notwithstand- ing the veto. Alderman Wright oppos- ed overriding the veto saying that the Boulevard was not safe highway even with lightsand would probably be closed to travel anyway. Alderman Corcoran spoke in favor of passing the order saying that large number of citizens had asked for the lights. Alderman Savers referred to the recent fatal ac- cident there and urged the passage of hn nay vote was called for. The necessa- ry two-t thirds vote was not secured 17 voting for the order and 10 against it, the members voting as follows: Ayes, Messrs Adams, Brown, McGill, Corco- ran, Savers, Alling, J. J. Walsh, w. F. Walsh, Alcorn, Dickerman, Hilton, Erff, O'Keefe, Maley, Beecher Miller, Fert- man-1?.
 Nays-Messrs Wright Hosley Grue- ner, Baldwin, Donovan, Wallace, Con- way, Barnes, Foote, Morse-10
 The two reports, the majority report of the water committee favoring the adoption of the continuing contract and the minority report favoring the adop- tion of the ten year contract were then read by City Clerk Norris.
 Corporation Counsel Daggett's opinion submitted to Chairman Wright of the committee since the committee report was published was read. His opinion was to the effect that the city had no power under the present contract to regulate prices to private consumers; that the city had under that contract power to purchase the company's prop erty, but that the bond issue authorized in 1881 would now probably be made quate for the purchase and new author ity for issue of bonds to make the pur chase must be secured: that if the con- tinuing contract was executed it would eXtinguish the present contract The opinion was further an explanation of the provisions of the various clauses of the continuous contract Further the opinion was to the effect that section 13 would prevent the city from obtaining water from any other source, and that if the contract was entered into and ratified by the legislature no future act l could impair the obiga tions of the con- tract.
 After the reading of the reports and | opinion Chairman Wright of the com 1 mittee said the members must bear in mind that it takes two to make con- | tract. After a thorough consideration | and going over the matter with the | company's committee it was seen that | there were only two propositions, either one of which the company would con- sent to, proposition No 1, for ten years | and payment for city water, and prop osition No. g. for a continuous contract | and free water. He believed that the company had issued it's ultimatum in | ,,rorocifin,oe a didn't think | any member of the committee was ex actly satisfied with either proposition. He believed that the continuing con- tract was the better The other provid ed that the city should pay 1000 per year and provided no system of arbi tration of rates The continuous con- tract had been considerably modified since first proposed, for instance, the provision to save the company harmless from franchise tax was amended so not to apply to the West Haven water works or any outside of New Haven The thing that the city is to relinquish in the continuous contract is the right to purchase any time. He didn't think this a serious obligation. The city let slip the opportunity to purchase the wa ter company's property at cheaper nrice and he thought that the outlay reouired now would be too great to be practicable If the committee thought there would be a desire to purchase at an early day it would have favored keeping that provision in force. The legislature must in some way approve If this contract, An approval by the legislature of this contract would, he thought, be a recognition of the fact that the water company was paying a franchise tax and if at any time fran ,hise taxes shall be imposed by the state the water company, since already paving it, will be exempt from further .ax. and so the city will continually re- ,eive water for public purposes free. The water company had treated the suggestions fairly. As one If two alternatives he thought the con- inuous contract the better of the two presented. , Alderman J. J. Walsh moved the adoption of the majority report. Al Herman Savers seconded. Alderman Wallace moved an amendment to sub , titute the minority report for the ma i ority report. Alderman Minor second | d the amendment.