Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-28
WILL1LET IT ALONE
q. A. Swanson Hints at Dropping
Water Plant Case.
SAYS HE ACTED FOR HIMSELF ONLY
Man Who Sued City of ottumWa De-
MES That He Was Backed by City
Water Supply co.-says His curios-
ity Has Been Appeased.

4
ity Has Been Appeas ed.
Il have not yet seen my attorney,
Seneca Cornell, regarding the case, but
unless there is some flaw in the decis
i ion of the supreme court in the case
in which | am plaintiff against the city
of Ottumwa, l will not ask for re-
hearing. / have learned what / want
ed to know about the matter and am
/ satisfied now. II others want to go
i further they can do it, said G. A.
Swanson yesterday In referring to the
decision handed down Saturday by the
Iowa supreme court reversing the de-
cision of Judge Sloan made in the Wa
pello county district court, and dis
solving the injunction issued in the
lower court restraining the city from
carrying out the provisions of it's con-
! tract with the Fruin-Bambrick Con-
struction Co., of st. Louis, for water
supply plant.
| Mr.. Swanson is machinist in the
Burlington round house in this city
and resides with his family on Van
Buren, avenue in the East End. Until
the water plant matter came up in OF
tumwa he had taken little or no hand
in public affairs, but when the contract
for erecting the plant was
let at a cost OF $780,.
600 he considered the amount I'M
reasonable and Immediately set about
devising a plan to prevent the carry
ing out of the agreement.
Mr.. Swansan followed in the steps
of the City Water Supply Co., and FL
ed in the district court a suit for an
| injunction to restrain the city from go
ing ahead with its contract. This was
granted by Judge Sloan and the city
appealed the case to the federal court
at Council Bluffs before Judge Smith
/ Mcpherson, whose decision was SINH
lar to that of Judge Sloan. The petit
tons claimed that If the city were to
erect waterworks system, going into
debt for the same, the city would be
mourning public debt beyond the linn
it fixed by the Iowa laws.
The judges in both the state and
federal courts viewed the question in
the. same light as did Mr.. Swanson,
and the decision in each case was
against the city. Both cases We're ap-
supreme court and the other to the
4 United States circuit court of appeals
at st. Paul The latter has not vet
been heard from.
Favors Municipal Ownership.
i Contrary to .ne general supposition,
Mr.. Swanson favors municipal owner
ship of public utilities. When asked
about this yesterday by representa-
tive of the Courier, he stated that he is
an exponent of municipal ownership
!, and that in bringing the suit against
the city it was not at all his idea to
defeat the plan toward that end, but
rather to prevent the city from incur
ring an Illegal debt and to keep from
paying as high price as $400, 900,
which he thinks unreasonable, for the
establishment Of the water works sys-
TEN.
i Not Backed by Water Company.
1 Mr.. Swanson strenuously denies that
he was backed by the City Water Sup
I ply Co., which was reported to be the
case. He added that he had not en-
ployed any attorney in the case other
than Mr.. Cornell, saying that McNett
G Tisdale, who were mentioned as be-
ing the principal attorneys for him,
We're not retained in his case. He
said, 81 brought the case myself on my
own responsibility. thought the city
was doing wrongly and / wanted to
stop 1t if could. | have had the
question which prompted me answer
ed and unless there is a flaw in the SUI.
preme court decision ] am Finished -
Judging from Mr. Swanson's re-
marks it is not probable that he will
ask for a rehearing of the case, and if
he does not and the federal court de.
cides in favor of the city nothing
short of cyclone can keep the City
, Water Supply Co. from being replaced
in the course of a year or little more
by concern owned by the city.
Banquet Promised.
Alderman E. Hoglund, when at Iowa
City in attendance at the convention OF
, the Iowa League of Municipalities a
few weeks ago, received a promise
from the mayor of Cedar Rapids which
!. he has cause to remember at this
time, The Cedar Rapids official, who
/, has been waiting anXiously for the de
cision in the Ottumwa case in order
to proceed with an electric light plant
, promised Mr.. Hoglund that the city of
| ficials of Cedar Rapids would banquet
/ the officials of Ottumwa if this city
} won in the Swanson case. 1t is now up
to Cedar Rapids.
May Mean More.
A man who is well acquainted Will
/ city affairs limited today that in CASE
the federal court follows the lead o
, the state supreme court in this mat
, ter, Ottumwa may, in the course o
time have an electric light plant
owned and controlled by the city.
/ fact that is not generally known but il
/ nevertheless true, is that in few
) months the contract between the cit,
: and the Ottumwa Traction G. Ligh
: Co., for city lighting, will expire, ant
{ it may be that rental of $500 or NOR,
! per month will be cut off by the cit,
4 ofhcials by the erection of an electri,
; lighting plant here.
r. Old People Have Their Troubles.
Mr.. Francis Little of Benton Harbor
al, ie. afr