The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-30
THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
AND THE WATER OPINION

Discussed at Public Meeting in Acad-
envy of Music When the League
Perfected It's Organization by
Electing J. P. A. Tingley President
and w. w. Towne Secretary-Ad-
dresses by L. A. Roberts and
Reese Hughes. -.
The opinion handed down by Judge
Hulsey in the municipal water case
was plainly discussed at the meeting
of the municipal ownership league in
the Academy OF Music last night. This
means that opinions unfavorable TO the
decision We're frankly expressed by the
speakers chief among whom We're l..
A. Roberts, who is the candidate for
mayor on the third ticket and Reese
Hughes.
Besides listening to these addresses
the league transacted the business for
which the meeting was called, the per-
fecting of the organization. This was
carried out by the election of j. Z. a.
Tingley, the druggist, as president or
permanent chairman, and w. w. Towne
as secretary.
John b. Walsh was chairman of the
meeting, and after calling it to order
Reese Hughes was called to the stage
to address the assemblage. The au-
dience was not large; in fact the at
tendance was exceedingly measre, less
than 80 persons being present.
Mr.. Hughes urged u deeper interest
t,, x,.bi i1b 1,a
for it's object, the greatest good for the
greatest number. AS to the opinion OF
Judge Halsey, Mr.. Hughes expressed
the opinion that it was somewhat one
sided. 1t advocated for the consolidat-
ed people and it gave them all there
was in it. 1t riled him wonderfully, he
said. when he read it, and some people
were SO thunderstruck that it drove
them under the ground. The people are
still here, though he declared, and they
would hold all they had, come what
would He urged the league to stick
together and to carry the case to the
court of last resort to win out in the
fight against tyranny and degradation.
NIr. Roberts was also called upon by
the chair. In his opening. he reiterated
what he said at the last meeting with
reference to the attitude of the Console
dated Water company as he and his as
sociates in the municipal water fight
regarded it, In discussing the opinion
of Judge Halsey, Mr.. Roberts said he
felt it was an outrageous decision. AS
a layman he couldn't say as to it's legal
aspect, but he believed it to be the
worst opinion that could be written.
hn or {.
ure TO deal with the question of the
purity OF the supply on the West Side,
when the judge himself visited the
source Of the supply and observed the
manure that had been carted there
upon. The opinion may be honest, he
said, but it doesn't look So a belief
which was shared by the majority of
the people of Carbondale.
MI Roberts also discussed the opin-.
ion of the court as to the sacredness of
the rights of the Consolidated Water
company, taking exception to the rul-
ing by pointing out this company fore
ing the Pushbrook company out of Jer-
myn by ruinously cutting rates. II the
Consolidated company could do this
with impunity, why not the poor people
of Carbondale.
Mr. Roberts gave the assurance that
the case would be appealed to the Su-
preme court whether or not counsel ad-
vised such Il course. 1t was expected,
he said, to obtain q favorable decision
in the Supreme court. In conclusion
Mr.. Roberts urged a deeper interest in
the movement of the league, which
was to be wide in its scope, looking af-
ter the interests of the city in every
direction.
Chairman Walsh also made an ad-
dress in which he pitched into coun-
ellis, declaring that the league was go
ing to elect honest councilmen.'
The next meeting will be February
10, when John j. Hart, of Scranton,
will be the speaker.
Another point which Mr.. Roberts laid
stress on in brief talk after his first
appearance was that if Judge Halsey
was sustained according to his
own opinion Carbondale could go
ahead and condemn the Fallbrook Wat
er company's plant, purchase it and
by so doing have a water system ready
for service. This would perhaps be bet
ter even than the plan Now proposed,
namely the erection of new plant.
In the event of Judge Iialsey being re-
versed, then Carbondale could proceed
as intended when the injunction was
applied for. In either case municipal
water seems certainty.