The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-21

"A Long Debate and Many Sugges
 tions and Propositions Considered
 Explanations by AIdermanic Member
 of the Committee-A Fig Crowd O
 Citizens Present.
 The board of aldermen last night af
 ter a long discussion of the report 0
 the water committee voted shortly be
 fore midnight by vote of 1S-11 tt
 adopt the committee recommendation
 for the acceptance of the so called con
 tinuing contract which provides sub.
 stantially that the water company shal
 furnish water to the city for public
 uses free of cost, that the company
 shall be exempted from paying a fran.
 chise tax, that there shall be a lower
 rate for water used by the habitants
 of the city, that the dividend rate or
 the stock of the company shall not be
 greater than at present, that the rates
 for water may be adjusted every five
 years, and that the city shall have the
 right to purchase the company's prop
 erty at any time if the company fails to
 fulfill its obligations under the con-
 tract.
 When the meeting opened shortly af-
 ter o'clock last night a crowd of sev- eral hundred citizens filled every avail
 able foot of standing room in the cham
 Der and in the corridors were many
 more who were unable to gain admis-
 sion to the hall.
 After some minor business had been
 transacted the committees report con-
 taining the three propositions submit . 1 ted by the water company was read by l City Clerk Norris. The report was a voluminous document and has been all 1 ready published. The reading occupied 1 just one hour. The report was signed by only three members of the commit ! tee, Counclmen Kehoe, Hosley and 1 Coyle, who constituted a majority of | the committee.
 After the report had been read a long communication from Charles Gay, chairman of the Music hall meeting, was read This favored the city pay ing a fair and honest valuation for water supplied for public uses, fair rate for water supplied to citizens to be ascertained by experts and arbtra- tion if necessary, the stock of the wa ter company to be taxed at it's market price, the right to be reserved to the city to purchase the company's proper ty at any time at price less the value of the franchise and the reservation of the right to the city to get water from other sources of supply.
 Other members of the committee ap- npirtnd fo Mtrci hoI committee stated later that this com munication was not endorsed by any member of the committee except MT Cav.
 Then communication was read from the committee appointed at the Aurora hall meeting favoring municipal owner ship and the preservation of the right of the city to purchase the Water com pany's property at any time.
 Alderman George Wallace of the Eleventh ward presented in behalf of the Trades Council the following reso- lution:
 Resolved, That the committee on water be and is hereby instructed to hold public hearings on the propositions made to them by the Water company anu liIdl Jlitll ItpOll bt ldDIGu uHlll such time as the public has had an op- portunity to be heard
 Alderman Wallace said that at the hearings held by the committee before these propositions were submitted those citizens who appeared had to fish about for something to discuss. The two pro- positions, for a thirty year contract and for a continuous contract, were sub mtted after the hearings were held. l He said that the resolution which he 1 presented was backed by 5000 citizens | who felt that they ought to be given | an opportunity to be heard on these [ other propositions. They were the ones who had to meet the bills. If the tax | payers were not to be heard how could hey form conclusions. He moved the adoption of the resolution and Alder man Moyle seconded although he said that he thought it would be dangerous to drag the discussion out further by public hearings. He did not think that either the thirty year contract or the continuous contract was desired by citi- ,ens but he seconded the resolution be- 'ause so many citizens desired to be 1eard He thought that ample oppor- unity for full discussion should be given.
 Alderman Wright offered an amend nent to the resolution to provide that he report of the committee be printed md distributed as soon as possible to he members of the common council Alderman Miller thought that in view f the fact that ii would take some ime to print the voluminous report it would not be advisable to adopt that curse. The contract propositions had een printed in the papers. If there vas a delay and the present contract vas allowed to expire before new con- ract was entered into the city would 1se the right to purchase the Water ompany's property Alderman Gerner spoke in favor Of aving the report printed. Alderman J. Walsh thought that the matter , hould not be delayed longer. Alder I Ian O'Keefe favored giving more hear z lss. This committee was appointed to ct figures from the Water company nd report back. Citizens came to the earrings and didn't know what they ere talking about since no proposi- I ons had then been made except one to $ 1ntinue the present contract He a -.l,. |. A.. AL