The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-13
DRENNEN'S WATER
 RECORD CENSURED
T. H. MOTION WRITES 4 CARD CHARGING THAT THE MAYORS POSITION HAS BEEN VAciLLAT. ING AND NOTHING DONE.
Communicated

If annears from what I see in yester- days paper that MT. C. s. Simmons manager for MT. Drennen, thinks the waterworks question the winning cara for MT. Drennen.
 I am unwilling for MT. Drennen to noat into office again on Birmingham water; 1t is well known that his record on this question is the one thing that brought him forth as a conspicuous candidate for mayor four years ago. It Is also a ract that I assisted MT. Drennen in making out a strong case against the water works company as to the violation or It's contract with the city of Birmingham. When MT. Drennen, as an alderman, took up the fight in the city council against the waterworks company, he conferred frequently with me on the subject, and in order to establish the fact that the waterworks company had violated it's contract, I employed counsel (Messrs. Denson & Tanner) and was present with my attorneys at each meeting of the special committee appointed to investi- gate the water question. As a result Of this investigation, the city. council unani- mously adopted a resolution to the effect that the waterworks company had vio- lated It's contract by establishing arbi- trary rates, and also in the matter of quality and quantity of water. At the same time that this resolution was adopt ed, the city attorney and two members of the board of aldermen Qawyers) were instructed to institute legal proceedings to annul the contract. Shortly after this MT. Drennen was elected mayor, but so far as any further action by him as to the prosecution of the case, have never seen or heard.
 About a year after MT. Drennen was inducted into office he told me that he had not lost sight of this great question, but that he recognized the fact that he had only minority of the council in sympathy with him; that as soon as he felt that the council would back him in his efforts he would vigorously handle the waterworks question.
 It would seem from some things which have occurred in the city council, that afterwards the mayor and a majority of the council were in perfect harmony, but the time for MT. Drennen to proceed with his vigorous prosecution seems not to have come, until the approach of another election.
 l would not have it understood that I am in favor of the renewal of the fight against the water works company, but I am not satisfied for MT. Drennen to take unto himself credit for what has been done in the improvements made and to be made as to the water supply. No one  knew better than he of the continued violation of the contract; no one knew better than he that the water works com pany continued to furnish water which was impure: no one knew better than he that the water works company continued the use of about twenty-five dwelling houses, with as many families occupying them, just above the dam on Cahaba river, and that at this same place they maintained a horse lot and wash houses, which drained immediately into the river very near where the water is pumped into Birmingham. It would seem that it was his duty, as mayor of this city, to take such steps as would improve conditions, but an investigation will show that MT. Drennen did nothing upon the subject un- til the sanitary commission took hold of it.
 It Is true that the city council when requested by the sanitary commission and the medical association, impelled by public sentiment, did make demands upon