Evening journal., 1904-05-24
MAYOR BIRD
To THE RESCUE
Through His Influence Water
Commission Decides to
Aid Council
CITY WILL GET OVER $4,000
Money Will be Used to Take Care
of Bonds and Interest That Will Soon
Fall Due-Tax Rate Will Not Be
Increased.

The tax rate Will not pe lhSiVo.0" ''i''
year. To Mayor Charles d. Bird and the
water Commission is due all the credit
for bringing about this state of affairs
The Water Commissioners, influenced In
their decision by Mayor Bird agreed at
aheir regular meeting yesterday afternoon
10 pay over to City Council the sum ot
S42. 950 al the end Of the present fiscal year
and thereby provide for the redemption Of
water bonds that will soon fall due.
This decision was reached after leng-
thy argument, and after hearing the
opinion OF city Solicitor Harman, who
presented figures from the city auditor
showing just what the Indebtedness was.
The motion was made by Mr.. Lindsay
but Mr.. Garrett offered an amendment
whereby the water board would notify
city Council that it would turn over at
the end Of the year whatever surplus there
might be as he did not want to make any
promises He said the members did not
know whether or not they would be abe
no fulfill them. His amendment was not
accepted. and Mr. Idndsay's original mo-
tion was carried.
Harman Gives Opinion.
CITY solicitor Robert G. Harman. who
Was present AT lIlt llNtAllAHf scAAA AAt HAA1NNA
to Mr.. Lindsay, who wanted to know If
the bonds in the sinking fund of the city
were water bonds after they had been put
there, they were Unfortunately termed
city bonds but after an they are bonds
for water debt and the water department
should pay them. He said that under the
express Specifications, there was no law
that could compel the board to pay any
6hing as they were not bound TO have any
surplus at the end OF the year. Mr. Har-
man gaid he would not hesitate mo-
ment to pay the bonds. lie felt as long as
IL was water debt the water board
should pay it. He then read the law on the
subject provided when the board was
first created. 1t stated plainly that all sur
plus of the water department should be
used in paying off the bonded indebted
ness of that department In 1889 the law
was changed and made to read that the
board should pay, with the surplus "a.
the end Of each year. all the water bond;
first. and then If there was any money
left it should be devoted to defraying The
other expenses Of the city.
Should Help the City.
Pres ~ Ford held that the water de-
partment. being one of the corporations
of the city, had a right to help pay the
general indebtedness. The board had th'
money over and above their actual needi
and the bonds should be paid. The figures
20 show the total bonded indebtedness o
the city coming due next year were thei
presented. The total amount is S55,S5o. o
this sum there are S33. 459 water bonds II
the sinking fund, and $500 not In tn
sinking fund. This makes the total valu
of water bonds $42.95O The other bond
of the city are SsiOO in the sinking fun
and $500 out of the fund, making tn
total stated above.
Wants Or. Robin to Make Tests.
Baldwin Springer. deputy city solicitor
was before the board and asked the mem
bers if they would allow their chemis
Dr. Robin, to make anaysis for the cit
when it was necessary. He said that
prosecuting cases in City Court dt wa
often necessary TO have the analysis mad
and II cost the city five dollars every tim
It had TO be done. He thought the boar
should allow Dr. Robin to do the work fc
nothing as such analysis would not hay
20 be made more than once or twice
year. The members of the board were nc
everse TO allowing the chemist to do III
work. but DR.. Robin strongly objected
assuming any more work than he now Ia
20 do. lie told the board he was doin
all he possibly cou,d at present and franl
iy stated that he did not think he shoul
be asked to do any more work withol
pay.