Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-04-07
COMMUNICATED

EDITOR CAToCTIN CLARION
Our friend win Say More" Insists
upon saving nothing more. We are truly
sorry indeed that he has SO suddenly decided
to drop journalism and get mad. Perhaps
its Just as well that he did though, as orr
good people arc about weary of his light
ming rod Jokes and Arabian Nights fables.
They read nice and are truly amusing, tho
somewhat ancient.
What our people wish, are facts pertaining
to the all absorbing subject, Shall we have
Municipal Waterworks or not, If not, why
ncl." While we confidently expected to
ultimately win out in this discussion, we
never dreamed that 1t would be SO easy. We
take no especial credit upon ourselves tho,
for, having all the argument in our favor 1t
has been rather rough shedding for tie oppo-
sition. Then, We don't get mad, which is
another very strong point for us While we
do not pose as an exponent OF gospel teach
ings, right here is where we apply our
friends golden rule. c claim for ourselves
the right of personal privilege and opinion,
to think and TO do as we please regarding
the question at issue and very cheerfuly &C.
cord him the same rights and privilege; re.
srectins II EN- for what they are worth We
take no exceptions whatever to anything
that has been said bordering upon personal.
ity but exceedingly regret mis- losing his head
and dipping his pen into gall so viciously.
We do not wonder at his evading the
many questions put to him and resorting to
Joke telling. The truth hurts no one, not
withstandlng it pinches considerably at
times, We we're never heard of rs favoring
anv figure to be paid the Mechanics,own
Water Company for its plant other than
$12, 1000. the exact value placed upon 1t by
themselves. This is certainly fair if moth
ing else. Is there any sense in condemning
everybody and everything simply because
the town has been and is yet anticipating
ownership of this plant and seems disposed
TO offer for it wha. it Is worth? Docs any
fairmnded man think that this can be called
covetousness or any pretense whatever of an
attempt to ruin the investment of few midi
viduals? 1t may be true that purchase
would be an absolute impossiblity and that
some of the stock could not be pure hased by
the town tor rs much even az SEQ per share,
it might he advisable however, TO accept con
slderably less than the prospective offered
figure some Of these days; we do not wish 1t
and could no, approve it, as we insist that
they should be fully compensated for trans
fer to municipal ownership.
Our friend takes great pains to inform us
of the tax rates of several Different munich
palites but is extremely careful to say moth
ing of water rates in the same towns This
was only rusc TO draw us from the main
question, but won't work. We purpose
talking of water works and nothing elsd and
neither do we intend nterspersing our argd-
ments with jokes, We do not lay claim to
being a Napoleon of finance and while we
think of it there are others that do not know
il all, but IN this instance master OF finance
is not requisite, any school boy can very
readily figure out just how municipal water
works can be made profitable to the munic
pality, lower water rates and reduce taxa
ton at the same time.
This article is to serve as an obituary to
our friends demise as a journalist In our
next article we shal argue the point from a
different standpoint; the article will proba.
bly, be entitled "Why our bill didn't pass"
or "On the Inside at Annapolis"
] HERE TO STAY.