The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-26
Advertiser Bureau,

Selma, May 25.
 Practically everything is in readi- ness for the second annual gathering of the Alabama State Elks Association which will convene in this city to- morrow morning. tA the gatnering there will be between two and three hundred delegates and the Selma J!odge will do its best to make the visitors stay In this city an occasion to pc long remembered. As host to the state Association the Selma lodge and iis members will spare no pains to en- certain their guests royalty and make the meeting one of the most pleasant in the history of the association
 The members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Selma Lodge were busy all or today decorating the parlors and the lodge room of the home with purple and white bunting and with large variety of palms and ferns. The con trast of the purple and white and the green of the palms and ferns gives the inside of the home an inviting charm to the already handsome home. It Is also expected that a large num- bes of ladies will accompany the dele- gates and the Ladies Auxiliary has captions for their benefit at private residences in the city. It was at flrst thought that the lady visitors would be rendered several receptions in the parolrs of the home but this plan was abandoned by the members of the Aux Hilary and 1t was decided to give en- tertainments for ths benefit of the ladies at the residences of the diner- ent members of the Auxiliary.
 The association will convene tomor- row in the lodge room at the home at about 12 o'clock The meeting will be called to order by President Jones and immediately thereafter Mayor V. B. Atkins on behalf of the City of Selma will deliver the address of welcome: Selma Lodge, No. 167, B. P. o. Elks, will then be delivered by R. H. Man gum for the lodge. The response to these addresses will very probably be After the addresses of welcome and the response the association will go into the business of the meeting and will stay in session until o'clock that night. The meeting will then ad- journ and a social will be held at which all the delegates and their la- dies are expected to be present
 The Saturday session of the associa- tion will be a short one and very It, tie business will be transacted. Af- ter the business has been disposed of the delegates will be rendered an old fashion barbecue at Lake Lanier. A special train has been secured to take the delegates to the lake where day in the woods with plenty to eat will be spent. In the afternoon special train will bring the delegates back to the city and they will then leave for doubtless prove a most pleasant and beneficial meeting.
 The Water Question.
 Mayor Atkins in his inaugural ad dress to the new city council when that body took oath of office the first Mon day night of this month, dweIt at length upon the advisability of the City of Selma purchasing or building an electric light and water plant. In a very forcible way ne pointed out to the council the benefit that would be derived by the city If such course was pursued The recommendation of Mayor Atkins was well received by the members of the council and commit tee was appointed by that body to look into the advisability of the city pur- suing such a course, which will very probable report back to the next meet ing of the city council. which will he held in June.
 At that time and for sometime past many citizens of Selma have ybeen heartily in favor of the city owning the water and lighting plant. Since then many have been converted to this way of thinking, and the number of citizens who think this way Is grow ing every day. Some are converted by what they termSoutrageous charges others for the simple reason that 1t would be better for the citizens of Sell ma if the city owned these plants. They want cheaper rates and argue that with the city owning these plants A cheaper rate could be had. It would also mean a great saving to the city and the revenue derived from them by the city would probably be enough to nav for the plants in a few years if they were run on business principle and there were no ''grafters."
 An impetus to the movement of the city owning these two important ad- iuncts was evinced in police court this morning. Sanitary Officer Smoke had sworn out warrants against seven cit izens who were charged with violating the sanitary ordinance. The malority of them appeared in court. They all had some complaint against the water Company Some had been charged, they claimed, exorbitant rate for water and the supply had been cut of, as they could noVaffOrd to pay it. An other gentleman who moved to the citv last July had had his water cut of without notice. When Officer