The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-06
THEY TALKED ABOUT WATER
THE coUNcILMEN ENGAGE IN A
HEATED DISCUSSION OVER
DEVELOPMENT WORK
No More Money to Be Expended at
Present-Water Registrar Called
On for q Report.

| For fully one hour, and a half last
night the city council entered into a
became quite heated between Council
| men Smith and Glasford, and had not
, Mayor Hunt suggested that the sub
| ject could be ti1reshed out at a meeting
of the council as a committee of the
whole, the arguments for and against
the various plans to get water would
probably stin be going on.
The discussion was brought about
when Councilman Glasford stated that
for some time there had been much
talk among the taxpayers regarding
the development work that is being
carried on by Water Superintendent
Knight on the Harbert farm. He said
that as the people seem to be taking
so much interest in the matter, he
would demand that the water registrar
make a report of the work to the coun-
ell, giving in detail what had been done
and furnish complete statement of
how the money had been expended.
The motion was seconded by Council
man Smith, VINO said the people were
entitled to know everything about the
work, and should be given an itemized
report showing how the money had
been spent.
Kirkman Wanted Information
After the motion had been carried by
unanimous vote, Councilman Kirkman
addressed the council, taking up on
article printed in a Walla Walla week
ly paper, which made the accusation
that the development work was be-
ing carried on without the consent of
the council. Kirkman said that he de-
sired to be Informed if the statement
was true, and if it was not, he be-
lieved the council should make pub
lie denial of the accusation. He said
that when he entered the council and
was made chairman of the water COM
mittee, ne Immediately visited the
scene of operations on the Harbert
farm and made a thorough inspection
of the work being carried on. He
found that the work was being done in
a careful, conscientious and economi-
cal manner by superintendent Knight.
He presumed the work had been au-
thorized by the council, but if it had
not been, he certainly wished to inter-
pose an objection. Unless the work
is being done under the authority OF
the council said Kirkman, Il object
to spending another cent until Engi-
neer Thomson has made report of
his Investigations"
GIasford Also Wanted to Know
Councilman Glasford said that ne
also desired to know if the council
was back of the development work.
AS far as he knew the matter had
never been brought to the attention of
the council, and he was of the opinion
that the council never authorized the
work. 81 admit" said the councilman,
that Engineer Thomson was employed
by the city to investigate the water
question, but as yet he has not made
report to the council. 1t was his
duty to do So and no one should have
authorized the work until that report
had been submitted and voted on by
the entire council. In my opinion the
whole matter has been a farce, and
what money mas been paid out has
been thrown away. 1t was a cut and
dried affair of some of the members
of the council and the council as
whole had not thing to do with it."
Smith Has His Say.
The remarks of Mr. GlasfOrd brought
Council Smith to his feet and for 80
minutes he held the floor. He began
by explaining that the work was be-
ing carried on under the instructions
of Engineer Thomson, who had stated
to the council that he could not make
report on the water question until a
certain amount of development work
had been done and the result was re-
ported to him. Smith then entered
| into a general discussion Of the diff
ferent plans for securing water for the
city. He said: The plans of Engineer
Thomson were in accordance with the
opinion that I have expressed time
and time again on the water subject,
and it is the only solution of the ques-
/ ton that is before the city of Walla
| Walla today. 1t is the cheapest and
the best plan for securing an adequate
| supply of water for our growing city
and not one cent of the money that
has been expended in the development
l