The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-26

ownership O. water works, beg to advise you as follows:
 That l drew up a bill which l thought would reasonabl, accomplish the object desired, and it was introduced in the house by Mr l.. J. Haley as house bill 543. 1 then appeared before the house committee in regard to the matter, where Mr E. K Campbell of Birmingham rep resenting the Water Works company, ap- peared in opposition to it. Upon reference to a subcommittee, the matter was thor oughly gone into and was reported favor ably by the subcommittee to the whole committee, with an amendment suggest ed by MT. Campbell, which was not ma terial from our standpoint and which was satisfactory to me
 Mr. Campbell then stated for the Wa ter Works company that if the bill was passed in that shape, they would with draw their opposition. The bill was then rgeularly reported and passed by the house, went to the senate. and referred to the judiciary committee. Before the bill was heard in the senate committee it became necessary for me to leave Montgomery, and 1 did not get back be- fore the adjournment for the recess. Dur ing the recess, if you remember, your committee requested Senator Miller to ap- pear before it, he being on the Judiciary committee. He made suggestions for changes which he thought should be made, and if you remember, stated that he did not know at that time whether he could favor the supply by cities to consumers in other municipalities outside of the limits of the city supplying. | drafted amendments to suit the changes suggested by Senator Miller, and had one or two interviews with him about the matter. None of the amendments sug- gested by him at that time were ma terial to our view, except the one 6n- tatively suggested in regard to the sup pl,- outside of the city limits, and the more it seemed that he was opposed to it. Some of the amendments were dis tinct improvements on the bill.
 The matter then continued In this con- dition, no definite expression being had from Senator Miller, until the legisla- ture reconvened. When the legislature reconvened, I appeared before the judic- iary committee of the senate, asking for a hearing on the bill, in the meantime notifying Mir. Campbell that amendments were suggested to the bill and that it probably would not pass in the condi- tion in which he had agreed to it. The several meetins of this committee were had before we could get the matter called up, but finally there was meeting and arguments were had, pro and con, myself appearing for one side and MT. Campbell for the other. The chairman of the com mittee then stated that they would give the matter consideration and would take action upon it. l do not know what ac tion was then had in the committee. eX- cept l was informed that Senator Miller had been delegated to draft a substi- tute. Several of the members of the committee, however, had expressed them slves as being against allowing the city of Birmingham to condemn the present water works system, or to supply water to consumers. outside of the city limits, including municipalities. I went to Sen ator Miller's room during the prepara- tion of the substitute, and the subst- ute prepared by him and reported back to the Judiciary committee did not per init the city to supply water to consumers outside of the city limits or to condemn any part of the present water works sys- tenn until such time as the contracts of the present company for the supply of water outside the city of Birmingham ex- pred
 The bill in that shape was then re- ported to the senate and put upon the calendar. This was in the closing days of the legislature. I requested Sena- tor Overton, who had favored the bill from the start. and who was on the Judiciary committee and the rules com mittee as well, to see If 1t was possi- ble to get the bill made special order,