Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-24
PASADENA READY
/. FOR WATER VOTE
BOTH SIDES SUBMIT CASE TO
THE PEOPLE
PROMINENT PEOPLE WARMEsT
cAMPAioNERs
Everybody Anxious for Municipal
Ownership, but Disagree About
the Method of Acquiring the
Various Plants

Today PaSaG2na VIII vote on tne au-
visibility of issuing bonds for acquir-
ing the water plants Of the three water
companies now doing business in the
city.
The administration has the backing
of board of trade committee which is
conducting the campaign, as well as
the realty board of Pasadena. The op-
position is composed of some of the
leading citizens of the city, who declare
they are in the fight from purely un-
selfish reasons and desire to see that
the city gets full value for whatever
money 1t votes to spend for water.
The administration campaign pTdc'
tically closed Tuesday evening, when a
mass meeting was held in the Wig
wan.
Last evening the opposition held a
committee which in spite of the threat
ening weather was largely ATTENDED
and very enthusiastic.
Former Mayor William Waterhouse
was the principal speaker of the even
ing mad said in part: "Dillon & Hub
bard advised that the city should have
an abstract of title of the property that
the city proposed to purchase, and a
binding contract from the companies to
sell. When 1 went into Office supposed
that would be able to go right ahead
and carry out the wishes Of the people,
but there was not a scratch of a pen in
the way of a. contract between the
companies and the city. When 1 went
to New York Judge Dillon told me per-
sonally that he would never approve
the bonds under the proceedings that
had been taken. The present adminis-
tration went into Office pledged to do
the same thing as I was, and criticised
me for not allowing the bonds to be
sold and the plants purchased, but they
did not do any more than I did, and
could not. Thev have called new
election at which you are to vote to-
morrow, Just as 1t was predicted long
ago would have to be done before the
city could buy the plants.
Reviews History
''You are asked to vote tomorrow to
buy plants. for acquiring water, but
nothing is said on the ballots about
the companies will not agree to furnt sh
titles.to the pipe lines, right of way or
water which are essential parts Of the
plants"
Mr.. waterhouse was followed by 3.
H. Lockwood, who reviewed the early
history of the water question and told
how the companies were organized and
were organized as purely mutual
companies and could not legally make
profits or give rebates. A rebate is
that which Is returned to the giver as
in excess of what was necessary for
the use of certain project. The re-
bates go to the stockholders while the
original money came from the water
users or the land. The stock has been
separated from the land by speculation
for profit. No man who owns stock and
does not own a proportionate amount
of land is entitled to consideration
In. the matter of a sale to the city.
II had the well put down for Mr..
Busch and 1t has forty-five inches of
water. The cost was $125. There is
no reason why the city cannot start
system of its own and go into the
water business. When 1t does you will
find that we can buy the water plants
at a reasonable figure"
lndorses Municipal Ownership
circular sent out by the committee in
which was given the affidavits of WAL
ter Wotkyns and W. 8. Wright.
THAT circular contained the affi-
davits in full of the two men and did
not suppress any facts as the other
side claimed. The two men swore that
the properties had a cash value below
the figures that have been asked the
city. Mayor Farley has said that the
assessed valuation is only from 80 to
so per cent of the cash value, but the
assessor of this city has to make the
sworn statement that the assessment
is the full cash value"
]. w. Gilman indorsed municipal
ownership OF water and when he re-
ferred to what Waterhouse had done
Tor the city the audience cheered sew
eral minutes.
Pros Make Statements
H. c. Hotaling, president Of the
council, was largely amused when
the opposition's argument that the city
is buying a lot of rotten pipe was
mentioned In his presence.
THAT talk is Ridiculous" he said.
"Phe city is not buying any rotten
pipe. nor paying for any pipe more
than engineers say it is worth at the
present time. The opposition stulti-
fies itself by bringing up an alleged
argument like that.
"The fact is" he continued. that
If politics were taken out of the fight,
the bonds would pass In a minute.
This is purely practical question, and
it is q great mistake~to open up a lot
of oldSpoIitical sores, in order to COM
plicate the matter
"All we ask is that the voters con-
slider the question squarely on it's mer-
it's, as business proposition, and there
Is no doubt 1t will carry. If the de-
velopments of the last two days point
to anything, 1t is that public sentiment
is swinging all our way. AT meet
ing of colored voters last night the
matter was thoroughly aired Many
of them were opposed to the bonds,
before the meeting, but 1 am told that
nearly all of them have now been COR
verted. 1t is the same all along the
line"
Owens River Plan
Judge Henry H. Klamroth thinks the
idea, broached by some of the oppo-
sition, that Owens river water is the
proper thing for Pasadena, is not
founded on good sense.
DO these people realize that every
one, practically from the source of the
supply to Los Angeles, and Eagle
Rock, La Crescenta, La Canada, and
now even some Pasadenans, are count
ing on this water to supply them?" he
said. with Los Angeles growing as
1T is now, 1t is my prediction that with
in five years from the time when the
water is brought to the city Les An
geles will want 1t all herself. Then
where, unless consolidation with Los
Angeles, which God forbid, has taken
place, will we be? Do we want to de-
pend on another city for our water
supply?
"We have had the opinions of the
best experts that with our present sup
ply, plus what has not yet been devel-
cped by the municipality. we would
have an ample amount of water for
many years to come, and when we take
the supply that might come front the
: -Iarrows, and that other tract owned
~. I1.. ll.,nn rnnna. nj AHl.rnf. nl..ar.a.