The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-22
JONES AND COOPER
 BEFORE M. l. LEAGUE
Both Express Sentiments on
 WaterwOrks Ownership
MASS MEETING LAST NIGHT
Other Candidate for City Offices Send Letters and Resolutions Call for Conference with North
 Birmingham Citizens.

T am and have all the time been for an honest, businesslike municipal ownership proposition Harry Jones.
 'I advocate the submission to the voters of Birmingham for their determination whether or not the bonds of the city shall he issued to build waterworks plant".- B. H. Cooper.
 The candidates for president of the City Council announced themselves emphati. oally last night before the mass meeting held in the Commercial club, both of them stating that they would do anything Tn their power to further the cause. In fact, all the candidates were present, either in person or by letter. and the whole meeting was occupied by signing up' with the M. O. team.
 Dr. o. r. Dozier was called upon to make a statement by Chairman J. D. Col l ms, who presided. Dr. Doaier impressed upon his hearers the need of improvements m conditions. Captain O Brien reiterated his statement of last week, and was fol- lowed by Harry Jones, who declared that when Drennen was elected mayor on the municipal ownership platform that he was one of the committee which went to Mont- gomery and secured the passage of the hrst bill He said that he understood It was no political meeting, so he only read letter which he had prepared. Here 1t is:
 Harry Jones' Letter. Birmingham, Ala, July 21 1908. To the Municipal Ownership League: Gentlemen: The question of municipal ownership is one of greatest importance to the people. If it is to be of benefit, 1t should. be safeguarded against any possi- ble mixing with cheap politics. If we can have municipal ownership under the ad- ministration of a commission of honest and capable men, like the Jefferson Sewer commission, 1t will be a great success. If it is to be controlled by the politics of the city, it will be a failure. Let's all get to- gether and have some well defined propo- stion to discuss and after thorough anu business-lke investigation of the whore matter, from the ground up, adopt sure enough feasible plan and then push 1t to successful conclusion Get together on q sound and fair basis, and cut out all this theorizing. Let's have municipal owner ship for the benefit of the people. l am and have been all the time for an honest, business like municipal ownership proposi- tlon. Yours truly, HARRY JONES.
 Cooper Makes Statement.
 B. H. Cooper said: "The question is not a new one. I have been contending for it ever since l have been on the board" He then read this statement:
 After q thorough investigation of the conditions Tn this district 1 became con vinced that if there is anything which might tend to hinder Birmingham in her progress it is the conditions existing with reference to obtaining water in ample quantities, good in quality and cheap In price, both for private consumers anu in- dustrial plants.
 From engineers reports 1t appears that the capacity of the present company is limited. I am satisfied that the prices charged by this company are unneces- sarily high, and that in their dealings with the public they are arbitrary, un- reasonable and grasping.
 T therefore favor municipal ownership of water works in the city of Birmins- ham.
 Joint committees with which I had the honor to act have had a preliminary sur vey made which shows that 1t is feasible to bring water by gravity from Warrior river to Birmingham, so that municipal ownership in Birmingham is possible
 q advocate the submission. to the vot- CTS of Birmingham for their determina- tion by ballot the question as to whether ar not bonds of the city of Birmingham shall be issued for the purpose of building water works plant.
 q do not believe in confscating the plant of the water works company put if it should be necessary to acquire their property I believe that they should be paid reasonable compensation for It.
 .sIf the voters in Birmingham shall vote in favor of the bond issue for the pur- pose of building water works plant I favor the immediate issue and sale of sufficient number of bonds to have per manent survey made by careful experts, reporting the exact location and cost or the municipal plant, and in case thelr re- mort shows the building of the plant IS reasonably feasible, the issue ef sur ncient number of these bonds to nulid the plant, and that the city proceed to build the same. . ,,
 "In addition to this I believe that all other reasonable methods should be adonted to hasten and insure municipal ownership of water works in the city or Rirmingham If I am elected president of the council I will advocate munlclpal ownership of water works by the clty or Birmingham in every legitimate and talr way that I can"
 Text of Resolution.
 Letters were then read, or speeches made by nearly every candidate TOT ai- derman. Before closing this resoiutlon was passed
 "Whereas, The water question has been the cause of great doubt and anxiety to the people of our city; and
 "Whereas, The Municipal ownershlp league feels that this question should De solved so as to insure for the people and manufacturers of this city a supply of water of the best quality possible, Tn quantity to meet our growing requlre- ,nents, and at a cost to the people as low as possible and in keeping with other cities
 "whereas, North Birmingham has plan, they claim, will settle tnis mat ter, be it .,;.
 "Resolved That the president or this league request five competent engineers to meat IT H. Friel and others repre- senting North Birmingham and go over this purpose fully and report their hna- ings' TT
 This committee was appointed T. H. Aldrich, member American Association or n ,orflfn