The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-07
water RENTS.
Ehrhardt'S Bill Passes the
House by Big Vote.
FUERTH'S EFFECTIVE SPEECH.
Practically Unanimous Vote on
the Scranton Water BILL
Fuerth is Thanked by
Board of Trade.

The bill introduced by Representative
Ehrhardt, of Scranton, which grants to
councils of cities of the second class the
right to fix the maximum rates charged
by water companies, passed the house
finally on Tuesday night of last week by
vote of 149 to l. The bill now goes
to the senate for concurrence and il
Senator Blewitt succeeds in steering it
as safely through the upper body as Re-
preventative Ehrhardt did through the
house, the citizens of Scranton will short
ly be enjoying relief measure they have
long desired.
The fact that the senate is said to
have twenty-five corporation attorneys
in its membership of fifty is a matter,
however, that does not augur we'll for
the measure in that body. While the
senate is looked upon as the stumbling
block for meritorious legislation, bill
in the interest of the people rather than
corporations occasionally manages to
get by.
Representative Leopold Fuerth, of
this county, made strong speech in
favor of the bill, which assisted material
ly in its passage by practically unani-
nous vote. His services in this direc-
ton elected the following warm letter
of approval from the Scranton Board of
Trade:
Scranton Board of Trade, Scranton, Pa.
April 1st, 1909.
HON. LEOPOLD FUERTH,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Dear Sir: The Scranton Board of
Trade desires to thank you for the mas
terly and effective speech you made in
the House the other day in behalf of the
Ehrhardt Water Rates Bill, which so
deeply concerns this entire community.
We appreciate your efforts in behalf of
this bill very deeply. The proposition
could not have been presented more
clearly or effectively by anybody living
in this community, and having personal
contact and years of direct experience
with this question.
Will we De presuming too much to ask
your continued interest in the measure
even now since it has passed into the
Senate We feel sure that your support
will give it strength on that side also.
Very respectfully yours,
MARK K. EDGAR, Secretary.
Mr.. Fuerth said:
Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen of the
House: wish to say few words in
favor of this bill, which chiefly concerns
the city of Scranton, which is in the ad-
joining county represented in part by
me. The object of this bill is to put a
limit upon the corporation supplying the
city with water, in the interest of the
100000 comprising its population. This
corporation is now practically in the con-
troll of one man.
This gentleman, am pleased to say,
has, by his foresight during many years
past, secured nearly all the springs, the
streams and the lakes available for
Scranton's use. The city is in the heart
OF a mining district, and nearly all the
rivulets and brooks of the county are
necessarily contaminated by the pump
ings from coal mines. This condition
will grow worse as the number of mines
and the population of the district in
creases, and the supply from the un-
polluted lakes and streams naturally de-
| creases. Now, what is to be done about
it?
If nothing interposed, Mr.. Scranton,
or, fear, much worse successors, will
be enabled to exact from every person
in the city such terms as he or they may
feel inclined to impose. Should such a
state of affairs be, when by our vote we
can prevent it?
| This bill provides a remedy for this
state of affairs that seems to me eminent
| I nl
panies under ordinance of the city to
to secure all the water they desire for
the use of the people, ard only requires
in exchange for the privilege that the
burden to consumers shall not be more
than six per cent. upon the fair value OF
the stock after providing for proper
sinking fund, operating expenses and
| fixed charges. Is this not fair? Water
companies are long-lived and always
profitable.
Our State is not in high repute as a
dealer with corporations. Everything
that could be asked for seems to have
been taken from the people and thrown
to the grabbers, without reward-our
coal, our oil, our transportation, our
gas, our electric combinations-have all
been given away without recourse. And
now they want the prime necessity OF life
water, without which life itself cannot
exist. The cities of Philadelphia, Pitts
burg, Allegheny and Harrisburg have
wisely obtained the control of the water
supply in their hands.
This bill only proposes that the city oi
Scranton, or other cities that may here.
after come under its provisions, shall
have limit placed upon the greed oi
corporations controlling the water sup
ply.