The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-09-09


any particular site and | think the people
should have confidence to know and believe
that their own representatives whom they
know and have elected as their representa-
tves will do the proper thing in the matter
of expanding the funds. To try to win the
election upon the presumption that your
own agents and representatives are to steal
the money is absurd and ridiculous. All
men are presumed to act honestly, and
sworn and bonded officers are entitled at
least TO the credit of this presumption.
think it is rather unfair to try to poison the
public mind with matter of this kind. What
we should have is facts and figures and not
suspicion and SANDER. We ask fair treat
ment for everybody.
Fact No. 10 is a matter of small conse-
quence inasmuch as law is all founded on
the consent of the governed, and the relation
OF this commission to the city authorities is
one created by mutual obligations and con.
sent openly and publicly entered into in the
presence of vast assembly of the leading
and representative citizens of Johnson City.
1t can be placed upon no higher ground or
be given the sanction of no higher authority.
Must all men be discredited in order that
the water company may stiAe the sentiment
of the people of Jshason City on this ques-
ton of owning their own water works
Fact No. IL that Johnson City faces
crisis is correct, so far as this portion of the
statement is concerned. We are going to
take on a GREATER JOHNSON CITY
or definitely fix and prescribe the narrow
limits to which our city can grow to its pres
ent dimensions. If on the nth inst. we
shall be driven to sacrifice the sentiment
which we entertain on this question in order
that any individual or private corporation
may pave the way for its own fortune, we
may as well consider the city as finished
product If on the other hand we give this
proposition our endorsement the field for
GREATER JOHNSON CITY will be
opened up into which enterprising citizens
will be justified in entering for the purpose
Of building up manufacturing enterprises,
public institutions and uniting their chances
for prosperity and happiness with ours.
As to Fact No. IL, the writer is unable,
for want of definite information, to fully
and correctly speak. 1t is known, howev-
err that there are certain periods of the year
during which the school fund and other
public funds of the city may be overdrawn,
This is owing to the fact that state, county
and municipal taxes are ordinarily paid in
the months of January, February and March,
and while it is to be presumed and we take
it to be true that they are fnlly provided for
by an assessment and by levy which will
bring in requisite sum during the tax
year, we are unwilling to admit that any
overdrafts in the city's funds referred to is
due to bad faith or dishonest conduct on the
part of city officials. This charge, if one is
sought to be made, ought to he specific, and
the wrongful conduct punished as speedily
as possible, but it furnishes no ground why
the people of Johnson City should be deter
red from so important step as this, the re-
suit of which will be simply to allow other
people to profit by our timidity and hesita-
ton
Fact No. Is that Johnson City has good
future, we admit to be true provided the
people do not permit that future to be
couded by fixing upon the town conditions
permanently which every body knows will
completely bar the further progress and de-
veopment of the city. We have already
stated that the matter of taking on an in
debtedness sufficient to construct the water
works system for the town is not dangerous
according to the experience and observation
Of the very best business men of the country
and according to the experience and shew-
ing made by the many cities and towns
which have taken on municipal ownership.
In the writings appearing in the columns
of the staff an effort is made to cTiticise the
board for giving away franchises. We do
not know how this is aad therefore do not
attempt to say. 1t is startling, however,
when at the same breath in which these ut
terances are made by the advocates of the
water company, the water company AID its
ardent advocates are proposing to take over
from the city another franchise forthe period
Of twenty to thirty years without offering to
pay one cent fer it, without offering to give
one gallon of water for sprinkling the
} streets, without offering to give single fire
hydrant and without offering to give use to
any public building, or charitable institu-
ton of any kind or character which may
now be in existence or hereafter constructed
by the city, and this too while the fact is
T fresh IN the memory of the board and many
of the citizens of Johnson City that within
/ the last FIVE years the city has had an Offer
t in writing from responsible and intelligent
, men to buy from 1t a franchise for twenty
years. 1t is said that the water company'l
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