The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-12-28
GINGER
IN PROCEEDINGS
OF CITY FATHERS AT JESTER
DAYS MEETING.
OVER THE SEWER FRANCHISE
Citizens Asked lime Tor Further
Consideration. But Company said
Nay. and the mays" Carried the
nay-Franchis Passed.

yeterday afternoon was enllNeneu Dy
some vigorous discussion over the
passage of the sewer ordinance by
who appeared for and against
the taking OF final action at that
meeting
w. f. bennett, who said he was
present at the request of several citl-
zens, asked that final action on the
ordinance granting the franchise be
deferred until the next meeting, in
order that the citizens might have
an opportunity of studying its pro
visions.
Speaking in support of his request
he mentioned some features of the
measure that seemed Objectionable,
especially that relating to the fixing
of charges for the service While he
believed in the good intentions of this
company, good intentions were not
sufficient to safeguard the interests OF
the city. Under the ordinance, he
said there was nothing to prevent
the company from voting its officers
large salaries and still compelling
the users of the sewer to pay charges
aggregating a net revenue of 10 per
cent on the capital He also said
that it would be possible for the COM
pany to water or increase its capital
stock two or three times the present
amount and still demand a 10 per
cent return. This statement was cor
rectedby Alderman DwOrman, who
showed that the language OF the or
dinance was nor more than 10 per
cent on the capital invested. nj.
bennett also objected to giving a
franchise for a term of fifty years and
said he had been told that practically
every member of the council was
also a stakeholder in the Sewerage
Company, but not under their own
names.
But outside of the specific objec-
tons that could be urged at the mo-
ment, he thought that a request for
a de:ay of d week in order to arrive
at a better understanding OF a mat
ter that was N;tally- important to the
citizens was reasonable and should
be granted Ivy the council.
Captain Wn kel.y, who appeared
with b o. Stegman, c. H. More and
J. c. DeBruin to represent the com
pany, objected to any further delay
on the ground that the sewer system
was needed just as quickly as it could
be installed and the health of the
city demanded Ii at the work OF eX-
cavating Ne finished before warm
weather sets IN. hol."e any delay NJ g
should be avoided. Regarding the
payment of salaries TO officers, he
said that during the first year, no
officer would receive any salary He
denounced the insinuation that the
wished to take Advantage
of the city or of the citizens. declar-
ing that the best citizens of Browns
vile belonged to the company and
that allegations such as had been
made regarding the watering of stock
and the payment of large salaries
was a reflection upon the honesty Of
the stockholders of the company.
Speaking of the criticism that the
citizens have known nothing about
the ordinance. Capt. Kelly said ne
has been opposed 10 its publication
previous to its passage by the council
as that might cause delay. which Ee
was anxious 10 avoid.
Il. Z
MED owning any stock in the COM
pany and Alderman Tucker said he
had subscribed for stock, under an
other name than his own. but simply
from a patriotic motive as he never
expected to see the money again, and,
indeed, was willing to give the stock
TO The city.
The ordinance introduced a week
ago and referred to the Committee on
Public Building and Grounds was re-
ported favorably to the council yes
terday by Alderman Tucker, chair
man OF the committee, with two
changes from the original form.
These We're. the naming of a maxi
mum of 10 per cent. for the net rev
enue OF the company, iii the section
relating TO the charges for the sewer
service. and the striking out of the
section providing for the purchase Of
the system by the city at the end of
any five year period at its book
value" For this was substituted a
new section providing for the pur-
chase of the system at a price to be
fixed by three appraisers or majority
of them, one chosen by the city. one
by the company and the other by
these TWO.
During the discussion which fol-
lowed, opposition by the Mayor and
some of the cOuncilmen to the so
year term OF the franchise drew the
suggestion from Capt Kelly that the
term be reduced TO - years. which
was done
Mayor Combe objected to the pro-
vision allowing the company unlim-