The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-10-18
Water Works Question Reop.
ened by Council, School
Board Roasted for Allowing
Kids on Streets.
EXPRESS WAGON PLACE
TALKED ABOUT AGAIN
Councilman Won Pein 0enoun-
ces Water Meter Rental and
Thinks the Public Should Be
Informed.

While there was no business OF
great importance before the city coun-
ell at It's meeting Monday night. there
was some discussion OF live topics
that proved a mighty good substitute.
The meter rent charged by the water
works company was again given
round and the company was charged
with holding up the citizens on this
proposition: the school board was
given . lively round for its rule in re-
gard TO the admission Of the children
70 the school yards. and its alleged
scant courtesy shown the council. and
the placing of express wagons about
the court house led to the develop
ment OF q diversity OF views and the
discovery that the proposition will
meet with determined opposition
from certain sources.
Matt Won Pein started the water
works discussion anew. remarking
that he considered It the proper thing
20 keep agitating the subject and let
the people be informed a. to what the
situation 10 90 that intelligent action
can be taken when the time for
action comes. The discussion was q
littls personal with Mr.. Won Pein be-
cause Il was only recently that he
palA he water bill Of $40 OF which
oH4e wao~-aDe1eE-ye --NaAE-.hA-xAe.
cards this meter rsut proposition -
. plata and pure hold up. Mr.. Won
Psin thinks II would be far better for
the company to place the meter rent
at . less Agure % that II would not
work . hardship on the consumer. and
to keep the good will Of the people.
than to kill the good goose that lays
the golden egg. for In his judgment
this 10 what II amounts to. II the good
will Of the people 10 lost
has the City by the Neck?
An impression has gone out that
the company has the city by the neck.
but Mr. Won Pein 10 not inclined to
think 20. He believes there will be
found . way Of escape through some
Of the plans suggested and that 1t is
possible the city may erect a water
works plant OF its own. In the mat
ter Of the rates for water. they are
held to be reasonable enough but the
Justice OF charging 50 rent q year on
IN investment Of 81 or s. does not
look good to Mr.. Won Pein or to other
members Of the council. It was dis
covered. Apparently they are SIM
ply trying to abide In patience until
they can get . crack" at the meter
rent with the hope Of putting II out
Of commission.
Mayor Zimmerman has long favored
. municipal water works plant and he
has not wholly abandoned hope In this
regard. He admits the possibility of
the company having a perpetual
franchise. but he 10 pretty sure 1t has
no perpetual hold on the patronage of
the city itself. and herein may lie the
salvation OF the situation.
Councilman Williams. chairman Of
the public school committee. reported
that his committee had called on the
school board In regard to the admis-
sion OF children to the school yards
earlier than II the custom and found
the board unwilling to change the rule
which has been effective for years.
The board holds that II 10 not advisa-
0le for the children to come to the
schools too early and has the rule In
an effort to have some regular time
for their appearance and to have them
under proper control. The council has
been led to believe that It would be
far better to admit the children to
the school yard. where they would
engage In harmless play. than to have
them congregate In other yards to the
annoyance OF property holders or In
business houses near by when the
weather 10 disagreeable. One member
Of council told OF frequently finding a
dozen or more children camped In a
corner grocery nearly every morning
during the cold weather. waiting until
the time arrived that they could 60
into the school yard and the school
building.
Thinks u Dead Wrong.
Mayor Zimmerman believes the
school board 10 dead wrong In It's atti.
tude. that the rule 10 q had one and
that II ought to be changed. and he
took especial pains In saying 90. He
wants the board to know just what
the sentiment 10. In his talk to the
council he pronounced the rule ~ an
unjust and uncharitable one to the
children. causing them unnecessary
uu6sring and proving . detriment to
their health. He takes the position
that. the ground about the school
buildings are meant for play purposes
NJ uas or little use of Il. the ground
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