El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-21


ing receiver Wyatt of the water COM
pany, placed on the stand as his first
| witness. superintendent W. E. Anderson,
f. Of the water company He was also the
first witness for the city on Friday,
when he was on the witness stand for
six hours
Mr.. Anderson, in answer to a ques-
ton as to the water rates charged after
receiver Wyatt was placed in charge of
the company, stated the company's in
spectors were ordered ito report the
! highest possible number of minimums,
for we realized that if more than the
true number was reported, the mistake
| could be corrected in the water COM
pany's office, End that any mistakes
were corrected if attention was Called"
Mr. Anderson also stated that he had
made inquiries as to the minimum rates
IN other cities. but the Introduction of
any testimony was objected to by the
lntervenors' attorneys on the ground
that IL mad no connection with the case
| and that the conditions existing in
7 other cities. IN reference to the mini
mum rates, are not the same as in Ell
PaSo.
Behr on Stand.
Louis t. Behr, city assessor and col
lector, who was formerly associated as
superintendent with the Watts water
plant before its absorption by the In
ternational Water company was the
first witness on the stand this morning
for the interTenors- He told of the rates
tirst charged for water by the Watts
plant as IS cents per 1000 gallons. but
which was reduced to 20 cents per 1000
gallons This, he stated, was later
| changed under the ordinance of 1896. TO
| minimum charge of 80 cents a month.
The change TO a minimum rate was
not general, however, Mr.. Bebr admit
ted this morning, stating that such
strong protest was made by A: krakauer
and others that they were allowed to
supply their tenants with water on me-
ter rates.
Minimum Rate Charge.
Then you admit that unless a kick
was registered you charged consumers
| on the basis of minimum rates" was
| asked by attorney Burgess representing
the water company.
I'm sorry to say we did," was the
reply.
How sorry are you?" was the rejoin-
der.
Attorney Burgess asked relative to the
rates charged consumers in 1896 and
d..
He also asked relative to the water fam
inc in 1892
The interTenors' attorneys introduced
! as testimony, paragraph c, section 5. of
the contract entered into on September
4. 1906, between the city of FL Paso and
the FL Paso water company at that time
in charge of the Watts plant. The para
graph deals with the water rates to be
charged.
The attorneys for the water company
and receiver Wyatt objected to the in
PRODUCTION Of the section of contract on
the ground that it had no connection
with the International Water company,
and that it had been antedated
Witness Not Needed.
J. J. Stewart, an alderman in 1895 and
1896. was next placed on the witness
stand but was not allowed to give the
testimony intended relative to the con-
tract entered into between the FL Paso
Water company and the city. Governor
Sayers held that the contract was the
best evidence.
DR.. T. A Bray. an inspector in the /.
bureau of animal industry under the
department of agriculture OF the United +,
States. was the next witness for the in (
tervenors and he testified that former |
~ a scum formed over the reservoir at |
the Watts water plant and that the wa
ter from the reservoir was pumped to |
the mesa reservoir.
The scum noticeable on the water at |
the Watts reservoir was due. Dr. Bray !
stated. to the sources of contamination, |
among which he named the snelter
plant.
DR.. Bray also testified that he and /
Mrs Bray owned two tenement houses 1
and that since receiver Wyatt has been
in charge of the water company the 1
rates have been increased
The Meter Minimum Rates
Manuel Escaj eda. who owns a tene-
rnent house al 1908 South Stauton street.
was next called and he testified thar his
bill for water during January was $3.50
based on minimum charges. Previously
he stated the monthly bills had not ex ]
ceeded $3.50 per month. which had been
charged according TO the meter readings.
Mr.. Esca Jeda also stated he owned other
property and that the water rates were
Increased during January
Tenement House Owners.
J. A Escajeda, J. z. Neasom and r
NJ Goodman were on the witness stand
Saturday for the intervenors They
testified that since receiver Wyatt has |
been in charge of the water company /
that the rates have ben Increased. All