The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-14
Conflict of Opinion Wheth-
er City Should Take Ad-
vantage of 1t to Inspect the
Books of R. c. W. w. Co.
IF CITY PURCHASES
SHOULD SEE BOOKS
CounciImen Vary in Opinion
as to the Length Of Fran
chise that the Company
Should Get Now.

Following the publication by the Pal-
ladium in Saturday evenings Issue,
of the state law passed by the xener-
al assembly in 1909. which gives the
city council the power to force the
waterworks company to produce ali
of its books. the members Of the city
council today expressed their opin.
ions on the matter The statements
issued by the conncilmen are 40 fol-
lows:
w. H. Bartel-'I believe the law IL
great thing. The Maury report plac-
ed very high valuation OF the com.
pany's property and the city should
look into the company's affairs"
Frank Waidele--"The proposed Va.
ter rate Of the Richmond City Water
Works Is too high and would be . bur.
den to the people. We should look
into the company's books 1t any rate.
Although believe in municipal owner.
ship Of the water works plant. l am
not In favor OF nsxking It hardship
on the people either by taxation or by
high water rate. IT'S the same way
with the Campfield proposition. We
ought to look into the books Of the
r. G. w. w. company ON the rates.
The Representatives Of the company
made the statement ut recent meet
ing that the city could posttively own
the plant In twenty-five years. Now lf
this can be done then the company
ought to cut their rates Ia two because
it is making an enormous profit II II
can give 100000 property to the city
in twenty-five years on the plan pro-
posed"
Matt Won Pein-"My frank opinion
as to why the company refused to
show its books before was that It did
mt have the money invested that It
claimed 1t had and didn't want the
people to find this out OF course this
law is valuable The Palladium has
done good thing in discovering 1t,
but l have my doubts as to whether II
will avail US anything at the present
because we cannot buy now. l think
the people should vote en- this matter.
There is no hurry and would suggest
that we wait until the next election
ton as to whether they want to pur-
chase the plant. 1t don't matter what
think or any other city official
official thinks, because it really is up
to the people. There 10 not q man In
the council who is capable of going
through the company's books. Il
would take an expert accountant It
would also cost something
John Burdsall-"We should 80 over
the company's books by all means.
When it comes to q showdown We
will have to do so. We will get better
rates II we do 50 because We can as
certain just how much money IL In
vested and allow the company fair
interest on money invested. Whether
we purchase the plant or not, we
should do this"
Rates New Enough.
Harry c. Kauffman-"We get goo4
enough water rate now. l have heard
no complaints against rate of twen-
ty-fve cents per one thousand gallons.
II am satisfied with 1t and willing TO
pay that rate believe that We
should have no meter rent. In case
the city wants to buy the plant we
will have to investigate the books be-
cause we could not buy q thing with
out knowing just what 1t was worth.
Council does not agree with the board
of works on this question The board
wants to purchase the plant. but it II
the concensus of opinion among the
councilmen that It should not be pur-
chased. can't see why this law was
not brought ont before with all Of the
discussion on the subject. The plant
lis not worth more than $500, 900 or
$500. 900. and we would find this to be
a fact IL the books were gone over. II
council wants an Investigation I
would not stand IN its way. However.
/ don't think it would be right II the
city does not intend to purchase the
plant am In favor Of lfteen-year
franchise"
Oscar Williams - We ought to
know the profits Of the company to de-
termine the rate which the citizens
should pay. The purchasing idea II
out of the question At frst the peo-
pie were infavor OF It but they have
found that 1t will cost them something.