The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-22
Representative of Company
SO Admits Today, but City
Officials Still Deny They
Have 1t.
PLAN FOR HOLDING
A SECRET MEETING
AS Sop to Council, Members
of That Body Will Be In
vited to Attend Star Cham
Der Session.

Ht pei SlSlSut ulilOl lIldt tlc II al
chise proposal of the Richmond City
Water Works company has been pre-
sented to the board of works, was con-
firmed this morning. when a Water
Works company representative told
the Palladium that the proposal was
given to Mayor Zimmerman about the
middle of last week.
For the past several days Mayor
Zimmerman and President Hammond
of the board OF public works have per-
sistently denied that the city has re-
ceived the proposed franchise agree
ment of the Water Works company.
Despite the denials to the contrary
by Mayor Zimmerman and President
Hammond, it is understood the board
will hold a meeting this week. to sec
retly consider the company's terms.
Each member of the board of works
has read the proposition over careful
ly. but no councilman has yet seen it.
City Attorney Gardner told a re-
porter this morning he had been in
vestigating the Water Works situation
for the last few days, as other mem
bers of the board had been.
What Gardner Says.
Gardner said today the proposition
was not in the hands of the board.
According to his statement the pro-
posed franchise will be brought up at
a meeting of a committee of the whole
in which the board of works, city at
torney. and council members will dis
cuss the proposition. This session, he
admitted. would be private.
will you mail copies of the Water
Works proposition to members of
council?' queried the reporter.
'Oh certainly not said Gardner
'the proposition is far too long for
that, Or rather | mean it will be l sup
pose" he hastily added.
In the conversation with the Water
Works representative, it was learned
that the company's terms We're handed
to Mayor Zimmerman, personally, last
week, and he promised to consider it.
with the board, and then let the com
pany officials know when he would be
ready to consider it with them. The
Water Works representative said he
understood the board members were
going over the proposition at the pre-
sent time and would be able to make
report within a week.
There is absolutely nothing secret
about it this man declared. Proper
ly speaking the proposal We presented
to the Mayor last week, is not fran
chise. 1t is merely regulation o
rates to the consumer and for the com
pany. Go to Mayor Zimmerman. He
really knows more about that PROPOSE
ton than l do
Mayor Still Silent.
Zimmerman refused to say anything
about the Water Works question this
morning, declaring, there's nothing
doing"
The mayor was questioned on the
Water Z Works proposal. YESTERDAY
morning, but said he knew absolutely
nothing about the contents OF the pro
position. 1T will all come out at the
proper time" was all he would say.
President Hammond stated firmly
that the proposition had not been pre-
sented to the board, and that tha
body did not have any knowledge as tt
its contents. Both Mayor and Mr.
| Hammond are strong" for private
session, saying it is the only way Il
consider such a big subject.
Several councilmen, who have beer
seen by the Palladium are strong il
| their condemnation of the Mayor ant
Mr.. Hammond. for their course. Coun
cilmen say they are absolutely in thu
dark. as to the status of the Wate
Works question.
! One stated that since the origina
terms of the company was presented
several months ago, when the boart
and council held private session. h
had heard nothing about the situation
Councilmen are of the opinion tn,
board. will go over the proposition ant
then draw up a sort OF counter propo
sition. to be submitted to the Wate
| Works company. The councilmen sa,
they are afraid the board will draw u
an ordinance before the council know
| what's up"
| The common opinion among council
men is that something will break" a
| the next meeting. Most of the cour
cilmen are against the secret session
1 idea for which the hoard is Strong