The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-28

Climax produced climax last evening
in the council chamber at the open
hearing of the r. NJ. Campbell Com
pany's proposal for the city water
works contract, before the board OF
works. council and seventy-five or
more interested citizens. The debate
was general, several business men ad-
vising the administration and council
to closely apply business methods in
disposing of its commodity-the water
works contract.
A most hopeful sign was the pres
ence of several. showing the citizens
are taking enough interest in what the
city is considering to attend meetings.
The addresses of NJ. ]. O'Brien. a
prominent manufacturer and member
of the city finance commission. and
Henry Gennett, president of the Starr
Piano company. were full of advice,
they putting the proposition squarely
up to the city and the consumers.
Intimation by administration ON
cials leads to the belief that In due
time. after full consideration Of both
propositions the city will reject both
proposals and readvertise for bids.
Spoke For an Hour.
Attorney A. c. Lindemuth for the E.
M. Campfield company spoke for near
ly an hour on his company's proposal,
explaining the ortion clause of pur-
chase, the reduced rates and other ad-
vantages offered by his company in
comparison to what the r. c. w. w.
Co. offers. He was interrupted several
times by the city attorney who point
ed out what he considered the imprac.
tical features of the Campbell COM
pany's optional purchase clause, name
ly the amount the city would pay for
the plant by this method, and the pos.
sibility of the city loosing what 1t had
invested. by the company selling out
and its assigns reorganizing. The city
attorney also called the attention to
what he deemed illegal features of pur
chase by such method.
Henry Gennett, a member of the
Water Works Investigating commit
tee of the Commercial Club. referred
to his committees recommendations
In the first place, he said, the commit
practical He said that to him person
ally the argument last evening appear
ed to be as to which proposition wal
the best. He felt that 1t was the city'i
duty to find out what was best fol
the city and contract along such lines
The committee thinks, he said. tina,
If the city has anything to sell /,
should fx the price of its commodit,
thus doing as manufacturers do. He
said the committee believed that since
the r. C. w. w. Co, had it's invest
ment here and already was estab
lished in the business, that it couit
contract with the city to the best
advantage. He said the committee ad
vocated this and found no need o.
going further into the matter. He re
ferred to the complaint of the people
that the price of living was continu
ally growing higher and higher and he
believed the city would do best to con
tract fol. good water. plenty of it ant
at the cheapest possible rate.
A. to the Purchase.
In regard to the purchase of thu
plant, he touched on this subject yer,
lightly but said the committee beliey
ed the city should not regard the in
vestment from the standpoint of wha,
it would be guaranteed it would re
ceive in profits, but from the stand
point that IL the city does become
a co-partner it should be prepared Il
invest in the venture the same as I
private individual inasmuch as invest
ors always assume a certain amoun
of risks
Attorney Lindemuth was quickly Il
his feet and in answer to the conclu
sion Of the Commercial Club commit
tee said that because the present com
pany was already in the field it couIt
offer the best rates. declared such /
proposition bumped against q stone
wall II the city rejects the bids, thu
e. N. Campield company will de
mand its rights ard it will submit an
other bid upon readvertisement fol
proposals for furnishing the city witt
water. The law regulates such things
not the desires of the city officials, hi
said.