The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-18
Water Contract and Not Judge Lane" Was Subject
 of His Statement
REVIEWS ATTACK ON
 PENDING AGREEMENT
Advocates Litigation "Protracted and Extensive" if This Is "All That Stands Between City
 and Freedom"

George B. Ward. former mayor. states that Judge Lane. in his last contribution to the controversy in reference to the contract pending between the city and the Birmingham Waterworks company, was laboring under misapprehension.
 MT Ward contends that the contract was the subject of his own communica- tion and not Judge Lane. Had Judge Lane been the subject" writes MT. Ward, "the interview would have been flattering to the extent of embarrass- ment'
 Pertinent observations are made by MT. Ward. He refers to the recent settlement of the telephone controversy as the rape of the Peoples Telephone company" He states that on that proposition the peo pie would have been glad of an op- portunity to vote He states that on the water works contract. the people now would like to vote Concluding, MT. Ward alleges that the present situation is the result of a long period of predication on the part Of the American Waterworks company of Pittsburg. He advocates litigation. lex tensive and protracted." if necessary, if litigation Is all that stands between the city and freedom"
 His Terse Remarks
 MT. Wards 8 statement follows:
 Judge Lane misapprehends.
 Tt is the water contract under dis cussion Had he been the subject the interview would have been so flattering that it would have embarrassed. The only reason for suggesting few weeks delay was to provide a period of time in which the people could acquire infor- nation. Information is what MT. Weath- erly said that he did not have and would not vote until he got it.
 "The official press synopsis stated that the following sections among other things would be in the contract Other things are sometimes far reaching.
 Regarding the electric light contest the average citizen saw no necessity of taking the stump or filling up the news papers. That was most excellently done by Judge Lane and his aids.
 "All we had to do was to answer his clarion call-come out and vote against the 10 year contraet-then go home sat isfied.
 Vote against 1t is what everybody would have liked to do when the rape of the Peoples Home Telephone was pulled off.
 "No Tocsin Sounded"
 "Alasl No tocsin sounded-from any sourcel
 Vote against it is what most every body in this city want to do again-that is, vote against the Birmingham Water works contract.
 "Contract was was Judge Lane called it-see newspapers of June Pin which. in black type, it is said-Judge Lane: It's good contract
 That is one reason the people know it's a contract. He said so.
 "The other reason everybody knows it's a contract is that the Birmingham Wa terworks company would never consider it a minute were it not one.
 "An ordinance can be changed at any time by a majority vote of the com mission.
 Lane Is Challenged
 ''It would be interesting if Judge Lane would state whether or not this amend raent uo the water contract can be ment to the water contract can be changed or modified one whit by anybody except by common consent during the the terms of the present contract.
 Therefore this instrument Is not an ordinance but a contract. Being con tract, the minute the signature of the commissioners of the city of Birmingham become attached. that minute dies the right of every citizen to bring a suit to annul the contract of the water company with the city for past breaches and viola tions
 The Pittsburg End