The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-17
"Cites Imaginary Evils; But No Remedy for Present
 Conditions"
RIGHT RESERVED TO
 BUY WATERWORKS
City Commissioner Says If Ordinance Blocks Municipal Ownership It Should Be Defeated and
 Not Delayed

commissioners yesterday made the fol- lowing reply to the interview given out by former Mayor George ,. Ward anent the waterworks question.
 The city commissioners have had the question of a reduction of the present water rates before them for some time. After number of conferences between the commissioners and the officials of the waterworks company a substantial reduction was effected and the city at torney instructed to draw up an ordinance embodying the amendments to the pres ent contracts. This ordinance will be presented at the meeting of the city com 'missioners on Tuesday morning for dis position.
 In Mr. Wards interview he suggest ed that the contemplated water rate ordi- ance might block municipal ownership of the waterworks and suggested de- lay in the proceedings. Mr. Lanes an- swer follows:
 q notice in The Age-Herald and in The Ledger a statement from George B. Ward, which is so erroneous and mis- leading as to impel short reply from me.
 Advocates Municipal Ownership
 If MT. Ward believes for an instant that I am not now, or that have not all along been a consistent and persistent advocate of municipal ownership, then he belongs to that class who, having eyes. see not. and having ears. hear not, for I have stated it several times through interviews in the local papers and proclaimed it in every speech I made during the referendum campaign. By the way, the doubt covertly expressed by Mr. Ward that, although I favored let ting the people have a cay on public util- ity matters yet 1t may possibly be that now occupy different attitude. comes with i'll grace from one who, fin the elec- tric light contest never publicly raised his voice or wielded his pen against the extension of the light contract, so far as know.
 The modified proposition of the water company was published more than two months ago, and it has been before the people during all that time for such sug- gestions as they might see fit to makeg and now that we have concessions far more beneficial to the people than those NcANdhSo III tHc PAoPOodtt dii tiat -fAis Ward asks is that the matter be delayed three OF four weeks longer. If the mat ter blocks the path to municipal own ership, and ties the city to the Bir- mingham Waterworks company for a pe- riod covering the length of its longest suburban franchise, then there is no need for delay, but the proposed ordinance should be voted down without one mo- ment's hesitation.
 "0rdinance" and Contract
 By the way. the word ordinance causes me to pause and inquire why MT. Ward persists in calling it a contract. IL has been repeatedly made known in, the local papers that the city attorney is engaged in drafting an ordinance em- bracing the concessions made by the com- pany through the arduous efforts of the board of commissioners and of W. L. Upton, expert of unquestioned ability. and Walter G. Kirkpatrick, the city en- gineer an acknowledged authority on waterworks contracts.
 Both MT. Upton and Mir. Kirkpatrick unqualihedly advised the acceptance of backed up by the opinion of Romaine Boyd, our well qualified city attorney, on the legal aspect sof the case.
 Now, whose conclusions are more apt to be correct, those of said experts and of the city attorney and of the commis- sioners. who gave days of earnest thought to the matter, or that of Mir. Ward who has probably given it only casual and short consideration?
 He cites imaginary evil consequences, but suggests no remedy for present con- ditions. Said concessions are substantial and they are the first that have ever been secured, and none others are in sight ex- cept at the end of expensive and pro- tracted litigation, and the result of the suit is by some considered doubtful.
 Right to Purchase
 "As MT. Ward was twice mayor of this city, I assume that he cannot be unmind- ful of the right reserved by the city to purchase the waterworks of the company at the expiration of the. old Birmingham contract (about nine years hence), and at each recurring period of 10 years t1lere- after. Our people may rest satisfied that this right under the proposed ordinance will still be reserved, and that the city's interests will be safeguarded in this and every other particular
 ''Certainly the city would stand a better chance to buy the waterworks of the com pany after the proposed ordinance shall have been passed for the company's net revenues will be largely reduced by the