The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-13
Attorney Says He Asked for
Private Discussion of the
Water Question for STRAIT
egic Purposes.
FEARED COMPANIES
WOULD GET PLANS
If the Contract Proposal Was
Discussed in Public.-Cit-
liens Present Withdrew
at Once.

III. U. Johnson, A. NJ. Gardner and
Wilfred Jessup, attorneys for the city.
met with the city council and board
of public works at the latter's Of
flee last night for the purpose of dis
cussing the specifications that have
been prepared by the attorneys for
the city. preparatory to advertising
for bids for water works contract.
1t was given out before the meeting
that il would be a secret session and
none except members of the city coun-
ell and the board of public works
would be admitted to the meeting.
Several citizens. appearing as tax
payers and representatives of the
press were present at the opening of
the session, but after the EXPLANATION
made by Mr.. Johnson why the meet
ing should be private everyone, ex-
cept the members of the two bodies,
retired from the room and allowei the
meeting to proceed. A. the opening
of the session Mr.. johnson explained
the purpose of the conierenc. and
gave his reasons for the calling of the
meeting. He said that he. as an at
torney, has always been in the habit
OF discussing matters pertaining to q
case in private with his client That
as the members of council an6 rhe
board Of works had all been duly elect
ed representatives of the people. he
as their attorney. had perfect right
to discuss the case with the officials
without taking the public into his con-
fidence. He assured everyone that
the meeting had been called 1T lis re-
quest and that there were a number
of points regarding the case which he
was not at liberty to discuss In public
for fear the information might rea n
the other side. He said that rs Ear as
he was concerned the council and
board could do as they liked, but q
was his advice that the matter be kept
in confidence until the proper time
to divulge the plans and make the
whole matter public. He said that he
considered all the members of the
two bodies reliable and honest men
and he would therefore feel free to
tell them of the Plans of the attor-
neys and outline 20 them the exact
course open to the city to pursue in
securing a new contract.
Knocks the Newspapers.
Following Mr.. Johnson's remarks
Mayor Zimmerman took another oc-
casion to knock the newspapers. say
ing they never did get anything right
and that he had been misquoted.
After Mr.. Johnson had concluded
his remarks and Mayor Zimmerman
had delivered his customary TRADE
the citizens present said that Mr..
Johnson's explanation had put a diff
/ ferent light on the matter and they
would therefore withdraw from the
meeting and allow the attorneys for
the city to advise their clients pri-
vately.
Council and the board deliberated
with the attorneys until 1890 on the
proposal contract, reviewing each
section of the ordinance closely, but
without any changes except one re-
garding free water for hospitals.
On Attorney Jessup's suggestion. il
was decided to insert a clause, that
hospitals TO which the city paid an
nually sum of 81, 900 or more TO as
sist in supporting, should receive free
water. No other changes were made.
except that in several places where
/ the word should" appeared. the
word shall" was inserted.
II was decided to hold the next
meeting Thursday night at 7.30 at
the same place with the same repre-
sentatives present.
Mayor Zimmerman stated last even
ing after the meeting that the cifi-
zens might expect a big surprise"
when the bids on this proposal con-
tract were submitted and opened. for
he said, there are a good many
points in that proposal. which viii
cause a big raise in rates" He gave
1t as his opinion that that question
will not be settled for a long time and
that the chances are for more than
one proposal contract being drawn
up.