St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-08-24

reference thereto, and also hIE
reasons given with reference tt
supplying water at the rates
mentioned therein and to tht
effects upon the efficiency of the
water supply to the inhabitants
of 0pelousas, and that / fine
same correct and true in every
particular, to the best of my
knowledge and belief.
A. G. JONES.
Sworn to and subscribed before
me at my Office in the City OF
IOpelousas, Louisiana, this 10th
day of August, A. d., 1912.
b. S. KERR, City Judge.
The ordinance was adopted,
and I vetoed the same for the
following reasons:
Because the changing of the
Water and Light Ordinance &c
meet this demand made upon the
city is a bad precedent, and
while it is in the form Of a gen
eral ordinance it is in fact insti-
gated by one proposed enter
prise.
Second: The rate of $40. 90 to
supply tive hundred thousand
gallons of water, which amounts
to five cents per thousand gal
Ions, is nine cents per thousand
less than is furnished the people
of Opelousas, and is less than the
actual cost of supplying same by
the power plant.
Third: The plant new just
beginning to be barely madeself-
sustaining at the present rates,
will by virtue Of the adoption of
this ordinance be made to lose
money on its water supply, a
condition which IN my opinion is
unjustifiable.
Fourth. / think a concession
made to the Stave Factory, Of
giving them a water main to the
corporation line, and supplying
them water at actual cost should
b e sufficient, notwithstanding
their agreement to advance the
cost o. constructing said main.
Fin II, as stated. the plant
is In nc sndition financially to
stand losse
The Boa !, however, JN9ANI-
MaUsLg pas the ordinance
over my veto. and adjourned to
meet the follow evening At
this meeting an amendment to
the said ordinance was adopted,
making the proposed rates APP
plying to industries employing
not less than Is men regularly.
As amended the ordnance was
again UNANI 0usLY passed over
ray veto. NY reasons Tor the
veto icing that there was no
mate erenc betW zen The
original or i e nc e and IS
amended III 50 far IS the resi-
70 u1a immunity with reference
TO the Wa9 plano The above
" q true reeofa ii prose- ags IN
this matter
Now. III A.. II. Iaeanf1aan,
Secretary Of the Kern Co. It'd
says
We appreciate the fact that
the entire City Council. with the
exception of the Mayor. Il Il i
heartily iii favor OF granting To-
as tlse accommodations W asked,
but our people were ARA lat
there might ba trouble III TIL Z
FUTURE on account OF changes III
the City Admina
This declaration is SO ridicu-
lous, that it is not worthy 0f
consideration. He blanes
me IS Mayor for the nofl-location
Of the factory at this point. in
the face OF the fact that the
Board Of Aldermen had done
everything desired, and had
treated the proposition in the
manner that any reasonable per-
son could expect. In the next
breath he says that his company
was afraid Of the action of future
administrations. How could my.
action, which was set aside BY.
the Board, affect
future Id n istrations
Certainly, a contract entered
into by this city, under the ordi
nance adopted over my veto,
with The Kern Co. IL valid when
entered into, would continue to
be valid thereafter, for the term
provided, no matter how many
administrations came into
power. HI states that the con-
cession asked for is small, then
If that is true, the act Of his
company, which they claim to be
worth millions, IS smaller. f
we can devise ways and means
to extend our water system to
special interests
outside of the city limits who do
not contribute one cent By way
Of taxes to our city, and for
aught we know only temporary