The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-27
JUDGE LANE CHARGES MIR. .WEATHERLY ERRS Cites Provisions of Famous
 Ordinance SIC EVENT BY DEFAULT States He Does Not Wish to Enter Controversy, But Wants to Chal-
 lenge Weatherly's Yer sion of 97-C

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 Ordinance a7-C-Let the people of Bir- niingham understand truly and intellij gently it's provisions,
 It is not my purpose to enter into the pending controversy upon the water ques- ticn but l cannot allow to go unchal- leneer an egregious error as to it's pro- visions. I therefore ask that you print the version of said provisions as con- tained in Commissioner Weatherly' s statement embraced in Sundays Age Herald. page Il. paragraph. 2. and the actual provisions taken from the minutes of the city commission. The deadly par alel follows:
 Mir Weatherlys version
 What was ordinance SIC? It was an ordinance passed hy a majority of the commissioners afr. Exum and Mir. Lane. fixing the rates which the COT V has tcen charging for the past @ars and permitting meter rates foi ie consumption in old Birmingham. Iat had been all perhaps there would have been no trouble, but there was attached to that ordinance practically the same conditions that the company is seeking to attach to their offer for lower rates at this date. namely. that the company s existing contract with old Birmns ham sLculd be reaffirmed and strengthened, that no question as 10 the validity of its franchise should be raised: that all its past sins should be forgiven and that no negotiations for the purchase of the plant should be entertained until 1927
 City minutes copied from sections and 10 of ordinance 97-c.
 Ninth Municipal oNnership-And 1t is further expressly understood that by the acceptance of this ofser or proposition. the city will not waive, lose, surrender. pi e1udice or affect any present or fu- trre right or power which 1t would other wise have to construct or acquire by purchase or otherwise. and to operate a municipal waterworlSs plant or plants.
 Tenth-Intent of Offer Further Defined It is net the intent hereof, and the ae- ceptance of this offer shall not operate to extend the term or duration of the contract of the water company with the city dated June ?, 1885, or any part thereof. or of any other franchise or ccItract of the water company, or to change or affect the clauses in those contracts with annexed municipalities, which provide for such reduced rates, under conditions therein recited, as may be obtained in that lart of said city embraced Tn said contract dated June 2, lSSS and it is expressly understood that the acceptance of this offer or propo- sition shall not operate to validate any ofs the contracts of .he water company hereinbefore referred to. or confer any right or franchise on said water company wiich 1t does not now have to supply water In said city or any part thereof, it being understood that, hy the accep- tance of this offer or proposition said city will not waive. lose, prejudice or affect hny present or future right if E.puld otherwise haze to quetslon or at tack the valid y of raid contracts. or any of them, at any time. ii deemed by the governing body of said city to the interest of said city so to do
 l would like for every Intelligent, fair minded citizen of Greater Birmingham to read the above, so as to act understand ingly and dispa ssionately in construing ordinance 97-C. It IS known of al men that the election pr ordinance SIC in 1?l2 went by default, so to say, and that no one in favor of the ordinance ms de any speeches explaining it's pro- visions to the people. Respectfully.
 A. o. LANE
 Birmingham. July g6. 1914.