The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-12
FIRST STATEMENT
 FROM WARD ON
 WATER QUESTION
tContinued from Page Five)

ness to be placed before this last suit was brought This is douotless true, but the pipe was not ordered or permission from the owners of the water company gained to go ahead with the work until tremen- deus agitation had taken place and num- ere us conferences with the commission bad foreshadowed the filing of suit
 While the water co npany has built up magnificent plant, 1t has done so largely under pressure, and it the point of the bayonet, as it were.
 Installation of the several improve ments were too late to restore the dam age done to human life, or to property dur ing it's imperfect service. however much those improvements might have served to prevent future complaints.
 'I recognize the fact that the water works company is in a most embarrassing position, and is at q loss as to what is the best course to pursue in protecting its prorerty and it's business. I recog rize, also, 1t has as much right to pro- lection from the city government as any other taxpayer. l believe it's officers and attorneys are anxious and willing to up- build this district and bring about an ami cable settlement between the city and the company, if they can find a way to do so.
 sade against the company for doing those things they have been forced to do by the court.
 Is Mistaken Policy
 "At the same time am of the opinion it is pursuing a mistaken policy in al lo wirg excessively increased bills to go out because the old contract may give them the legal right to send them out This right is now being litigated with the city in the federal courts.
 ''Conditions are so radically different in Birmingham in 1914 from what they were in 1888 that a rate probably fair in. 1888 is all wrong at the present time. The company says It's sole object is to do the fair thing That being the case the fairer rate should be installed pending the ad- justment of the 1888 contract It seems hs rdly neces sary that the city's water rate should be raised from cents to 15 cents, for the city is compelled to use what water it needs and will use no more. "Furthermore, in an effort to do the broad thing and the fair thing, it is not necessary that the company use the max | imum rate of the 1888 contract. "It has perfect right to apply some | intermediate rate under Judge Crow S l ruling.
 "A bread policy of this kind would go | a long ways towards stopping the alleged waste of water that has been complained of. as a large number of people are on
 meters now and would continue to use | inst about the same amount of water | that they have been using. 1 With the approaching expiration of l the water company's franchise in 1921,
 it is believed by great many that the company will claim the franchie itself Is perpetual, all the while acknowledging that the prescribed rates will expire. Therefore, the time seems to me 10 be ripe for the city to get decision from the highest tribunal on the funda-
 mental rights of the city to regulate
 rates at which water may be served to private consumers and to determine I whether or not the water company has
 perpetual right to furnish water in Bir- mingham."