The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-02-04
Mayor Authorized to Recon
vene Fifteen Business Men
Named on Municipal Water
Works Question.
COMPANY DECLINES TO
OPEN BOOKS AT PRESENT
President McMillen Replies to
Committee Stating That
More Definite Stage Must
Be Reached Before There Is
Need for Investigation.

Al the regular meeting OF e city
council last night a letter from Pres
idtnt \. u. McMillen Of the water
supply company. addressed TO " W.
strong. chairman OF a sub committees
OF the special citizens commission,
was read TO the aldermen. The let
ter was in reply to a letter from the
sub committee, making a request, au-
thorized by the commission and the
council, thai the water supply com
pany give the city permission TO put
an expert accountant on the com
pany's books, 10 max "a report for
the past ten years. year by year, show
ing operating cost. receipts, n prop
crty values.
The Water company's reply, which
Is self explanatory Is as follows.
"Final answer TO your requesi that
the Water supply company should
open It's books for the last ten years
tor examination Dy your committee
so that the same could be made pub
lic, has been delayed, owing To- the
TACT that Mr.. Field went cast immo-
diately and / went east before he re-
turned and Just got home last night
As a portion of the committee, Sc
locted by tho city council Is opposed
To municipal own ership and al least
one member OF our committee IN I'M
altcrably opposed To municipal owner
ship and no dchnit plan has q
formulated by the city, II does not
a.a.. - -. -. 81. aHtHaaE1a IA .HFNRN
into negotiations or public discussion
Of the matter.
lin ny letter of November i3. 1919.
10 George G. Scheer. j. A. skinner and
John Lee Clarke. a committee of tho
city council. l expressed ms views In
regard to the subject o. the proposed
purchase of the property OF the Wa
ter supply COMPANY, and attempted
10 make II clear that / was unwilling
to enter into any controversy IN re-
gard 10 the price or 90 take part d.
rectly or indirectly In the action OF
the city 10 determine 10y ballot the
question Of b advisa bility Of mum
icipal ownership.
II see no reason 90 change my atti-
tude upon that subject. II the city
determines 10 enter upon municipal
ownership and agree To have "a yalua-
| lion made by trained experts who are
/ entirely disintcrestcd. then Il Is en-
| titled TO the fullest Information TO en-
| able such disinserested parties 10 ar
rive al a fair value, and 1 would then
furnish an Information az our com.
mand necessary to enable the com
/ mitfeo 10 peFfnrm is duly.
II respectfully refer your commit
tee 10 my letter OF November l3. 1913
Tor "a more detailed statement OF my
views upon this question"
The refusal OF the Water compan,
10 permit an examination OF is books
al the present preliminary ssaEe Dl
the proceedings had not been uncx.
pected. Mr.. Mcdillen In his confer
ence with the subcommittee lndi'
Gated that he probably would not per
init such an examination until a more
definite stage had been reached an'
there was no surprise last nieht whei
he placed his attitude In dehnite form
before the council
There was little discussion Of M
letter. and the council took the onii
action open TO Il by directing IN
mayor 10 can another meeting of IN
citlzens' commission az soon as pos
sible. This morning Mayer seller
had not set a date for this meeting
and VIII not 90 40 until he hns con
suited with ". ". strong chairman
Of the commission. Probably u vii
be called for nex Monday night.