The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-24
CITIZENS ALMOST
 UNANIMOUS FOR CITY OWNERSHIP OF PLANT
Continued from Page Five)

city would be making a little money for it's own treasury. This way we are charged three or four prices for our water by d private corporation then We are taxed heavily to keep up the city and the poor people. get it from both sides
 "l am opposed to stopping the suits in the courts against the water com panY. If we'd vote a bond issue and begin to tear up the streets to show we meant business, the waterworks company would soon get off it's high horse and treat with the city for a faiI purchase of its property"
 Why Not Do Both
 Hill Ferguson Having been out of town, I am not entirely familiar with the proposition. but as I understand it l can't see why it would not be advisable to both vote a bond issue for municipal ownership and accept the compromise. It will take five or six years at least to complete the munich pal ownership negotiations after the bond issue Is adopted and in the mean time we could be enjoying the low rates of the compromise.
 T can hardly see where it is ad-' visable to build competing plant. It would cost too much money. If the city were to do this all this valu- able paving would have to be torn up to lay mains. and it would cost much more than it cost the present water company, which laid it's mains when there was no pavement on these streets and constructed it's plant when the site for its dam and works was pur- chased at a much lower figure than the city could secure similar property. Therefore. 1t looks to me that if the company can be purchased in 1921 we should wait until then instead of start ing a competitive plant.
 Company's Attitude Responsible
 Judge H. B. Abernethy: "The atti- tude of the officials of the Birmingham Waterworks company toward their pat rons is, in my opinion. responsible for the widespread antagonism toward the company. It seems to me that no mat ter whether the officials of the com pany think MT. Weatherly is sincere in his position or not they ought not to make the people of the city the sur- ferers because of the controversy. "It occurs to me that when the com pany. following the decision of Judge Crow, insisted that the consumers pay the ma ximum flat rates, they took the position of the people be damned we will show them that they cannot help themselves. Many citizens of Birming- ham paid their bills under a meter rate without murmur, many others were dissatisfied, but to take technical construction of ruling of judge and to try to enforce the payments of maximum flat rates that are so much out of proportion to the meter rates, Is showing a total disregard for the rights of the people and demonstrates that the waterworks company regards itself as an octopus.
 "The people of Birmingham are get ting tired of such animals and the soon lions rGa1- ize this fact the better it will be for all concerned"
 No Consideration For Patrons Col Tom $. Pound: .'Regardless of whether the legal controversy between the city and the Birmingham Water works company has any merit or not I know from my own personal exper- fence that the officials of the water works company have no regard or con sideration for their patrons
 "This attitude extends even to it's paid employees who seem to think that they confer favor when they take your money in payment of water rates whatever they may be. If you should harpen to think that you are being charged more than is proper the hire lings will tell you that If you dont t pay the bill they will cut oN your water supply and if you don't pay the Dlll TlRnt l0tu Oli SoSS 'o'' ""tN' supply.
 "When the company undertakes to make the people of Birmingham pay the maximum flat rates becarA& of a ruling of court without final juris- diction it is simply carrying out its policy for the past number of years which seems to be to squeeze every nickle possible from the people who by reason of its monopoly are compelled fo patronize it."
 Could Easily Sell Bonds Leo K Steiner: T think the people what they want in regard to the water what the ywant in regard to the water controversy.
 .I believe the question could be set tied if this was done. l personally be- lieve in municipal ownership and l au- thorize you to say that I do not believe Birmingham would have much trouble in selling 5000, GOO worth of bonds for 2 municipal plant.
 T think the local plant should be se- cured by the city if that is possible at fair price However. I would appoint
 experts of recognized ability to pass on