The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-25

P. G. Shook, president of the Chamber of Commerce submitted to an interview yesterday on the waterworlss problem, and also paid his respects to James Weath- erly, city commissioners, upon whose coun- sel the people voted down 97-C
 Mir. Shook said to begin with that he was opposed to municipal ownership for the chief reason that the municipal plants almost without exception had been oper- ated inefficiently. and to the net loss to the cities trying the experiment. He said that the city was in no position at this time financially to operate big corpora tion such as a utility plant Mr Shook, who has never failed to perform his duty for Birmingham. said frankly that MT Weatherly was playing politics on the water question, and that he was trying to secure his election before the people on that issue.
 Thank Weatherly for High Rates
 'The people of this town, some SO.0Od rates, may1thank MT. Weatherly," said MT. Shook. "He is the party who advised the people to turn down 97-C, under which, as Judge Lane says, tremendous reduc- tions were made
 He stumped this town decrying one of the most important utility companies here, and even went so far in his alleged rage about the injustice done the people as to charge the water company with fur nishng the people of this town impure water. He knew such to be misleading.
 'The facts are that the best experts in America came 1ere and testified under oath that Birmingham had the purest water of any community in this country, or among the purest. MT. Weatherly has lost his ex rel suit in every court to which it has been submit ted, and he now hopes, in my opinion, to keep the issue open until the election in order to ride into office over the water company.
 'The people of this city were the ones to implore the water company to build its magnificent plant here because of the epidemic that ragged round about us. The men who <nvested their money here answered that call and Mayor Lane signed the contract of 1888. The people wanted the water company then, and since 1t has been here the water company has kept pace with the progress of this community by arranging a system incomparable with any in this country.
 No Real Differences
 They have discounted the furure heav- fly by creating the Purdy lake, and the company is prepared to supply Birming- ham was a finished product for years to come. There is no real difference be- tween the thoughtful people of this com n,unity and the officials of the water company. In order to effect a peaceful settlement of the trouble the company offered SIC, which resulted in say ing to the man with a small family. No one objected to the bills when they were reduced. The company lost $15o,0G0 per year. l am informed, by that reduction. Even the fire hydrant rates were lowered.
 After constant attack by Mr. Weatherly in which he tried to engender the most in- tense hatred against the company. which was unjustified by the facts, the courts ordered the water company to readjust its rates under the contract in operation prior to 97-C That order was followed by the e mpany Some will say that the com pany was not forced to do that or could have run no risk of court disfavor by permitting the old rates to remain.
 Acted in Good Faith
 That may be true. But after the charges against the company, it was ob- viously the duty of the company to in- crease the rates, if for no other reason than to show that for one time the cor poration had acted in good faith, while the commission had not Again, the company could give its water away. It
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