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


 providing 1t is specified exactly what the bonds are to be used for. For this req son MT. Weatherly's resolution will pro vide for the construction" of municipal plant.
 First of all we want something to trade with" said MT Weatherly. so far the water company has had nearly all the advantage If we get the authority from the people to build a municipal plant of our own we will have more of basis upon which to drive trade with the waterworks company for it's plant.
 "If we still can't do that, them we go ahead and build our own plant. If we can do it. we'll only need to re- submit the bond issue to the people and have them vote an issue to purchase a plant instead of build one. The first thing we want now is the authority from the people to issue these bonds. Then future developments would depend on whether or not with this new hold on af- fairs we could drive a trade for the pres- ent waterworks.
 ''The bonding limit of the city is I per cent. of it's real estate value, it is true, but the statute expressly provides that this limit does not apply to waterworks. So those holding back on that count have no grounds.
 dnlS Slty OWneTSHlp
 Other men interviewed yesterday are as follows:
 J. F.. Shelby: 'T think my past record fixes my position in regard to the water works question. 1 am for municipal own ership first last and all the time.
 of course man has to be careful in expressing opinions on these matters and not appear like a crank; he's got to show some temperamental stability or his opinions are regarded as worthless even by those agreeing with his main idea
 I am veteran, you might say in the municipal waterworks movement When I was president of the Board of Trade the first time in 1905-06 l took a trip at my own expense through the north and east Investigating municipal waterworks. l have the data collected on that trip some- where yet, and will try to find it. My investigations showed however. that mu- nicipal waterworks plants in every single town it was being tried was not only a financial success, but in every other way. The people were completely satisfied and would not think of returning to the pri- yate corporation.
 The sooner we vote bonds for mu- nicipal plant the better, in my estima- ton. Just how and where and when such things should be done, however, I would
 
 is matter to be decided by our city governmental authorities. All that need be done, in my estimation, is for the peo- pie to give the city government authority to issue bonds for municipal plant; then the commissioners could decide whether 1t would be advisable to build plant. buy out the present plant, when to do either and how to do either.''
 Doubts City's Financial Ability
 Dr. E. Fields: While I am heartily in favor of the city owning the waterworks if suitable plan can be presented, I am not clear as to whether the city is in a financial condition to take on such a great proposition. The bonded indebted ness of the city is very large and the in- terest on the city bonds outstanding is quite a drain on the rveenues of the city. Still, the situation is acute and the people are demanding and are entitled to relief In my own case 1 have. repeatedly tried to keep within the use of the specified amount of water allowed, and I believe l have kept within the number of gallons, yet every bill have received shows an excess The complaints against the waterworks company are too general not to be founded on a substantial cause, and a change is imperative"
 Fayors Bond Issue
 Charles D. Comstock 'I have hereto fore been in favor of putting up with the waterworks company until 1921, when as l understand it's contract with the city expires. l was in favor of setting in motion method by which the city could own its own water plant But | now un- derstand that the Birmingham Water works company claims that its franchise Is perpetual. That being the case, I think the time has come for the people to take hand in this matter and therefore favor bond issue to acquire ownership by the city,
 Believes in City Ownership
 B. B. Burton: 'I am unable to discuss the water plant question in detail, for have been too busy to keep up with all | it's different phases. l can express my fundamental idea however. in regard te the matter l believe in municipal own ership and think the sooner we get it the better.
 T am opposed to the proposed advisor, referendum on the compromise offered by the waterworks company. What we need I believe. is municipal waterworks, but how we are to get it. where and when we are to get it, should be left to the ely commissioners, whose business it is te work out such things for us That's what we've got them down there for Consumers Always Suffer R. r.. Middleton: 1.-The city of Bir mingham and the waterworks company have been in almost continuous litigation for the past 20 years. and the consumers have in every instance been the suffer CTS favor the ownership of the water works by the city and will vote for a bond issue for that purpose. In every instance that has come to my notice tht waterworks company has been unfair to it's patrons. Under the fiat rate tn, grossest discrimination was shown ant under the meter rate it was almost i'm possible to keep within the amount al ! lowed as minimum, even though q con. | sumer closed his house for an entire uuar. 1 ter.
 Tn my opinions the waterworks com pany has never dealt fairly with it patrons and therefore I favor the bona issue to place this most needed cominodity | in the hands of the municipal authori