The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-05-02
FILTERING THE WATER FACTS

1t seems to be a dangerous adventure
| to interject a few pertinent remarks re-
garding the proposed water supply project
for Monroe County. At the risk of again
being misquotel and misinterpreted,
The Citizen believes it time to outline its
position on this all-important subject.
In the first place The Citizen does
not care who or what agency brings a sup
ply of fresh water across the Florida Keys
to Key West The Citizen at various times
has supported proposals under which the
water would be brought here by the Mon
roe County Commission, the Overseas Road
and Toll Bridge District Commission, the
the United States Navy Department
Water is what is needed in Key West and
it doesn't make one bit of difference
what agency brings it here.
We recently ventured to remark that
If there was any possibility the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation turned
down the application of the Florida Keys
Aqueduct Commission our civic and COM
mercial interests should get back of the
proposal to have the navy bring the water
to Key West.
Since then the Chamber of Commerce
has met with city, county and aqueduct of
ficials. They have heard the reading of
an official opinion of the attorney for the
water commission holding that the COM
mission has legal authority to issue negoti-
able revenue bonds as security for ST.
100000 loan from RFC. The Citizen hopes
with all its heart that the attorneys for the
RFC accept this opinion AMI that RFC
grants the loan to the Aqueduct commits
sion.
The Chamber of Commerce has
adopted a resolution urging the attorney
for the water board to GO to Washington
and back up his written opinion. This
lawyer is smart enough to contact the Of
fetal representative at Washington of the
Aqueduct commission before jumping into
any legal free-for-all This would be sound
procedure. The Chamber of Commerce
resolution was proper and in line with sug-
gestions that it do everything in its power
to aid the water project
The Citizen is not responsible for the
fact RFC attorneys have questioned the
legal right of the Aqueduct commission to
issue negotiable revenue bonds to support
a loan. This action by the RFC apparently
was not merely the routine of getting court
approval of such bonds; it seemed to be
probing of the wording of the act creating
the commission. Everyone, including The
Citizen, wishes the RFC would accept the
opinion of the commissions attorney.
Certain interests seem to be very SEN
sitive about any suggestion that the navy
be granted authority to pipe water to Key
West. This sensitiveness may spring from
current reports that these certain interests
might receive kckbacks from fees to be
paid technical experts handling the water
application. The Citizen does not believe
these reports, because it does not believe
the RFC or the majority of the Aqueduct
commission would approve Of the payment
of any part of the money loaned the COM
mission for technical services that were
not earned. This water project viii not be
gravy train for political hiteh-hikers, no
matter how itchy their palms.
We repeat-we want water no mat
ter whether it is brought here by the Aque-
duet commission or by Bill Jones, Inc.