Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-07-11
Gov HASTINGS' DOINGS-THE
WATER BILL VETO, ETC.

GOV HASTINGS DoINGS-THE E
WATER BILL VETO, ETC.
Tho Governors work on the 4oS oills leit
in his hands By the legislature was hnlSn-
ad at noon last Saturday, when the last
hatch was disposed of. A summary OF Inc
work of the legislature By wilson NJ
Gsrhar., chief clerk of the state depart,
ment. shows that Asa bills we're approved
a. AGAINST 37l for the session OF 1893 then
the largest number approved under the
nav constitution, which shows an excess
of I12 for the recent session. Before ao-
tournament "a bills were vetoed and 80
after. which, with five partial Vetoes, M axes
the total number lbs. The total NUMBER
~ resolutions signed at the late session
was 68. as against 43 two years ago One
resolution was vetoed. Saturday alter
noon Deputy Secretary OF the common
vaaIth Barnett and Chief Clerk Gernart
rasd the proclamation of bills vetoed IN
the rotunda of the capitol.
The twin electric light bills, the rehg-
ions garb bill, the Quay county Dill, lne
Woods water bill and the question OF keep
ing the appropriations within the estlm.t-
ed revenue gave the governor something
70 think about. Many hearings were CIV
On on these bills and the letters and tele-
c-.ms received at the executive depart
ment would weigh ton. 1t noon Satur-
d.v the last bill was acted on, and the
force of clerks in the governors othcs were
not sorry. 1t Lad been a month OF naro
work The w oods water bill, providing taat
MUNICIPALITIES should purchase existing
nlants before establishing their own,
maasnra that excited much attention, was
vetoed for the following reasons:
mThe scope and intent OF the measure
are to so change existing laws as 70 pre-,
vent competition on the part OF cities ana
horouphs when incorporated water com,
comnanies supply water in such cities ana
boroughs. BY the terms of the Dill the
municipality must purchase or condemn
the works Of water companies tnat may
be supplying the public before 1t is per
mitted to erect works OF It's own. ihlS
legislation is most important IN its ehar-
acter and has received widespread con
sideration by the people OF the state. Inc
friends Of the measure insist tnat II S
NECESSARY in order to protect invested cap
;tal AGAINST the competition on the part OF
the municipality that might be such as TO
seriously impair, if not destroy the value
nj sueh investments. On the other hand
II ia contended that to take away from
cities and boroughs the power which they
now have to furnish water for tire protec-
ton and commercial purposes, wC1ld DC,
nriye them of an important municipal
bower necessary to secure the adequate
supply of water and TO protect the pnohc
from exorbitant charges, and while u ls
mower that may not be exercised yet
should remain involant as protection to
the citizens against the power OF private
corporations. Under existing law there
is no exclusive right vested in water COM
panies as against the municipality Itself:
So that the approval of this bill would
work q change of the most radical End
and take away from cities and boroughs
right and power which heretofore has been
deemed wise that they should possess, and
which in many instances have oeen e1er-
cised.
saThe bill under consideration provides
that: No city or borough shall hereafter
construct any pipe, conduit or duplicate
system of distribution for the supply oil
water, or cause or procure the same to be
done, or supply or cause water TO be sup
piled through any pipe or conduit here
after constructed in or along any street or
highway or part thereof along which water
ia at the time supplied 10 the public
through any pipe or conduit by any person
or company lawfully authorized
sfThere can be no mistaking the import
of this language. The condition upon
which cities or boroughs could supply
water hereafter, should this bill become
law, would be the purchase or condemna-
ton of the water works already in existence
in the municipality. 1t ia true the bill pro-
yides that in Condemnation proceedings the
measure of damages to be considered and
4 4L1r ~ nF
limited TO the actual value of the works or
property 30 taken and acquired by such
municipality', but it is clear under existing
law that the works and property would in
clude not only the ply sical structures and
appliances, but would also include the
franchises of the corporation. 1t may have
been intended by the use OF the lAIguage
value of the works and property that 1t
should not be taken to include the value
of the franchise, but under our law fran
chises are property ami no city or borough
could condemn and take q water plant
without paying its value, which would
include the value of is franchise. The
effect would necessarily be, in many in
stances, in case of condemnation, to i'm
pose upon the people OF the municipality
burdens in the way of taxation to pay not
only for water works that may be insult |
able in kind, insufficient in extent and |
practically useless for the needs of the !
municipality, but also pay for franchise
they now possess. have patiently heard |
and duly considered the very numerous |
and able arguments in favor of this bill, |
and while IN a few instances municipal |
ties have not acted with fairness TO water |
companies, and investors in such com |
panies may have suffered loss ehst in |
Justice they should not have suffered, yet |
I am irresistibly led TO the conclusion |
that, looking at the interests OF all the |
people in all the cities and boroughs in |
the commonwealth, l should withhold ap-
proval from this bill. An article Of such |
prime necessity as water should be the
last subject in which O monopoly is per
mitted. The public health and the com
fort of the individual citizen are involved
in this measure and cannot bring myself
10 believe that any legislation should be
permitted that would in any degree re-
strain the cities and boroughs of the state
from conserving the one and promoting
the other by proper municipal action"
The item Of $3.50, 900 in the appropria-
ton to the Western Pennsylvsnia institu-
ton for Feeble-Minded, for the construct-
ion and completion of chapel, eight |
double cottages and one industrial school.
~ specified in the plans originally approx
cd by the state board OF public charities,
is disapproved because the condition OF |
the revenues Of the state will not permit |
this appropriation at this time. 1t pro-
yides for the erection and construction Of
new buildings additional to those now
under ontract.
TIE bill to give preference of appoint
ment or employment TO honorably dis
charged soldiers, sailors and marines
who fought for the Union cause in the
late war Of the rebellion, making q dis |
regard thereof misdemeanor. punish
able by fine, is vetoed. The governor
says:
"The effect Of this legislation would
be TO require the head of every depart
ment Of the state government and the
contractors upon all public works Of
the state to prefer, by way Gf appoint
ment and employment, Union soldiers,
sailors and marines, and would impose
upon the heads Of departments and
contractors Of public works the duty OF
whether or not age. less
Of limb or other physical Impairment in
fact incapacitated or disqualified them
for the performance Of the work i'm
posed upon them, and a mistake Of
judgment in that regard is made a mis-
demeanor. 1t is now the policy of the
heads Of the department Of the state
government, and should continue TO be
A1s~ Ill 80