Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-02-21
Vicious Legislation.

bill. which has already passed the
State Senate and which is now pending IN
the Honse, reads as follows:
Sec l. Be It enacted by the Senate and
Hor,~v-,,s -,,sfspuresentatives OF the Common
eI,b of Pennsylvania in General Assem-
hIU rnet and il IS hereby enacted oy tue
an,horitv of the same That every city anu
borough shall have power ana au.noiIty ~
consent TO the construction OF Waler "oiAs
v;tbin the limit of its territory OF any poi-
tion thereof for the supply OF water 10 tue
public and no company hereafter incolPo-
rated for such purpose shall enter upon
any street or highway within any cly Vi
borough Tor the purpose OF constructing VI
extending any part OF It's piant VI S me
without first procuring tne consen' ,S %
local authorities Every city or borough
grantipp such consent may in addition 10
nrovidi9g reasonable regulations Tor the
pnblic convenience and safety impose sucn
raasoes sble conditions as it may deem
nToner in relation to the construction OF
snch works or plant and also stipulate ior
and agree upon terms on which sucn CITY
or borough may at any time acquire tne
nIant or works of such company or require
or take supply OF water therefrom :,
Sec. 2. Every city and borough snail
have the power of eminent domain 50 as W
enable it to acquire BY purchase OF con
demnation the plant or works OF any con-
many Incorporated fer and supplying water
rr;thin the limits OF such municipality ana
before any city or borough shall purchase
construct maintain or operate any "atel
works or plant of it's own or procure water
to he supplied to the public in any portion
sf its territory already supplied Dy any
comnanv Incorporated for such purpose
snch city or borough shall purchase or ac-
onire the works and property OF sucn COM
nanv within such district and so much
thereof located outside of such district aS
such city or borough may. require a.
price to be agreed upon and IN case oi IAN
t1re to agree upon such price such clty Vi
borough shall pay therefor sucn dauaEes
a shall be awarded to such company .Ae
same to be ascertained IN the lono"lnE
manner that is to say Upon the presen.-
alton to the court Of common pleas OF tne
proper county setting forth the premises
and describing the plant or WORKS insenu- NJ
ed to be taken the court snail ai'er ~ uey :
notice to the company interested sppoln
< disinterested persons as viewers etc
Provided That this act shall not apply
tn boroughs which have already purchased
their water works and wish to enlarge tne
same by additional purchases or Dy laying
additional pipe lines or providing additlon, ,
nj hydrants for the accommodation anu
protection Of the people and properly VI
said boroughs
Tt will he observed the first section is
a mere rehash of the present corporate
powers of cities and boroughs regarding
water companies, but section 2 contains
something new in these words: "before any
CITY or borough shall purchase, construct
maintain. or operate any water WORKS oi
plant of it's own or procure water to be sup
Piled to the public in any portion OF III
territory already supplied by any company
incorporated for such purpose; such CITY
or borough shall purchase or acquire th'
works and property of such companies
etc.
These worde are direct blow at the
corporate rights Of cities and boroughs
They mean that we cannot help or better
ourselves without first shouldering the
property of a corporation whose service mas
become unsatisfactory, and therefore at
meeting of citizens Of this town last Thurs
day, the following resolutions were adopt
ed:
Resolced. That it is the sense OF thli
meeting that senate bill No. 4o, and now
pending in the legislature of the state, II
not only unconstitutional and vicious ou'
an outrage upon citizens, taxpayers and
the people of the borough OF Butler and ol
every borough in the state who are recelv'
ing their water supply from corporations
or private individuals. Therefore be it,.
Resolued, That we assert the right OF Jnlf
borough and of every boroagh in the state
in their municipal capacity, and whenever
thew so desire and do it to furnish their
people with pure, good water without be-
ing forced TO buy at an exhorbitant price
lot of junk that is practically worthless
and useless.
Resolued. That the senator from this
district aud representatives from this coun'
tv be requested to use all and every honor
able means to defeat the passage OF this
bill by the Legislature OF this state.
The bill has already passed the Senate,
and Senator Meredith who has an interest
in the Water Works here was one OF Its
champions, but it should be defeated in
the House il possible.
1t is dangerous bill, everywsy. The
words "or procure water to be supplied to
the public in any portion of its territory, .
etc., might be construed as operating a.
gainst the granting of the use of the streets
By council to joint stock companies such
rs the one in existence in our First Ward
to-day.