Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-03-14
A Snake IN the Legislature.

The taxpayers of the cities and boroughs
of pennsvlyania should feel deep inter-
est in the fate of bill now before tue
House of Representatives at Harrisburg
relating to wster-works in such cities anu
borouehs. The bill to which we refer is
known a. Senate bill number AS, and IL is
evidently "snake" of tho most dangerous
character. In its title it processes 10 give
the local municipalities of the State an-
thority and control over incorporated com
names supplying water within their limits,
and also to enable such municipalities 10
ACQUIRE the plants of such companies OF
spnnlv of water therefrom; but its real oo-
iect is something far different, being evl-
lently nothing less than TO place the OIL
GERS and taxpayers of every municipality
in which any water company may now
exist at the entire mercy of such company
The second section of this proposed new
law uroyides that "before any city or 6or-
ough shall purchase, construct, MAINTAIN
or operate any water works or plant OF llS
own or procure water to be supplied to the
public in any portion of its territory al
ready supplied by any company incorpo-
rated for that purpose, such city or Dor
ough shall purchase or acquire the WORKS
and plant of such company"
This clause of the bill practically pre-
vents every such city or borough from
procuring water for fire or any other pur-
pose except on such terms as 1t may
please the water company to offer. Tne
rate offered by the company may be out
rageously exorbitant; no matter,-the tax
payers cannot help themselves They
must accept rates or go without water
from any source unless they are prepared
to promptly bind themselves to purchase
the water plant at such price as the mana
gers of the company may choose to call IL
worth, or enter upon an expensive ano
protracted course of litigation to deter
mine its value. This is the practical effect
of the bill, and no doubt this is the sole
object of its hacker.
The oppressive operation of such a law
is already demonstrated by the practical
effect of the threatened bill at Beaver
Falls. The people OF that borough have
been for some time suffering for want OF
pure and adequate supply of water for do
mestic aud fire purposes. This want be-
came SO pressing that at recent election,
out of total of 1898 votes, 1851 votes
were cast in favor OF better supply and
new water works. In pursuance OF this
public demand the authorities OF the city
have, for more than year past, been en-
gagged in making preparations for the con-
struo ton of water works for the use of the
Laron Oh. and have expended several thous-
ar dollars for for SHz5q pg5p purpose Of securing
pure Pubic meeting few days ago to
protest against this bill, which they say
was introduced in the interest of q local
water company which is so heavily bonded
that it would be impossible for the Dor
ough to purchase its plant If this prec-
ious bill passes, the people OF Beaver Falls
will be in fact absolutely prohibited from
procuring an adequate supply Of pure wa
ter for their own use and at their own ex-
pensel And every other borough in the
State where such works are now establish
ed will find itself obliged to pay for water
Just what the managers of the company
may be pleased to demand.-Agitator.