The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-14
MunicipalWater and Light
Plants Opposed.
Mayors Tiepke and McGuin-
ness AntagOnize Bill.
The Heavy Burden II Would Place
on the Town Of Westerly.

At 2 O'Clock this afternoon the judiciary
committee of the House granted a public
hearing on the bill, introduced by Mr..
Blodgett yesterday, for an act TO enable
towns and cities to establish, maintain
and operate gas, electric light and water
works.
The substance of the bill Is as follows:
Any city or town may, subject to the
conditions and under the limitations or
this act, construct, lease or establish, and
MAINTAIN and operate within its limits,
plant or works for the manufacture OF
gas or electricity or for the storage of
water, and pipes, lines and other means
and apparatus for the distribution and
supply of gas, electricity or water for
municipal use and for the use OF such
persons and corporations in said city or
town as may desire to use and pay for
the same.
No city shall, however, exercise the
power granted until vote that Ii is expe-
dent to exercise such power shall have
passed each branch OF the City Council by
two-thirds vote apd received the appro-
val Of the Mayor In each OF two consecu-
tive municipal years, and thereafter have
been ratified by majority of the voters
authorized TO vote upon proposition to
lmpOtt Il thA Ut fOT Tue expenditure Ol
money, present and voting thereon at an
annual municipal election. When such
vote OF the city council has failed TO Sc
cure such ratification, no similar vote
shall be submitted for ratification until
alter the expiration of five years there
after.
No town shall exercise the power grant
ed until vote that IL is expedient to
exercise such power shall have been pas
sed by vote OF not less than two-thirds
OF the voters authorized 10 vote upon a
proposition to impose tax or for the ex-
penditure of money, prsgent and voting
at each of two legal town meetings duly
called for the purpose. the second OF
which town meetings shall be held at an
interval OF not less than six and not more
than eighteen months after the first.
When such vote has failed to pass at the
second OF said town meetings, no similar
vote shall be passed until after the expi-
ration OF tSo years thereafter.
The rest of the act provides that when
ever city or town shall decide to do any
OF things provided for by the bill it shall
first purchase whatever private plant may
be already in operation and furthermore,
II the town aud the private corporation
do not agree oH-tAe price the latter may
appeal to the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Rlodgett drew, the bill himself and
his explanation OF the many restrictive
clauses is that, although the bill is for
tect the cities against their own rashness.
Mr.. Walter III. Barney was the first
Sceaker and he represented the town OF
Westerly, which town, he said had been
in controversy with the Westerly Water
Works Company for years.
He opposed the bill principally because
of the section which requires a town to
buy any private plant already etnb-
lished within its limit, before establish
ing plant OF its own.
A fer much litigation the town OF West
erly had got decision from Court to the
effect that the Westerly Water Works
Company did not have hn exclusive
franchise aud that the town could have
its own plant.
On the strength of this decision the
people OF Westerly had voted TO have their
own water works and had already given
out contracts amounting TO 100000 to
build the plant.
Now, IL the bill is passed, the town
must buy out the private company's en-
tire.plant, which is antiquated and not
wanted aud would impose an additional
and unnecessary expenditure of 900, 900.
The speaker suggested an amendment
by which Westerly might be exempt from
the terms Of the bill.
Mayor Tipeke of Pawtucket said that
the bill is unwise. and unjust, especially
to the city OF Pawtucket He said that
the secret OF the whole thing was in the
iact that the city of Pawtucket's con-
tract with the Electric Lipht Company
expires this year and that the city has ap-
pointed special committee to consider
the question OF municipal ownership. He
urged the committee to grant further
time for consideration inasmuch as the
hearing had peen granted at such short
notice.
Mayor McGuinness very emphatically
denounced the bill and called IL most
contemplate piece of legislation arranged
bv the board of directors OF some inter
ssted corporation.
Town Solicitor Craft OF Westerly was
She fourth speaker TO oppose the bill and
be made strong argument against tho
provisions, which in his opinion, are al
together In opposition to tho cities and
towns and in favor of the corporation.
City Solicitor Colweil stated that there
IL great deal OF doubt as TO what the
scope of the act n. He said that the
passage OF the bill would forever put the
city OF Providence at the mercy Of cor
porations and could cut of the city from
ever enjoying its privileges to establish
municipal plants.
He deplored the hasty action in such
serious matter on the two days OF the
session and without any warning TO the
thousands OF people who are SO vitaIly
interested.