Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-21
THE WATER COMMISSION BILL,

ill-feeing between the promoters ana
tao opposcrs Of the bill before the Leg
ihlature. proposing TO establish a CONF
misslon Of i've persons for the control
ranagemeut and acquisition Of the
,Yaier supply Of cities Of the FIRST class
Nothing should enter into the discus
sion Of this measure but reason and
g fair expression Of the views Of all
parties concerned. The intlmatlon on
the one hand that the committee Of
the Commercial club in presenting the
I'm intended to take a slap at The
city Council and on the other hand
that The council desires to retaliate ana
attack the club, Is too puerile for serl-
Gus consideration Time should not be
wasted upon It, Let US get down TO
an examination Of the measure pro-
posed.
Originally. the design was to give the
Mayor power 10 appoint the five COM
misaloners. TO exercise the powers al
ready mentioned. That proposition is
now changed so that the commission
ors are to be elected. one from each
Municipal ward. The election, how
ever. IL not 10 take place until the first
Monday in April. 1903 and not again
until April 1907 but the act il passed,
IS TO take effect Immediately andmea
while the Mayor is to appoint the five
Commissioners who are to exercise all
tic powers conferred upon the elected
ttard as mentioned IN the bin
This board Is to take complete con-
tiol and charge Of the present water
system Of the city TO construct and
maintain waterworks within ana With
cut the city limits TO purchase or
lease such works from any person or
corporation; and SIS jurisdiction is to
extend over the territory occupied by
such works and over all reservoirs,
ntreams, canals, bitches, pipes and
d,ains used In AMI necessary fog their
construction and maintenance, and
ever the stream or source from which
the water is taken for 10 miles above
the point from which y IS taken to
regulate and control the water courses
and mill privileges within the city, 20
construct purchase or lease and main.
tain, canals, bitches and reservoirs; to
purchase or lease springs streams. or
sources Of water supply for irrigation,
eemestio or other purposes and also
10 purchase or lease the land upon
which said water has been appropriate
ed or applied
This confers upon the board Of hye
Commissioners all the powers and
authorties In relation to water
supply that by charter are vested
IN the city Council, and Of course. takes
from Tie council all the jurisdiction
over each matters that are now and
have been for great many years
exercised by that body II fur
Their bestows upon the commits
sion power to fix the rate to
be paid FOR the use Of water fur
IIshei by the city, or by any person,
or corporation The board Is to ex-
ercise all powers relative TO elections
held under the provision Of this act
that are conferred upon the Board Of
County Commissioners in other cleo
ilons
This Board Of Water Commission.
ers IL to be body corporate, and
"may lake, hold. lease, sell and convey
zeal and personal property as the in
tercsis OF the city may require and
may exercise the power Of eminent do
main" It is further provided that
"The said board shall FIX The water
rates, provide Tor necessary extensions
and have power 10 employ and at pleas
uie discharge all necessary clerks, su.
perintendents. attorneys and employees
All funds from water rates,taxes bonds
issued, or from any other source re-
Iatng to the water system Of said cts
ehall be kept and controlled by th'
said board." The City Treasurer is &,
collect md keep in O special fund al
money derived from water rates, bu
"this fund shall az all times be undo
the direction OF the board, and may b
The discretion Of the board be loanel
upon security approved by the board.
That body Is given power further ID
adopt any rules or bylaws that 4
may see 1T for the government OF 10
proceedings or the control Of lis ser
wants. officers and employees"
Another very important provision O.
the bll is that III the revenue from
the water rates be not sufficient TO
the necessary expenditures Of th
board, 81 shall be the duty Of the Cit
Council to make annually. such lev
within the limit provided by law as tn
board shalI certify to the City councl
to be necessary, and the funds so raise
shalt he paid over 10 the custodian o
It's funds and kept in the special fun
snd paid out upon the order Of SAT
board Bonds may be issued hy IN
commission after the question has beet
submitted to The citizens. to be decides
by the votes Of a majority Of the quail
ned electors. and these are 70 be =
lien upon the taxable property OF tn
city issuing them" It is made the dul'
of the City Council 10 pass all ordin
hnces necessary to carry into eiiec
the purposes Of this act"
These Al extraordinary powers to b