The Lamar register., 1903-07-22
COLORADO STATE AFFAIRS AND
DOINGS AT THE CAPITAL CITY
Pro,osed Charter Provisions.

One of the most important reports
yet submitted to the charter convention
is that presented by the committee on
public utilities. The report is divided
into four chapters. designated as FOL
lows: Public utilities, works and ways;
franchises for public utilities; fran
chises for particular utilities with sub
divisions treating of street and other
railways. and operation. This last
chapter is still incomplete, as the COM
mittee is awaiting data. The report is
very lengthy. covering over thirty
pages of typewriter matter.
Section ! of chapter l provides that
the city and county of Denver shall
have the power. within or without Its
territorial limits to construct. con-
denim, purchase, acquire. lease. add to.
maintain, own. conduct and operate,
water works. light and power plants.
transportation systems. heating plants
and other public utilities or other
works or ways, local in use and extent,
in whole or in part, and everything re-
quired therefor for the use of said city
and county and for the Inhabitants
thereof. The section also provides that
no contract or agreement for the acqui-
sition, or for the leasing or disposing
Of any public utility SO acquired by the
city and county shall be entered into
by the council without first submitting
the same to the voters. 1t Is provided
in section that the city may acquire
public utilities by enforcing proposed
purchases by proceedings in law as in
the taking of land for public use by
right of eminent domain under the con-
stitution and general laws of the state.
Section 3 provides that within one
year from the time the charter goes In
to effect arrangements must be made
for the city to acquire its own water
works, and the mayor and engineer are
authorized to enter into written con-
tracts upon the best terms possible for
the acquisition of properties necessary
for the establishment of the city water
works, and that before the same shall
become binding 1t shall be submitted to
a vote of the people for approval. SIM
liar arrangements must also be made
within suitable time for the acquisition
by the city of the other public utilities
mentioned in chapter 1. 1t is also pro-
vided that by means of the Initiative
and referendum five per cent. of the
voters can call upon the commissioner
of public utilities to submit PROPOSE
tions for the acquisition by the city of
any public utility desired, and that the
voters shall then ballot on such prop
osition.
In submitting propositions looking
toward the requirement of any public
utilities the estimated cost of securing
the same must be made public to the
voters and the amount of bonds neces-
sary to be issued for the purchase of
the same. A majority of the electors
voting shall be necessary to carry such
propositions. No bonds can be issued
without the consent of the voters.
1t is also provided that no indebted
ness shall be incurred by the city which
shall at any time exceed ten per cent
of the assessed value of all the zeal and
personal property in the city and coun-
ty. 1t is further provided that no less
than one-thirtieth part of the whole
amount of bonded Indebtedness issued
under the provisions of this chapter
shall be paid each year. Among the
equal bidders for bonds. preference
shall be given to residents of the state
for the smallest amounts and the low
est denominations. The bond must
hear not to exceed four per cent. inter
est.