Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-07-24
COLORADO STATE AFFAIRS AND
DOINGS AT THE CAPITAL CITY
Proposed 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 provides tina:
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. II Is provided
In section that the city may acquire
public utilities by enforcing proposed
purchases by proceedings In law ns In
the taking OF land for public use by
right of eminent domain under the con-
stitntIon 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 It's 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 IL shall be submitted to
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 I. II is also pro-
yided that by means OF the Initiative
and referendum hve per cent. Of the
NOtrfN can call upon tNc CufiHiifNiuneE
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
oHItion.
In submitting propositions looking
I toward the requirement OF any public
utilities the estimated cost OF securing
the same must be made public to tho
vo,crs and the amount OF bonds neecs-
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.
II IL alsc provided that no Indebted
ness shall be incurred by the city which
shall Mt any time exceed ten per cent.
/ Of the assessed value Of NIL the real and
pcrronai property In the city and coun-
/ ~. II Is further provided that no less
than onc-,hirtlc;h part Of the whole
amount of bonded Indebtedness issued
undcr the proyiSions 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.