The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-09-23

repealed, relate to other, and for fine
purpose OF news, unimportant fea.
lures of the same franchise.
Inc council then determined f.
submit TO the people the question OF
ponolhS the town in the sum of AZ 8OC
Ior the purpose of constructing and
maintaining municipal water sys.
TEN which shall have its source of
supply in Lake Stella, and an cleo.
ton was called for Tuesday Octo.
Der lSthr to determine whether q,
not the bonds shall issue.
At this election only such freq
holders in the town as are regu-
larly qualified with the franchise
Will be entitled under the law to
vote, and it will require two-.hirds
vote III favor of the bonds in order to
authorize their issue.
The action of the council in repcal.
Ing the ordinance of Jan. II. 1893
granting an exclusive franchise to
Miller ~ Cash for 80 years, was based
ON the written opinion of Hon. s. ].
Hliburn OF Palaka, who holds a
ranking place in Florida as an au-
thorlty on municipal law, and who
held that the ordinance was of no
effect IN that it granted an exclusive
franchise, something that no mmi.
cipality had power to bestow under
the law.
or course there will be some smil-
ing over this Repeating ordinance
among those citizens who will re-
member that several Of the aldermen
present and voting for it were elected
TO their present responsibilities by
reason OF their high moral interpre-
tatlon of aSother phase of this same
water contract, and who then held
hat, if the contract wasn't exactly
legal, 1t was at least entered into in
good falth by the parties. and should
be upheld until the end OF the chap
ter. But times change, and so, it
seems, do aldermen. While the
gr' Ell grass grows all round.
1t is the purpose of the prrsen,
council, in case the bonding issu,
carries, to sell the bonds and Use til,
money for constructing water plant
to be owned and managed by the
town. 1t does not yet appear on
which streets mains will be laid.
probably not on more than one or
two. The water in Lake Stella it is
said, is good for drinking and
other domestic purposes, 1t is also
Il wet quality of water and can be
used for irrigation.
All receipts from the system will
so into the town treasury and assist
in defraying the expenses.
The council is proceeding on right
Cor Legal lines. 1t has the power to
issue bonds not to exceed per cent
of the assessed real and personal val
uation of the town, provided two
thirds of the property owning voters
are agreed. The council also has the
power to levy a special tax not to
exceed five mills to pay the
interest Oh the bonds If the cleo
ton carries the council is clothed
with power to fin the rate OF interest
the bonds are to bear, not in excess
of the legal rate OF Sprr cent,
The rate of interest will, in order
to find a purchaser, have to be from
to : per cent. The interest on an
issue. of $500 at Is per cent would
mean an annual ayment of SOS.
The town would have to employ Il
superintendent and there would ht
other expenses of maintenance,
which, with interest; would amount
toat least 81 900 per year, from which
would be deducted the receipts.
The whole question is one OF num-
cipal finance for the voters to decide,
and in order that the question may
be thoroughly understood the News
will throw open its columns to
friends and opponents of the meas
ure.
Everybody in Crescent City reads
the News. A few-only a few-bor-
row it, to be sure, (and we don t
blame them but everybody reads it,
So 90 ahead gentlemen, with your
discussion, but get your copy here
by Mondays.