Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-08-26
PUBLIC
LIGHTING
CLAUSE
Provision of Amended
Charter of Salem
BY Which the City Has Full
Power to Buy, Install
and Operate

~ AAAA-AAA- aAE AAM AEAA % AAt
ahlie 0EnershiP clause Of the amend.
ID charter Of the city Of Salem, under
whieh the city appears to have fun
poEer 10 bBy, establish. maintain and
operate q lighting plant:
"The common council ma have pow.
r. % contract for water and light for
city purposes. or 70 lease, purchase, or
~eonstrue, a plant or plants for water
or light, or both, for city purposes, in
Or outside Of the city limits. The eoun-
ell Of the city Of Salem shall, a, all
times. under the limitations herein set
out, have power to provide, By ordi-
nance. for lighting the streets, and all
public and private places in the city,
aud furnishing water to the inhabitants
thereof; TO provide for the acquisition.
ownership, construction, and mainte-
nance Of water works, gas works, elee.
trie light works, steam, water or elee.
tFie power works, heating works, tele-
phone lines street railways, bridges and
ferries, and such other public utilities
q the council may designate, and to
issue bonds therefor: Provided, how.
ever, no contract or agreement for the
purchase. condemnation, ownership.
construction, or operation by the city
Of any public utility shall be entered
into. nor bonds be issued therefor. by
the council without first submitting
such proposed contract or agreement
TO the qualified voters Of the city. The
council may, by a two-thirds vote, pro
cure through some competent engineer.
plans and estimates Of the cost Of con.
struetion and completion of any public
utility or utilities After such plans
and estimates shall have been procured
and filed, it shall, at az early a date
as may be deemed for the best inter.
ests Of the city, enter into negotiations
for the permanent acquisition by the
city by original construction, eondem.
nation or purchase Of such or any such
public utilities as the council NAV
deem advisable, and formulate and sub
init 10 the electors Of the city. at q
or regular city election, prosi.
tons for the permanent requirement
and ownership thereof. Before submit.
ting propositions TO the electors for the
acquisition by original construction.
condemnation OF purchase Of such or
any such public utilities as the eoun.
ell may deem advisable, and formulate
and submit 10 the electors Of the city.
at a special or regular city election,
propositions for the permanent acquire.
ment and ownership thereof. Before
submitting propositions to the electors
for the acquisition by original con.
struetion, purchase, or condemnation Of
public utilities of like character. the
council must solicit and consider offers
for the sale 10 the city Of existing
utilities in order that the electors shall
have the benefit Of acquiring the same
at the lowest possible cost therefor.
whenever a petition or petitions, signed
by the electors of the city equal in
number to 25 per eentum of all the
votes east at the last preceding elee.
ton for the Office OF mayor, shall be
presented 20 the council, setting forth
that the signers thereof favor the ae.
QUESTION by the city Of any public
utility, and requesting the council To
prepare for submission to the electors
OF the city As hereinafter provided. a
proposition for the acquisition Of such
utility, il shall be the duty of the
council TO immediately take such steps
aud enter into such negotiations as will
Ii TO formulate sueh a PROPOSE.
tion for submission to the electors as
aforesaid. such proposition shall he so
formulated and completed within six
months from the date OF the fling Of
such petition. The recorder must inn
mediately, upon the 6ling Of the afore-
said petition or petitions after examin.
ing aud verifying the signatures there,
To- transmit an authenticated copy
thereof, without the signatures to the
together with a certificate that
required number Of signatures are
appended 10 the original The peti.
iioners aforesaid shall also have the
right % formulate and submit 10 the
'ooneii a separate proposition from
formulated b. the eouneil for the
acquisition Of Ihe utility namel in said
Al the next municipal elee
lea after the formulation Of such
Propositions by the council and peti.
o. Al . special election ealled
'y the council. Tor said purpose. tho
'eaneil shall suhnit 10 the electors the
l~uesiion q acquiring such utility and