The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-16
THEY FIX IT UP.
Waterworks Control Measure Is
Agreed Upon.
Provides That Councils Shall
Have Partial Control.

AT a meeting of the committee on
cities of the first class, two important
DIS were agreed upon and will today
be reported to the house.
One is the bill providing for the
method of managing waterworks. cleo
trio light plants and power plants I'M
DER municipal control; the other is the
Dill TO amend the present atrocious pro-
visions of the public utilities section of
the city charter act
The bill for the control of water
works IS of especial interest to the peo-
pie OF Topeka. It is, as finally agreed
upon, a compromise between the stone
bill, which proposed to establish by
statute the status of the board of trus-
tees ana give them exclusive control Of
the Waterworks, and the Bird bill,
Wnlcn proposed to place the whole re-
or the city council.
The bill as agreed upon as compro-
mise provides that the city council
shall by ordinance create a board of
trustees, who shall be appointed by the
mayor and confirmed by the council,
and who shall have the right to initiate
the plans for the control of the plant,
which must to be effective be confirm
ed by the council. The council can not
act without suggestion from the board
and the board can not act without con-
sent of the council.
The following is a summary of the
bill, which seems to be as the whole
rather more inclined to the Bird bill
than to the Stone bill, since it gives the
council the right to create the board.
and hence to regulate it to a great ex-
The following are the provisions of
the bill:
Section 1 provides that the mayor
and council shall provide by ordinance
for the creation of a board of commits
sioners and fix their salaries In cities
of the first class the board may be of
either three or five members lin cities of
the second class three PERSONS; in cities
of the third class one person.
Section provides that the commits
sioners shall serve for three years, one
term expiring each year. They shall
hold no other office and shall give bond
as required by the mayor and council.
If the board is composed of five persons
they shall have five year terms.
Section 3 provides that the board
of commissioners shall recommend to
the mayor and council a schedule of
rates, and such extensions or renewals |
as may be reasonable; also such en-
plOyes as may be necessary.
Section says that the mayor and
council shall provide for rates, provide
for employees and fix salaries upon the
commissioners. When such appointees
are once appointed, they shall not be
removed from service, except for in
efficiency, or neglect of duty.
from the plant shall be placed in the
city treasury in a separate fund,
which cannot be diverted except when
not needed to operate the plant or pay
bonds
''section 6 allows a city to sell wa
ter, fuel, power or light to anyone in
the city.
Section says: No extensions to
said plant shall be made by any board
of commissioners until there shall be
applications made from and agreements
signed by persons along the proposed
extension in sufficient number so that
the revenue from said proposed extern
sion will in the judgment of the board
be ample to justify making such ex-
pense. nor shall any such mains be con-
for political reasons, or on ac-
count on any combination between such
board or commissioner and any other
city official. and for such offense said
board or commissioner shall be removed
from Office
Ohlhausen-s Bill.
After hearing from Joab Mulvane,
T. F. Doran, and the representatives