Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-12
Ways and Means Committee
Thinks This sum Necessary
For Municipal Gas
coMslNED WITH ELECTRICITY
commiS,ce Reports on Petition of City
Federation Of Women's Clubs at
Monday Nights Meetine--Views Of
Solicitor on Legal Phases Under
Present Franchs. - Other Actions.

HG ways anu IiIGdnS cOnlmlttee OIL
the city council. thru Chairman Clark,
reported at the regular meeting of the
council, held Monday night, on the pc
tition of the City Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs, asking that the city install
municipal gas works and electric
lighting plant In the view held by the
COMMITTEES the cost would be great for
an undertaking of this kind. 5000, 900
being estimated as the amount of ex-
pendlture necessary to enter into COM
petition with an already established
plant. An opinion of the city solicitor,
as to the legal rights of the city UNI
der the present franchise of the Mar
shalltown Light, Power & Railway
Company, was made a part of the re
port.
With the aid of City Clerk Derby an
exhaustive report OF municipal plants
In other towns of a similar size, located
principally in the state Of Massachu-
sets, was included in the report Of the
committee. Gas and lights used, per
capita, together with cost of same per
thousand cubic feet per arnum, was
also shown. Siinmered down gas
plant, built for operation by the city.
would cost In the neighborhood of $780,
600, and an electric lighting plant
S125,O0O, or about 100000 for both.
The methods of procedure were also
outlined, including suggestion of "a
plan to have the plant built by
private concern, bonded secured by
first mortgage, and subject to cancel-
lation by the city. An annual levy of
5 mills could be made, and the city
could purchase the plant in time
City Solicitor Burritt gave the COM
mittee the law on the bonded indebted
ness Of cities, and an opinion as to the
rights of the city in view of the pres
that In the year 1892, when the fran
chise was granted the Marshalltown
Light, Power & Railway Company,
there was no law authorizing the
granting Of an exclusive franchise, and
that could not be done without the ex-
press authority OF the legislature. Elk
ceptions, as held in the case Of the
Des Moines Street Railway Company,
with dissenting opinions. however,
were Gifted, together with authority Of
courts to show that no city has right
to grant perpetual right to any street.
A city can not grant away any specif-
ic charge granted by its charter Is the
holding OF the solicitor. Otherwise,
Mr.. Burritt thinks, the franchise or.
FINANCE is valid, unless it Is void be-
cause of Its forfeiture features. The
law on forfeitures was not examined,
however, as the committee had not
asked for it.
Ordinance on Third Reading.
The new ordinance prepared by Mr..
Webster, creating the office Of superin-
tendent of water works, electric lights
and sewers. was placed on it's third
reading, with the right reserved to dis
cuss it at the next meeting, owing to
the absence of Mr.. Arnold and Mr.. Sieg.
Two slight amendments were offered by
Mr.. Webster and adopted.
Will Certify Assessments.
"A resolution by Mr.. Mcdonald, a,i-
thorizing the certifcation Of the ASSESS
ments is made by the street commits
sioner. for work done In cleaning side
walks of snow, repairing walks, cut
adopted after the reading of objections
made in writing. ]. G. Armstrong
was present in person to file an OBJ
lection.
Other Minor Matters.
Mr.. Webster presented a resolution
authorizing the clerk to draw a war
rant in favor Of the Ft. Wayne Electric
Supply Company for the installment of
new lamps as per contract, when the
lamps arrive.
Mr.. Webster, as chairman of the wa
ter works committee, made an oral re-
port on the disposition of the dynamo
at the sewage disposal plant at 1920
net. An offer of $5o5 has been made
for other old machinery now on hand.
Upon adjournment the council con-
vened as a board Of health and certi-
fed the months bills to the county
auditor.