The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-21
LITTLE HELP.
Legislature DiscOuraging the
Municipal Idea.
Would Prevent WaterWOrks Be-
ing Kept Out of Politics.
SPECIAL ORDER MADE.
Bill Will Come Up in the House
Tonight.
The Compromise Measure Does
Not Eliminate Politics.
SPECIAL ORDER MADE.

1t was decided. by the house of rep
resentatives this morning to make the
subject of municipal waterworks the
special order for this evening at 1880.
At this session, the house will agree
upon a bill which will provide meth
DDS for the control of waterworks
plants owned by municipalities
This bill is of great Importance to
the city of Topeka, as at the present
time the law provides no means by
which the city can create board Of
waterworks commissioners. It seems
to be the unanimous sentiment that
the control of city waterworks plants
should be taken out from under the
/ political influence of the city council
as far as possible, and given to non
partisan board of business men who
viii devote their best energies to a
strictly business administration of the
plant
Three principal bills relating to the
subject of municipal control have been
introduced. Stone and Bird of Shaw
nee have each introduced a bill, and
Tredway of Allen has one. The Stone
and Bird bills have been considered
! by the committee of the first class
cities, and a substitute bill recommend
! ed, which covers the ground not only
/ OF these two bills but of the Tredway
/ bill as we'll
The substitute bill provides that any
city of the first, second or third class
which owns waterworks, fuel, power
or lighting plant shall provide by
ordinance for the creation of a board
of commissioners, and fix their sal
aries, which com mission shall operate
the plant under such rules and regu-
lations as the mayor and council may
by ordinance provide.
This section of the ordinance is in
itself a severe blow at the political
independence of the board of water
commissioners. The bill puts the
whole power to control the board in
the hands of the city council.
Cities of the first class can have a
board of not more than three or less
than five members. This in itself puts
1t in the power of the council to con-
troll the policy of the board by increas-
ing or diminishing it's size, by ordi-
nance.
The board is given power to ''rec-
ommend" to the city council but it
cannot act on its own responsibility.
All its plans must be made effective
by order of the city council. The fol-
lowing sections illustrate this phase of
the case:
1T shall be the duty of said board of
ommend to the mayor and council a
schedule of rates and such renewal or
extension of any plant from time to
time as in the judgment of said board
or commissioner will be reasonable,
proper and just; also such employees as
may be necessary to properly operate
said plant or plants.
Upon the recommendation of said
board of commissioners, the mayor and
council shall, by ordinance, fix such
rates for water, fuel, power or light as
they deem proper, reasonable and just,
provide for such employees as may be
necessary to operate said plant or
plants define their duties, and fix their
salaries; and when such employees are
once appointed they shall not be re-
moved from service except for ineffi-
pipOcV or neglect of dutV.''
In regard to extensions of the mains.
which is likely to prove one of the foot
balls to be Kicked about by political in
fluence, the bill makes strict provisions,
which are not sufficient to accomplish
their purpose so long as the board is
left in the absolute control Of the city
council.
The bill provides that all the revenue
derived from the operation of the plant
shall be placed in the city treasury, in
a separate fund and shall not be paid
out except for the purpose of operating,
renewing or extending the plant from
which said fund was derived and the
payment of the salaries of the employees;
and at any time that there may be a
surplus of such fund 1t shall be quar-
terly placed in a sinking fund, which
shall only be used for the purpose of
redeeming bonds that may have been
issued for the purpose of acquiring the
plant
mo extensions to said plant or plants
shall be made by any board of commits
SionerS or any commissioner until there
shall be applications made for and
agreements signed by persons along the
proposed extension in sufficient number
so that the revenue from said propos-
ed extension will, in the judgment of
said board or said commissioner, be
ample to justify making such extern
sion; nor shall any extensions mains
or lines be constructed by said board
or commissioner for political reasons or
on account of any combination between
such board or commissioner and any
other city official; and should such
board or commissioner extend any
mains or lines for political reasons, or
bv entering into combination with
any other city official to do so, or shall
refuse to extend said mains or lines
when it is shown that the same will be
profitable to said plant or plants for
such offense said board or commission
er shall be removed from Office"
No Calendar Revision.
BY a very decisive vote, the house
this morning voted against a revision
of the calendar, as proposed by the
committee on rules.
Adams of Sedgwick led the fight
against the proposed committee of
three on revision. He said:
L have not time to lobby with re-
vision committee. This proposition is
unfair to the men who have stayed here
and attended to business"
Jones of Norton, said: Everything