The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-26
OGDEN PROBLEM
MAY Be SOLVED
High Water and Light Charges
May Result in Municipal
Ownership.

N-Since the recent supreme court decision
III regard to the Ogden waterworgIs. a
few weeks ago, some of the recently
elected city councilmen have been Civ
ing considerable thought to the question
of municipal ownership and as a result
the waterworks and electric lighting prob
lens have been taken up once more.
The indications are that the entire ques-
ton viii be gone over again by the city
council. in the hope of finding a solu-
ton TO the problems that have vexed
those composing the city government for
many years.
The present movement originated with
CouncilmeE c. J. Humphris and Horace
T. Peery. two of the three men elected
to that body by the Democrats last fall.
On Monday evening just before the coun-
Gil adjourned they presented a reSOlu-
ton, providing for the appointment of
special committee TO go to work on the
matter at once. The resolution went
through without a dissenting voice, and
a committee consisting of Peery, Humph-
ris, Browning. Dana and Dickson, was dp-
pointed. Here is the resolution:
Whereas. it is commonly asserted that
the rates for electric light and water at
present in vogue in Ogden City, are in
ordinately high, and
whereas. as result of litigation be-
tween certain citizens of our city and
the Ogden WaterwOrks company the
courts have held that this council has
the right to regulate the rates charged
for public utilities by public service cor
poratiOns operating under franchises
granted by the city, and
Whereas il is the desire of this cOun-
city that such necessities as light and
water should be furnished to our people
at rates witch are fair and reasonable
alike to the consumer and the companies
which furnish them, and
Whereas. il might be to the best adj
vantage of the people that the city should
acquire by purchase or otherwise. the
property and other rights of the present
companies who now furnish light and wa
ter to our citizens. or that the city should
acquire by purchase or otherwise other
property and other rights of a similar
character; now, therefore, be 1t
Resolved. That a special committee he
appointed by the president of the coun-
eli to Investigate whether or not the
charges "a to the eXcessiveness of water
and electric light rates at the present
time are Justified by the facts.
Resolved. further. That said commit
tee be directed to make such recOmmen-
dations to the council as may be fitting
in the premises.
Resolved, further. That said commit
tee be authorized to investigate the feast
bility of purchasing the property and
other rights of the said companies now
furnishing said utilities to the residents
of Ogder. or the feasibility of acquiring
other property and other rights by the
said CITY for the same purpose.
A"Resolved, finally. That all of the citi
Eyas of Ogden City be invited to CO.
A-perate with said committee by furnish
ing them information upon the subjects
herein mentioned, by making suggestions
in relation thereto. or otherwise aiding
said committee to the end that some
method be devised whereby the citizens
of Ogden shall be able to obtain such
necessities as light and water at fair and
reasonable rates.