The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-01-17
ALL CITIES join
In ASKING RIGHT
TO ISSUE BONDS
Paducah Proposal for Special
Assessment Plan Meets
Favor.
Relief From Litigation is
More Troublesome.
LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES

| City Solicitor James Campbell, Jr.,
returned from Frankfort satisfied
that his efforts 50 far in promoting
the plan OF issuing special assessment
public improvement bonds, have met
with success. Indeed, he said, that
at the meeting When the league OF
Kentucky municipalities was perma-
nently Organized. all the representa-
tives, including those from Louisville
and the Third class towns. asked that
their constituencies be included In
the provisions. and the bill, which
will be prepared by Mr.. Campbell,
will be more comprehensive than at
first anticipated.
Some opposition was encountered
to the proposition to make cities i'm
mune from suits. although the meet
ling endorsed the measure. The OBJ
lection is technical and believed not
to be sound, though II may Illustrate
efforts to secure the laws enactment
Fear was expressed that the exemp-
ltion OF cities from suits for damages
might through the liability back on
the members of the general council.
who authorize public work. The bill
recites that those in charge are made
personally liable for gross negligence,
but this is merely reciting a common
law liability. and II Is believed by
good authority that councilmen could
not be held responsible for damages
occasioned by work beyond their con-
Itrol.
The Bond Issue.
However, the sfrst proposition Is
the most important one. Broadly II
enables general councils to create i'm
lprovements and issue special assess
ment bonds for these improvements.
the cost of the Improvements TO be
Assessed pro rata against property In
the district embraced, enforceable
Through a lien against the property,
land payable to the city in ten annual
llnstailments with interest sufficient to
lcover the expense of the bond issue.
The plan subserves the twofold
purpose of securing competition and
cheapness by furnishing the money
to pay the contractor upon compile
tion of the work, and relieving the
property holde. of the heavy burden
OF the expense by distributing pay
ments over ten years, during which
time the value of his property would
be enhanced by the improvement
beyond the amount Of the cost. Any
lone. 50 desiring, may escape the In
terest by paying his assessment IN
cash.
Since assessments for improve
ments, such as sidewalks, sewers ant
paved streets, seldom average owe
$50, these payments would be onl,
SIS annually with small interest. II
cities where the plan Is in vogue pub
lie improvements are popular, aDC
people demand sewers. sidewalks anC
paved streets. instead of opposing
them, az they do where the assess
ment is directly payable in a luml
sum. and the expense Is increased b.
D extra charges of the contractors TO
: collecting the assessments.
: II is believed that, II this Law
, passes, a half million dollars wortl
of improvements can be made in Pa
ducah during the next five years, en-
Ihancing the value of property am
health conditions. making the cit!
more attractive and encouraging pri
waite enterprise.
Mr.. Campbell said the commission
, government was never mentioned a
the meeting, though everyone presen
had the idea in his mind.
Municipal League.
Mr.. Campbell was greatly please
d with the attendance and enthusiasm
at the meeting of representatives 9
the cities. and takes II as an indics
ton that the organization will az
, complish great good for Kentuck
a lcities. With a permanent committe
> to handle the work of the organizs
o ton. as is planned. he says, befor
! the next session of the legislature tn
=, senator's and representatives can b
n fully informed on up-to-date ideas {
municipal governments. the peculis
needs of Kentucky cities and III
present difficulties of their charts
provisions. Intelligent efforts at n
formfi he believes, will accomplls
~ much good in the next two years.
NJ His bills have not yet gone to ii
oommittee, but with no opposition
the special assessment bond propos
lie -, l.. .,a- rNfhsnn m bfp1ar a