The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-13
PUBLIC POWER
Williams Bill Provides Tor
State Ownership.
He Would Confer Right to Buy
Utilities.
EVEN BUY A RAILROAD
City Can Buy Anything 1t Can
Pay For.
Gordon Would Have a State
Bag Factory.

Williams, of Sedgwick county today
| introduced a bill providing for munich
pal and state ownership of public utili-
ties and providing that any city of the
first, second or third class or the state
of Kansas may on 80 days notice pur-
chase any public utility under its SUI
peryiSion by the payment of not to ex-
coed per cent in addition to the as
sessed valuation of the property of that
utility. The bill also provides that the
utility must return its own property
assessment and prescribes a heavy
penalty for failure to list of property
accurately.
The Williams bill is the most dras-
tic public utilities measure that has
as yet found its way into the Iegis-
lature. Under the terms of that bill
the state of Kansas might decide to
purchase the entire Santa Fe, Rock
Island or Union Pacific service in this
state by the payment of per cent in
addition to the assessed valuation re-
turned by that company. Or the city
of Topeka might take over the street
railway system on a similar basis.
Not only does the Williams bill per-
nit the state or any incorporated city
within the state to purchase any utili-
ty, but as a second club it provides a
most severe penalty for any officer,
agent, director or representative of the
corporation who fails to make accurate
report to the tax commits
sion concerning >the actual
value of property In the first instance
fine of 800 to $1,000 with Jail sem
tence of from so days to six months is
provided for failure TO list property
valuations accurately and an addi-
tional fine of not less than 800 for
each day after March 1 in which the
officers or agents of the utility fail
to make reports.
The Williams Bill.
In
THAT all public utilities owning or
controlling property i'll cities of the
first, second and third class or with
in the state of Kansas be required to
list upon the first day of March of
each year with the county assessor
for the county in which such property
is situate, all the property owned by
such public utility With its exact phys
zeal valuation less any value for fran
chise they may have which shall be
the basis of taxation.
THAT the city or state in which
such property is listed or located may
at any time upon 80, days notice pur-
chase the property owned by the pub
lie utility at a price Of not more than
per cent above liberalization placed
upon it for taxation by the public
utility.
'"That in case the city or state gives
such notice to purchase the property
of the public utility said city or state
shall pay for all new work done by |
the public utility after the filing of
the statement for taxation of the
property owned by it.
THAT all companies and corpora |
tions and officers, agents, representa- /,
tives or consignees failing to render :
a correct statement of property owned
by it to the county assessor as herein
provided, or violating any of the pro-
visions of this section either directly
or indirectly or by abetting or aiding
either directly or indirectly in any vio-
lation of any provision of this section .
shall be deemed guilty of a INSIDE |
meanor and shall be fined not less
than one thousand dollars and confin-
ed in Jail not less than thirty days nor
more than six months and shall for
felt not less than one hundred dollars
for each and every day such violation
may continue which may be recovered ,
in the name of the state of Kansas in
any court of competent Jurisdiction"
Keene of Bourbon today introduced
a bill prohibiting the issuance of an
Dor disputes unless seven days notice
of the issuance of a writ has. been
served This bill will serve to aid in
the performance of contracts and to
prevent tieups of public and private
work through labor disputes in which
the injunction process has often been
worked overtime.
Keene's bill is aimed. He does not
endeavor to prevent the issuance of a
writ of injunction except in cases
where such court orders are secured
for the probable reason of blocking
work and to settle private differences.
In cases where there is grave danger