The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-03-09
ANENT THE VALUATION
OF ELECTRIC LIGHT BONDS


case OF Seof1eld against the city Of
Ocala for the valuation of certain
electric light bonds. there will be no
improperly in stating the position Of
Mr.. Camp and myself as directors in
such proceeding. and l desire to use
your columns for this purpose. for
the reasons that recently an article
appeared in the Ocala Evening Star
attacking the position and motives Of !
the directors, and as one Of these I /
wish the citizens of Ocala to fully /
understand and appreciate our con
tentions.
Taking up the matter as shown by |
the acts of the legislature and by said
ordinances in chronological order. in
1889 the legislature passed the char
ter act for the city of Ocala, known
as the John Dunn Charter" which,
among other things, provided in sec
ton Il of said act, as follows: THE
mayor and city council. in their cor
porate capacity, when authorized by
vote of a majority of the registered
/, voters Of the city, shall have power
to issue bonds, pledging the faith and
credit of the city for the payment Of
the same, for the purpose of paying
-the outstanding Indebtedness of the
city and for public improvements
within said city, This may be found
on page 301, Acts of the legislature
local to Ocala, and ordinances of said
: city" complied by Richard McCona-
thy under resolution of the city
council, and the provisions of this
: act are still in force.
Subsequently, in 1897, the legisla-
ture passed a special act applicable
to the city of Ocala, which contained
the following provision: The said
: city council is hereby authorized and
: empowered. upon the approval Of a
: majority of the registered voters of
e said city, then residing therein who
: own real estate or personal property
Y of the value of not less than two hun
their taxes for the year last due there
on and otherwise a qualified elector
Y and actually voting at an election for
: that purpose had, to purchase, erect
equip and operate such plant, ma
chinery and material as may be neces
car and proper, in the opinion of said
city council or its lawfully authorized
agent or agents, for the purpose oil
lighting the streets, lanes and alleys
Eof said city; and also for the purpose
of supplying light to the inhabitants
of said city for their private residenc
es, stores and other property; anC
to do such other and further lighting
as said city council may deem proper
and expedient, and to make such
charges therefor to private consumers
as said council shall deem fit ant
proper The cost of all such machin
cry. materials and plant to be fixet
by the vote, allowing the purchase
and erection of the same, at a Ger
tain sum not to be exceeded by SAID
council" This may be found on page
SO of the compilation above referret
laws of Florida.
1t is under this provision that the
city council proposes to issue the
present bonds.
In October, 1897, Immediately sub
sequent to the passage of the forego
ing act the city council passed an or
dinance, and the mayor called an cleo
ton, at which the registered voters
qualified under the act of 1897 las
above quoted, balloted upon the ques
ton of the expediency of the purchas,
of an electric lighting plant to cos
$4,000. No question of the issuanc,
of bonds was presented, only tn
question as to whether or not a ma
jority of the registered voters witt
the property qualification deemed i
advisable that the city purchase al
electric lighting plant TO cost SIS
1000. This was on October 18th, 1897
and can be verified by reference t
pages 2sS and 289, minutes of the cit
council for the year 1897, in the offic
of the city clerk.
The resolution stated that the "rar
ification and approval of the purchas
of an electric lighting plant be sui
mitted to the voters" possessing tn
property qualification of section 1
of chapter 4647. The ballots reat
For the purchase, at $4,000" an
Against the purchase at $4,000.
Such purchase was approved, as wi
be seen by reference to page 29S, mil
utes of the council of 1897.
On December IA, 1897, another ele,
ton was held to determine whethe
or not bonds in the sum of $4,000, I
pay for said plant, should be issuec
The ordinance pursuant to which thi
election was held is given in full 0
~ page go of the compilation of Riehar
MeConathy and refers, in section
on page So of the compilation, to tn
preceding election, held on Octobe
10, 1897. The ordinance recites ths
the bonds are to be issued 'unde
and by virtue of the authority col
ferred upon the mayor and city coul
city of OcaIa in their corporate G.
paeity, by the provisions of an act
+l,o Ioo;slat,Yro oDnroIvad T,,vo Al