Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-10-31

This provision of the bill is of
vital Importance to the delovment of
the Wynooche power project. If the
city Of Aberdeen and the city of Ho-
GUAM and the city Of Cosmopolis
should determine to enjoy the benefits
of the Wyonoche power project to-
gether, and it should be further deem
ed advisable to condemn the entire
electric lighting plant of the Grays
Harb0r Railway & Light Company,
Section 2 authorizes this to be done.
However, before this could be done,
it would be necessary to submit such
plan or system to the voters of the
city Of Aberdeen to authorize the is
sue of bonds for this purpose.
The city of Hoquiam could then
acquire from the city Of Aberdeen
that part of the distribution system
within the city limits Of the city of
Hoquiam. The city of Cosmopolis
could acquire that part Of the system
within its corporate limits.
There would be no danger to the
remainder of the property not taken,
as would occur if Aberdeen should
condemn alone the part of the plant
within Aberdeen; or Hoquiam should
condemn alone the part Of the part
within Hoquiam; or Cosmopolis
should condemn alone the part with
in Cosmopolis.
Even if Aberdeen, Hoquiam and
Cosmopolis could agree by purchase
to acquire the light system in those
cities, it could not be done, except by
purchasing each plant alone, with
out the authority given in the Bill.
Suppose the city of Seattle or the
city Of Tacoma should attempt to
condemn a plant or system on Grays
Harbor. Before this could be done,
the city of Aberdeen could have in
stituted proceedings to condemn or
contract to purchase such plant.
This would protect the people of
Grays Harbor against such threaten
ed invasion.
To acquire the plant Of the Grays
Harbor Railway & Light Company,
by condemnation, the city of Seattle
or Tacoma would have to institute
such action in the Superior Court of
Grays Harbor county. It would be
compelled to submit its valuation to
jury of taxpayers residing in Grays
Harbor county. Such city would not
dare submit to a condemnation suit
by jury in court where it was not
welcome.
No city desires go into the bust
ness of distributing power within the
corporate limits of another city. 1t
would only exercise any power given
under this act to condemn 9he city,
in which the distribution system is
located, to ultimately acquire such
system. 1t might loan it's credit to
its original acquisition. Then only
to dispose of it to such city as soon
as it was in a financial condition to
take it over.
The very theory of the operation of
a super-power system, which is in the
objective of this bill, is to enable every
city and town in the state to ultimate
ly own its own distribution system.
This would enable the superSpower
system to furnish electric current in
bloc to such city.
1t was necessary, to accomplish this,
to provide ample power in such bill,
which the full knowledge that no city
in the state dare abuse such power.
Two years from the time this law
hacouoas affactiva the Legislature can
either amend, repeal or modify In
itiative No. 81. If any abuses arise,
which no advocate of this bill be-
lieves can possibly occur, the Legis-
lature cali correct any such abuse of
power. It can withdraw such power
from any municipal corporation at
any time. It can provide for the
restoration of such utility either to its
original owner or its acquisition by