Resolution 628 - Petition MT LegislatureResolution No, 628
A RESOLUTIOE PETITIONIRG THE liONTANA IEGrISLATIVE AS-
SEMBLY To AMEND THE STATUTERELATIVE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICES
COM�AISSIONIS ATTMTTED JVRISDICTIOh OVER MUNICIPALLY-OINNED
ITTILIT143.
WHEREAS, The Conctitution of 1,`ontana fully recognizes
that cities and towns In this state'have the right of local
self government, and Section 6 of Article 13 of the Conati-
tution expressly declares that water plants belonging to cities
and towns shall be moth owned and controlled by such cities and
towns; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding such conctitutional provision,
and in direct violation of the Conctitution and the right of
local self government, Chapter 52 of the thirteenth Session Laws,
purports to confer upon the Public Service Commission full jur-
isdiction, supervision, regulation and control over municipally
owned utilities to the exclusion of the city or town owing the
same; and
WHEREAS, the Public Service Commission is assuming to
dictate to and order cities and towns what they shall do in and
about the regulation of rates and many matters of purely local
concern in and about the management and operation of their own
water and light plants; and therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL;
Section 1, That the City of Kalispell herewith res-
pectfully petitions the Honorable, the Fifteenth Legislative
Assembly of the State of Montana, to so amend said Chapter 52
of the Session Laws of the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly, as
that the alleged "power of supervision, regulation and control"
therein purporting to be conferred upon said Commission to the
"Exclusion of the jurisdiction, regulation and control" of "mu-
nicipnily owned utilities by any municipality, town or village"
will be eliminated; and to that, end this City Council hereby
339
endorses and, co=nends to your 1.1onorable Body,. the passage of
a bill which will eliminate the purported power conferred upon
the Public Service Commission to supervise and regulate and con-
trol municipally owned utilities to the excliision of the city.'s
jurisdiction, regulation and control, when in fact any City. or
Town, which by a vote of its tax payers has bought and is paying
for its own plant, should both own and control such plant, as
a matter of right and i local self government, and to the further
end that its own financial management and policies may be best
suvaerved and promoted.
Passed by the City Council this 27th day of January
1917.
R. Pauline
Mayor,
Attest: R. E. Rollins,
City Clerk.
STATE OF TJONTAM
COUNTY OF FLATHREAD SS
CITY OF KALISPELL
I, R. F. Rollins, City Clerk of the
City of 'Kalispell, Montana, do hereby certify that the fore-
going is full, true and exact copy of a resolution adopted and
approved by the City Council of the City of Kalispell, hontana,
on the 27th day of January 1917.
January 1917
Witness my hand this the 29th day of
City CleTT.__