Wichita Water Co. v. City of Wichita

POLLOCK, District Judge.

This case as now presented raises but a single question, namely, the power of the city, by ordinance, to regulate the rates charged by plaintiff for water service furnished by it in the city. If the city had bound itself by valid existing contracts to permit the water company to charge fixed and established rates, then of necessity it had no power during the life of such contracts to require the plaintiff to charge and receive less rates, and in consequence the ordinances attempting to establish rates less than the contract provides are beyond the power of the city to…