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Limited only by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Arizona, the power to regulate the rates, fares and charges for public utility corporations is hereby reserved to the people, to be exercised by them in ordinance of the mayor and council, or in the manner herein provided for initiating and referring an ordinance.
Any right or regulation shall further include the right to require the uniform, convenient and adequate service to the public, and reasonable extensions of such service and of such public utility works.
No franchise, right or privilege or license shall be considered as granted by any ordinance except when granted therein in plain and unambiguous terms, and any and every ambiguity shall be construed in favor of the city and against the claimant under such ordinance.
Every ordinance granting any franchise shall prohibit the issuing of any stock on account thereof by any corporation holding, or doing any business under, said franchise. Any violation of the terms of this section shall, at the option of the city, operate as a forfeiture of said franchise.
The city shall have the right to license or tax streetcars, telephones, gas meters, electric meters, water meters, or any other similar device for measuring services; also telephone, telegraph, electric light and power poles, subways and wires. The said license or tax shall be exclusive of and in addition to all other taxes upon the property of the holder thereof.
The grant of every franchise for a street, suburban or interurban railroad, or any public carrier of passengers, shall provide that all United States mail carriers and all policemen and firemen of the city in uniform shall, at all times, while in the actual discharge of their duties, be allowed to ride on the passenger vehicles of any such aforementioned carrier within the boundaries of the city, without paying therefor, and with all rights of other passengers.
The mayor and council shall by ordinance require, under proper penalties, any railroad company, whether steam or electric, to elevate or lower any of its tracks running over, along or across any of the streets, avenues or alleys of the city, whenever in the opinion of the mayor and council the public safety or convenience requires.
The grant of every franchise or privilege shall be subject to the right of the city, whether in terms reserved or not, to make all regulations which shall be necessary to secure, in the most ample manner, the safety, welfare and accommodation of the public, including, among other things, the right to pass and enforce ordinances to require proper and adequate extensions of the service of such grant, and to protect the public from danger or inconvenience in the operation of any work or business authorized by the grant of the franchise, and the right to make and enforce all such regulations as shall be reasonably necessary to secure adequate, sufficient and proper service, extensions and accommodations for the people, and insure their comfort and convenience.
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