Whenever 100 or more of the qualified electors of any city or village in this state shall petition to the common council of such city or the board of trustees of such village, to submit to the electors thereof the question of whether or not said city or village shall avail itself of the provisions of this act, it shall be the duty of such common council or board of trustees as the case may be, to submit such question to the electors of such city or village at its next regular election therein, and in case a majority of the electors shall vote in favor of such city or village availing itself of the provisions of this act, it shall thereupon become the duty of the common council of such city, or the board of trustees of such village, to take such action as shall be necessary to carry such resolution into effect in the same manner and with the same effect as if such common council or board of trustees had, by resolution, declared the same to be expedient as provided for in section 2 of this act: Provided, however, That the provisions of this act, so far as the same applies to the purchase, or construction or operation or maintenance of works for the purpose of supplying such city or village, or the inhabitants thereof, with public lights, as hereinbefore provided for, shall not apply to cities having more than 25,000 inhabitants.