Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-22
CoNCERN,Na sunMAYs.
Tho Omaha Company Pays Its Re-
apects to- Councilman Davis.

Th6 Omhna company rays, Its Rc-
spects to Councilman Davis.
To the Editor OF The Bee; In THE
BEE Of several days ago, thore was
an interview with Councilman Davis regard.
ing the Omaha subway company. In an
swer to the question, "Who compose the
Omaha Subway companyl" Mr.. Davis says
"The old Dorsett party with Dorsott's name
left outr
This answer contains in a nutshell the
whole animus Of the opposition OF Mr..
Davis and those who, with him, are opposing
the Omaha Subway company
And 80 it is the Mr.. Dorsett and not the in
terest OF the city that Mr.. Davis is consider
ing. The names OF those composing tho
Omaha Subway company are on the county
records, where Mr.. Davis or any other per-
son may ascertain who they are. Mr. Dor.
setts name does not appear there as no has
never been any part of the Omaha Subway
company. MIR. DAVIS answer shows his ut.
ter ignorance or carelessness regarding a
matter upon which he pretonds to pass
Judgment
Mr.. Dorsetts name was only incidentally
associated with the company in the discuss
ion of the various systems, or rather mater
ial used in subways. The company does not
ask, nor has it ever asked franchise to put
down the Dorsctt or any other special system
of subways. 1t has asked franchise to put
down subways, and has always proposed to
let those who put their money into IL decide
what system shall be used. Does Mr.. Davis
suppose, does any sane man suppose, that a
man or men who would put hundred thous-
and dollars in structure would use an IN
ferior system when he could just as well use
the bestl Is he going to set himself up as
the guardian of capitalists who are seeking
to put q great and desirable Improvement in
our citys And what does the gentleman
wants Does he want the company to permit
him TO dictate what material
shall be usedl He, a sworn representative
Of the interests of the city, instead of con:
siderng a question from the standpoint OF
the city's interest. sets up an imaginary
question to oppose, in which it is difficult for
any one to discover anything but false
pretense.
The Omaha Subway company Is composed
of citizens of Omaha, all rs much interested
in The welfare Of the city as is any member
of the council. They have come before the
council asking franchise to put down sub
ways, on an ordinance drawn up by the city
attorney, which is, at the same time, the
most liberal to the interests which it affects,
and most thoroughly protects the interests
of the city Of any ordinance that has ever
been placed before the council.
It is only necessary to read the ordinance
for any fair-minded man to at once see the
entire good faith in which this franchise is
asked.
The company does now ask an exclusive
privilege. There is nothing in the ordinance
to prevent any electrical company from put
ting down their own or any other company
preventing franchise for subways.
Ihe company is required to commence the
work within six months, and complete three
miles of subway within one year, or the
franchise becomes invalid.
Can any company, which is not acting in
good faith afford, to spend time to get such
a franchise as this! What good would such
franchise do anybody, except to put sub
way in with the best material, and as rapidly
as possible!
II is apparent to the most casual observer
that it would be utterly worthless.
AS it effects the electrical companies, a
section of the ordinance shows how far it is
inimical to their interests.
Sec. 4 is as follows: The grantee herein,
Its successors and assigns, shall rent or per-
NIT to any person or corporation to
use said system of underground conduits or
subways, upon such terms as may be agreed
upon by the respective parties, and, in case
they can not agree. such terms shall be fixed
by arbitration of three persons, one person
to be chosen by the grantee herein, its sue
cessors or assigns; one person to be chosen
by the person or corporation seeking to use
or occupy such conduits or subways, and the
third arbitrator to be chairman of the board
of public works; and the rates and conditions
SO agreed upon said arbltrators, or major
ity of the same, shall bind and govern the
use OF said subways or Coudults, by such
person of corporations; provided, however,
that the city Of Omaha may fix u maxi
mum, which the rates charged by said sub
way company to other companies shall not
exceed
What is there in this that is not per-
fectly fair to the electrical compa-
MES! There is not even hint
at compulsion, or any arbitrary or
excessive charges. On the other hand, it
fha Of tha oil.
council to fix the rates of charges as if the
subways belonged to the city. How much
better would the interests of those compan-
les be subserved If the city owned the sub
ways2
Besides, the city has an option on the pur-
chase of the subways when built.
AS it affects the interests of the city, the
ordinance says:
''Sectlon 0. In consideration of the privil-
ege herein granted, the grantee, its success
sors and assigns, shall, without cost to the
city of Omaha, provide space, draw in and
maintain conductors, conduits and cables
used in said system by the city of Omaha for
telegraph, telephone, or fire alarm pur-
poses."
Mr.. Davis says: 1.-THE city has given away
all the franchises it ought to-"
Yet, this is the only company that has
ever offered to nay the city for a franchise.
i. O., keep in repair all the city electrical
wires free of cost to the city, which is worth
hundreds of dollars yearly to the city. Yet
Mr. Davis talks OF giving franchise to the
company. This shows with what consum-
mate prejudice he is meeting. Although he
has had the ordinance before him in the
council for weeks, and taking most active
and bitter part in opposition, yet he does
not seem to know what the ordinance is,
what its conditions are, nor who composes
the company asking the franchise. This is
not an enviable attitude for a member of the
city council. MIR Davis can only see Mr..
Dorsett in the subway company. What pri-
vate gr1efs he has against MIR. Dorsett we
know not, but wo think he is travelling much
out of his way to combat a company com
posed OF citizens of Omaha to assuago any
wounds that Mr., Dorsett may have given
him.
We ask MIR. Davis to put away his private
grlefs, brush away the web of prejudice that
blinds him, and, as a representative of
the citys interests, to consider the tons of
iron hanging on a forest of poles over the
heads of our citizens, menace to their
lives. We ask him TO consider the move.
ment in other cities, where this nuisance has
become intolerable and as soon as it was
demonstrated that the wires could be sue
cessfully worked under ground the people