Omaha daily bee., 1893-10-29
BUSINESS MEN ON THE CANAL
Opposition to Voting the Bonds Under the
Present Crude Proposition.
Mr.. HERMAN xoUNTzE TALKS PLAINLY
Ne ia Opposed to the scheme and Objects
TO Having His Name Used In Con-
nectton with It-Busiuess
Men Interviewed.

cially among business men Of the city, In
regard to the proposition TO vote bonds in
the sum OF sl,500,00O for the purpose Of ac-
curing water works or electric light plants,
or both. The impression prevails that the
county and city have joined hands TO vote
bonds for the construction OF the Platte
river canal. Tho county has declined 70
submit any proposition and the city propo-
sition has nothing whatever to do with the
construction Of the canal. Here is the copy
OF the legal proclamation submitting the
proposition:
Shall bonds OF the city OF Omaha In the
sum of ono miilica FIVE hundred thousand dol
lars al, 5O0,UOOB be issued for the appropria-
ton and purchase OF water works and an cleo
p%riation and purchase OF the land required
Tor such water works and electric light plant,
the said bonds 90 run not more than twenty
(2oi years and TO bear interest payable semi
annually ut u rate not TO exceed I'VE lol per
cent per annum, with coupons attached, the
said honds TO he called water works and cleo
trio light plant bonds, and not to be sold Tor
less than par; the proceeds OF SAD oonds 70 pc
cost OF the appropriation or purchase OF water
works and an electric light plant and land
therefor and the said bonds 70 be issued from
time to time rs may, be required during the
years 1894, 1895 and 1896.
Very few of the business men and tax
payers Of the city who understand the prop
osition are in favor of it, AS will be shown by
the following interviews upon the subject:
Banker Kountxe's Plain Statement.
Herman Kouutze-I am most decidedly OPP
posed to the proposition in its present form.
lido not believe IN bonding the city for
81, 100000 and buying electric light
or water works plants at any price
ing submitted under a general misappre-
hension. In the first place 1t is represented
that | am one of the hackers of this scheme
and my name has been put in as one of the
commissioners Tho fact ia that / distinctly
stated to the parties who had the project in
hand that | old not want my name con-
nected with the commission and would not
serve on it, and did not want my name used
rs an endorser of the project as 1t has been
submitted. The commission can be changed
at any time by the council and no safeguard
has been provided against the squandering
Of the money that may be voted.
AS / understand it. the proceeds OF these
bonds, if they were voted, could not be used
legally for canal construction. and IL they
could be used for this purpose 1t would be a
very reckless and dangerous venture. No
body can tell how much we would have to
expend. The canal completed with the nee
essary equipment would cost at least
6 ,000,0 900. Before we start on such q scheme
we must know where the money comes from.
Yes, you may put me down as decidedly OPP
posed to the 81, 600 bond proposition.
Says It's a Crazy scheme.
John B. Furay-It is a crazy scheme in its
present form. Iagree with The BEE that
there is but one course to pursue, and that
is to vote the proposition down. l would
favor the canal il we could vote bonds for
that purpose directly and surround it with
every safeguard.
Christ Specht-I am opposed to it, and
voted against the ordinance in the council.
1t is a steal and there is a big scheme behind
IL. We can't build a canal legally. and IL
the money is voted it can be devoted to any
purpose desired. If the million and a half is
voted and work commenced and the amount
is about expended parties can go before the
legislature, and, by raising the wornout cry
against Omaha, secure Legislation that would
prevent the city completing the canal. That
would enable them to gobble up for a song
what the city had accomplished in the way
of construction. Or the money could be used
by the council in purchasing Mr.. Wiley's
electric light plant, and that would be legal.
The bonds should not be voted until the city
can directly issue them and construct q
canal.
p. w. Birkhauser-I regard the plan per
ectly feasible, but would not favor the propo
sition unless every safeguard is thrown
around the same.
Merchants Oppose the Measure.
Thomas Fitzpatrick am hardly in fayol
of voting bonds at any time and certainly
bonds for such an amount as are asked In
the present case should never be issuec
without careful consideration. | do moi
think we have facts enough before us Il
justify any such project.
w. S. Wright am against it, but 1t is
question that must be looked TO or it ma
carry by default. 1t frequently happen:
that parties who pay no taxes will favorsf
scheme that will load up the taxpayers.
j. G. Gilmore-I think / will vote agains'
the bond proposition. Whenever you com
mence 10 multiply the offices you ~increas,
the opportunities for crookedn ess in the city
government.
p. L. I~ler-Taxes are high enough withou.
voting ans more bonds for any purpose
1 TIA a n 20 alraar ~ too HIGH nj Omaha
r. M. Cross-Uuless the bond proposition
is a little better defined so that we knov
exactly what the money is to be used for
will vote against it. II the money is to b,
dumped into the water works plant it would
not be of much benefit to the city.
David MISUNDERSTANDING to my idea tn,
voting OF these bonds would be placing
good deal of power in the hands of tn,
council. From what l know of the proposes
scheme thus far / am not in favor of IL.
Milton Rogers-If l understand the bont
proposition correctly | certainly will no
vote for IL. If it were in proper shape l.
have this matter carried out il might be
good thing, but as the proposition reads nov
do not see much to vote for.
Allen Rector have never regarded tn
bond proposition in any other light than as
huge joke. IL has not appeared TO me a
being entitled To respectful consideration.
+. b. Branch My experience is that Their
= are not enough restrictions TO make it a sat
proposition, but even il there are | believ,
that the city Is deep enough in the mir
without going into a scheme that is not full
matured.
J. A. Clark-Even IL the city could legal
construct a canal, the bonds would not b
sufficient for its completion. and it looks Z
me as II the bond proposition was a grea
big political scheme.
l.. NJ Rheem-I do not think that we wan
TO vote those bonds yet, even if it is desira
bic To build the canal. We had better ge
an act through the legislature first, maxim
IL legal for the city 10 build q canal.
Robert Puryis-If the money could be use.
for the construction of the Platte river cana
1t will worth to the city twice the amount o
the bonds. | believe that such an enterpris
would give the city L new start. Ii tn
money cannot be used for that purpose d
not think the bonds should DO voted.
"A W. A. l. Gibbon-I fear that the bon
~ proposition Is not in proper shape To &C
upon at this time. III it is all that eminen
Il engineers claim for il, there is 40 doubt bu
! what the canal would be a great thing 70
. Omaha. but L presume some legislative aclio
would be necessary before 1t could be- carrie
p forward successfully. l hope that the ad
yantages OF such an enterprise Will not b
lost sight of by reason OF present impedI
ments. We have two elements ia this com
mrnity. as will be found nearly everywhere
: One Is reckless aud aggressive and the othe
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