Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-12-02
FRANCHISE FOR POWER CANAL
Ordinance and Amendments Discussed al
Meeting of Citizens
SENTIMENT FAVORABLE TO SUBMISSION
Both Sides of Matter Debated by
Parties Interested and by the Rep
resentative citizens who
Were Present.

| htbs Ahtut capitalists tlliLtuS anu u nuulutA
| OF promoters which gathered last night at
| the city council chamber to hear a discus
sion of the proposed ordinances governing
power plants. Probably 300 people were in
attendance. The meeting apparently ac-
| complished little but to enlighten those
present as to the power plan of Andrew
| Rosewater, as his was the only one pre-
| sented. The opposition was led by l. S.
Hascall, who was chairman of the meeting.
| In opening the meeting Councilman Has
call attacked the ordinance proposed by
Mr.. Rosewater, especially in it's failure to
| provide a bond for completion Of the work
and it's unlimited time of existence.
J. F. Carpenter, president Of the Com
mercial club was present, as was Euclid
Martin. Mr.. Martin said that he was not
in a position to discuss the matter at this
time, but that the Commercial club COM
mittee felt that an exclusive right was not
desirable.
Mr.. Hascall said that the proposed ordi-
nances were published in the papers the
citizens might be familiar with the terms
OF both at the time OF the meeting. The
chairman caused a part of his proposed
ordinance to be read, showing the condi-
tions inserted by him.
In Aid of Enterprise.
In response to calls, Mr.. Rosewater took
the floor amid cheers. He said, in effect:
"The great and important question at this
time is whether a corporation organized by
the people shall have the power to keep
from the people the right to express their
views upon municipal questions; whether
the people or the corporations shall run
the city"
He then made a brief resume of the early
af ho tn mn Oufantnr-
ing and other enterprises, of large bonuses
voted to railroad corporations, to hotels;
and from that time on the citizens have
donated to enterprises large sums Of money.
"Only within the last year the city council
has given to the Union Pacific railroad
valuable streets and alleys. Some time be-
fore the citizens voted on a proposition to
donate 81, ,0O0, 900 to a Platte river canal.
Every time a question Of this kind has
come up 1t has carried with 1t a proposed
bonus.
From the first, have given every possible
announcement to all power plans. For the
first time in the history Of the city come
with a proposition of my own. l do not
ask 81; 1 do not ask that one street be
closed. offer to give you adequate power
at rates one-third of those now In force
and to give the city the right to get lights
1
/ then propose to pay the city an annuity
from the very start, increasing from 200
to $15, 900. (Cheers). '-t
when this ordinance was FIRST intro
duced l expected no trouble, but found
the ordinance was opposed. l did not
know the oppositions, but finally made the
president of the Omaha Electric Light
, company acknowledge that he opposed 1t.
Why should the man who claims to have
, an unlimited franchise oppose this propo-
sition? His company already has fran
chise which permits It to charge 10 cents
, per kilowatt hour for power and Is cents
. per kilowatt hour for light. Does 1t look
. as though he would favor a plan to reduce
: this price by one-third? He has attempted
. to have amendments ordered to kill the
ordinance. These gentlemen had introduced
an ordinance compelling wires to be placed
in subways. 1t was drawn up by Mr
Nash's attorney. l believe, Mr.. Morsman
1t was so stated and he did not deny It
Here is a copy OF the ordinance which
passed without the scratch of a pen or the
alteration of a line. Did 1t contain any
of the terms proposed as an amendment tC
/, the pending ordinance? No: 1t is a general
Y ordinance"
What is Now Asked For.
Mr.. Rosewater then took up the amend.
ments, but was interrupted by Judge Has
call before he could proceed. In resuminI
he said
!. my proposition Is that my franchise
d shall be granted by vote Of the people
h to be effective under certain conditions
n My rates are all lower than those in Min
d neapols or St. Paul. am still subiec
e to the laws. The amendment puts in er
Il roneous figures, which were given out b.
mistake. and were put there to make i
% impossible for me to capitalize the com
Is pany. l am not a capitalist, but have pu
8 time and money into the problem and be
lieve that It can be capitalized. The op
ponents also believe that 1t can be, an
therefore they are opposing 1t. II the
thought / could not they would not be s
!. greatly interested.
II ask for a franchise under condition
that secure the plant, they make a prom
lse to give me a franchise after the plant 1
constructed, and then l may come befor
J. a council dominated by the enemies of tn
l. plan. The present company holds a per
~ petual franchise-if it has any franchise a
n all. although II proposes to go before tn
J. legislature and have illegal acts made legal
"Is it fair to place me under a limite
,f franchise, when the present company hold
"A a perpetual franchise. The people at Ere
mont cannot expect 10 Dullu thelr plan
: unless they can make arrangements wit
the company that supplies Omaha. The
will be offered what l have been offered
+ s25 for horsepower. which they can the
sell to the people at their own price
= the electric company has a franchise
does not need another to build anothe
plant. 1t is not franchise they wan
but the right to force power company t
sell to them at their own price"
a. Councilman Hascall here attempted (
An stop the speaker but the crowd would nc
n stand for it. Hascall was called down b
he cries OF "Rosewater' and even other coun
cilmen we're forced to protest. AS Hasca
M continued there were cries OF sit down
a. and "Rosewater."
Of After the chairman had subsided, Nj
Rosewater resumed.
some Proposed Amendments.
Z Touching upon the proposition to reauiT
the company to change grades OF conduit
= on streets he said he was willing to az
cept II. but that such a provision is not
be found in any other franchises. AS to II
restoration Of streets and pavements ther
is no objection, but they are unnecessar
% as they are provided for in general laws
Then the names Of the capitalists mu
'ie be submitted to the mayor OF the coune