The Washington bee., 1902-02-08
HERBERT M'GOVERN.
CITY ATTORNEY, OMAHA

Billy read the card and looked up at the
stranger. What can | Do for you"
he asked.
We'll. said the western city official, Il
don't know any better place to come for in
formation than 10 d newspaper Office. l did
not know but that you might have at your
tongues END the names OF nall 4 dozen
electrical experts tlat can call on IN order
TO get certain information about the actual
COS; NJ installing electrical plants and the
furnishing OF electricity 10 consumers.
There's a row out IN my town. in the city
government itself and between TWO rival
electrical concerns. Ile mayor and a good
part or the government, including myself,
are with one o. the companies. " e believe
that they nave better proposition than the
other, which We tank - trying a sharp
game. This second G. IN g4ly claims TO have
come hold on the city because OF an OFdi-
nance passed ta-ee years ago and we've got
TO tight il. Now, II / caG se, the opinions
Of some way up experts LeTe IN Chicago 10
show that the company W-.cI l favor has
the best proposition, way, Il vii help Sc
cure the franchise Tor lJ, and il : a franchise
that IN the end VII be worth millions 20 the
company. The concern mas al expert
named Smith now lu Omaha. and I've been
consulting with hIm, and when / get the
expert opinions here l SlalI confer with
hum again on my return and md out how
best % use them ~ carrying our case,
Billy Smith unused a minute. Here was a
chance 70 help his brother, 10 whom ne was
beholden Tor many IayOTs. I've been q
Chicago reporter for many years. Mr.. Ne
Govern" ne said, and l know personally
three or four OF the biggest electrical sharps
II the city. don't mind telling you, though
II isn't necessary 20 60 into details, that |
lee a peculiar interest n this Omaha case,
and If you don't mind III 90 out with you as
soon as the city editor gets down and intro
duce you personally 10 the men you want to
see. Sit down and read the papers for
awhile"
Three hours later Billy and Attorney Nc
Govern were IN the Office Of a man whe
knows so much about electricity that you
get a shock every time You shake hands
with him. The great electrician wanted "a
please Billy, and 50 he listened carefully 10
what the attorney had 10 say and then gave
him lot Of figures.
This Is enough Of itself," said Attorney
McGovern, after they had left the Office, TO
carry Smiths and my case against that
shark company
They went 70 three other Offices and were
given three other signed expert statements
which Mr. McGOvern declared clinched his
case beyond peTaiyentUre OF failure. After
TINS business was closed up Billy Smith, n
the warmth OF MS heart and with the recol-
lection Of many hrotaerly favors IN his
mind, took Attorney McCfovern 10 the swell
est Chicago restaurant and made him MS
guest al : luncheon at which several costly
upright things stood by the plates. Then
they went 10 a matinee and Billy Smith
bought the tickets. II was the happiest
coincidence IN the world for this newspaper.
boy that IL was the one day OF the week
when he looked upon the face Of the cashier
By the time they were out OF the theater
for good and had pledged eternal friendship
before saving farewell there was Just soll-
tary dollar note LETT IN Billy Smiths pay
envelope. He considered the money and the
time well spent, however, in the effort 10
help out the case of his brother and his
brothers. electrical company against the
greedy rval who was trying 10 grab OF
things in Omaha. Billy had not said one
word 10 McGovern about the reason Tor MS
interest IN the Omaha case beyond the state
ment at starting that he did hold such an
interest.
"Good-by. Mr.. NeGovern, - he said, when
the time for parting came. When you get
back 20 Omaha you tell Expert Smith with
-. s~.':e been e0nterTIHE that = news
paper namesaks Of MS n Calcag0 Cld vat
he could for you. I think very likely Smith
vii know whom you mean"
"Iu do that saus~.- returned McGovern.
Smiths a mighty good fellow. Ever since
be came from his c0mpauy's headquarters
at New Orleans a month ago we've been IN
close touch
"Company's headquarters in New Or
leans" gasped Billy.
Yes" said McGovern, that's where the
eompanv that he works for halls from. The
other. the grasping concern, = located N
New York. and, by the way, now l think Of
Il. they've got a man named Smith on the
ground, TOO. He's a shTewd CusS and l ex-
pected 10 have had hard work 70 down him
until YOU helped me ont to-day. Why. Do
Won know thls New York SMITH
slightly; he's my brother. Chicago
Record Herald.