Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-04
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
Mayor NOores Vetoes Open Door Electric
Power Franchise Ordinance.
DEFECTS IN BILL ARE POINTED OUT
Measure Adopted by Council would
Defeat n Enterprise and f.
Consequently of No Service
TO the Citizens.

The council last night by a vote Of 4 to 5,
with Councilmen Dobeck and Mount absent,
sustained the veto by Mayor Moores to the
general electric franchise ordinance; or
dered fifty additional arc lights placed at
intersections designated by the city cleo
trician and passed a batch Of minor i'm
provement ordinances. Councilmen Has
call, Hoye, Whitehorn and Karr voted to
override the mayors veto on the electric
ordinance, while Councilmen zimman,
Trostler and Burnley voted to sustain.
Following is the veto communication in
full:
1 return herewith without my approval
ordinance No, 46 entitled A ordinance
granting to Andrew Rosewater, his sue
cessors and assigns, or any other person
ana cdnditifnns WI Oh may HSeSpe NET I'M
CessOrs and assigns. the right In, upon,
over, under and along the streets, boule-
city OF Omaha, to erect wires, poles, con-
dutts, etc, for conducting and distributing
electric currents and energy for power,
lighting and heating purposes, etc. for
the reason that 1 consider the said ordi-
nance will not accomplish the purpose for
serious objection to this ordinance is. that
while on Its face it would seem to be
granting to Andrew Rosewater, his sue
cessors and assigns, the rights and privi-
leges set forth in the ordinance. as a mat
ter of fact. it does not grant to him or to
his successors and assigns any rights or
privileges that can be made available here
after.
Fault of the Ordinance.
In addition to Andrew Rosewater, his
successors and assigns, the ordinance ex-
tends the rights and privileges to any other
terms and conditions of said ordinance. If
specifying any other person or corporation
who might accept the provisions of this
| ordinance would make mora certain the
furnishing of cheap power to the city Of
Omaha, l certainly would favor this fea-
ture of the ordinance, but l do not believe
extending the terms and provisions of said
ordinance to any other person or corpora
ton who might accept the same, other
assigns, Will accomplish this result. In
fact, 1 feel quite certain that II will have
the opposite result. 1t is well known that
an enterprise of the extent and character
contemplated by this ordinance cannot be
undertaken or completed without the large
investment of eastern money. 1t is also
well known that capital is timid, and If
other persons and corporations other than
merely accepting the terms and provisions
of this ordinance, would be placed In po-
sition to Immediately undertake or start a
possible Tor Mr.. Rosewater to induce cap
italtsts to take hold of the venture with
stand on its own bottom" and that in this
case Mr.. Rosewater should be permitted to
undertake the great enterprise which is
tOllNNAhBAaAC4 LlO GNAh6 AOoNNA 800
and hampered with provisions that would
render the grant to him OF no use or value.
IL II the ISsb Guy a Is 20 pP pS Henslteq su SF 'n as era are
granted by this ordinance. 1t can only be
benefited by the execution of the work
contemplated by such grant.
Grant is Not Exclusive.
If any other person or corporation de-
sires to enter upon an enterprise such ,he as
is no objection to wi them to do SO.
This is true even though the terms of this
applied only to-. Mr.. Rosewater and his
successors. The grant in SUCH case is, pot
an ordinance is now before your honorable
body similar in Its provisions to this or
dinanee, which grants; directly to ,m ,mr:
rights and privileges. I believe this or,
dinance should be taken up and passed
is not only possible, but exceedinly proba-
BILE. that capital may be secured and cheap
power furnished to Omaha; The Pre- prospect PeG
pie demand that the ordinance which d.
rectly grants to Mr.. Rosewater and his
ned by this ordinance be passed and sub
mitted at the next election. II, after the
matter is more fully considered, the people
are not favorable to it at the time Of the
election, they can say so by their ballots.
The least the mayor and council can do
at the next city election to vote on this
Question-not in a blanket form, as II is
now presented, out IN the lOIn Oh Il uTeCt
grant to Mr.. Rosewater and his successors.
In the event that this is done, even though
Mr.. Rosewater and his successors should
fail to- accomplish results, the situation,
so far as the city is concerned, will be no
worse than 1t is now, and no worse than
1t would be If no srch ordinance were
passed. AS already indicated. the passage
Of such an ordinance would not prevent the
passage Of any, other similar ordinance
granting ike privileges to any other per-
son or corporation who might demonstrate
that they had a feasible scheme which
was likely TO be carried out. In addition,
it is but due the people, when voting on
a proposition of this nature, to know
definitely in advance to whom the lights
and privileges are granted. 1t Is not
fright or fair to weight down an ordinance
of this nature with provisions which
would. enable persons OF corporations de-
sirous of defeating the scheme of Mr..
Rosewater to accomplish their purpose.
other Matters Considered.
The bond Of Guy G.. Barton in the sum OF
81 5000 as a member Of the new water
board was received and approved, complet-
ing the qualification OF the six members