Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-27
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
Mayor VStoes Appropriation for Continuing
Paving Repairs,
DOLLAR GAS MAN STARTS A RUsPUS
Letter Accusing Councilman of Acting
Unfairly Draws Hot RetOrts
from Members, who Feel
they Are AEgrieved.

propriate 5000 TO continue the operations
OF the municipal asphalt repair plant on an
emergency plea, Mayor Moores used some
Of the ruddiest language that ever came
from the executive in an official document.
He said that an emergency in the meaning
of the charter does not exist and bfames
the council for cutting funds too close at
the beginning of the year. so as to make
the tax levy rate low. As an additional
reason for his act the mayor said
do not propose to make myself target
for any dishonest damn fool of a crank who
personal and political reasons may seek to
annoy me and my bondsmen by bringing
suit purely on some technical point wherein
have approved an expenditure of money
not to his liking.
As the city attorney had informed the
council that II requires the mayor, we'll
as six members, to pass an emergency ap-
propriation ordinance. that body simply
bowed its head to the inevitable and placed
the papers on file. Through the efforts Of
Councilman Nicholson a concurrent resolu-
tion was adopted directing the engineer 20
use the repair plant in patching holes
chargeable to persons and corporations who
open streets under permits. The comptroller
is instructed to place the money collected /
for the service in a special fund to be used
in defraying the costs of the asphalt plant.
City Attorney Breen sad that the arrange
ment is legal and means that from 81 900 to
$500 worth of repairs can be made that
otherwise would have to wait until spring.
He said that about 5000 is due now. prin-
cipally from public service corporations,
who are willing to pay and for whom the
comptroller will make out bills this week. |
An exceptionally large amount of pave
ment cuts have been made by public serv-
ice corporations this year to run pipes and |
mains to new buildings.
Dollar Gas Mans Letter.
The reasons of Frank NJ. Gregg, the 81 |
gas franchise man, for leaving the city !
without pressing his mission. given under |
dater of September Is, provoked a few fire
brands of eloquence. Mr.. Gregg's letter is:
1t the intent of our visit to Omaha |
to submit 81 gas franchise to your notice, |
fused a hearing by the majority of the
council Having been denied this courtesy
on Thursday, we are confronted on Satur-
day with an apparent change of heart but
we have every reason to question its sin
certify The proposition of thirteen year
franchise was submitted TO us in an in
formal manner by member of the council.
Having refused to entertain any such un-
6usinesslike proposition, II is now brought
forward by another member after Il had
been emphaticaly refused on our part.
Still third member talks about a 100000
bonus, all of which makes Il apparent that
such quibblings and chickering's are not evil
sure that the attitude OF the majority to-
wards 81 gas is so hostile that a hearing
like statements referred to above.
We have no intention of asking the MEM
| bers OF your honorable body to act sponsor
| for our franchise, as we are informed the
! sole function of the council is to act as a
to reach the people We have every r lson
| TO believe that this channel way is being
lobstructed by impossible propositions, which
answers the same purpose as though hear
| ing was never granted.
The attached franchise is the same which
| has already been made public, offering
| illuminating gas at 81 per thousand. gas
public building 81 cents, and $l2 per street
| It is unnecessary to prolong this COM
| munication further than saying that our
| open. We are ready to return to Omaha
and take up further negotiations when we
are assured that the majority of the council
| submitted the basis Of our negotiations and
not attempt to kill it with impossible pro-
same were unbusinesslike and could not be
| conceded.
COunciImanIc Retorts.
| Councilman Dyball said: 'If Mr.. Gregg
says he did not have a chance to be heard
by this council he speaks an untruth Six
members. or a quorum, were present on
the morning set and there was no disposi-
tion to prevent him from presenting his
case"
ball There were six members of the coun-
Gil, but soon as an adjournment was
taken to hear Mr. Gregg Mr.. Back put
on his hat and got out OF the door, breaking
a quorum.
Councilman Schroeder was here at 10
o'clock, the time the meeting was called
Dyball and Huntington appeared and about
1O:SO Zimman. l waited until 1O:45 and.
having some business to transact, left Ten
o'clock means 10 o'clock to me and not II.
Hoye Nicholson and O'Brien Of the So
called minority were not here when left
The minority IS to blame II Mr. Gregg
did not have a chance to be heard. Now,
here is Mr.. OBrien, a man of his word,
where was he when
Councilman O'Brien-Yes, sir, am a man
OF my word and l always keep It. That
is more than you do. The records here
prove you are falsiher and liar.
Councilman Schroeder-Oh, no, they don't
Councilman O'Brien-Yes, they do I
President zimman-Tut, tut, Mr. O'Brien
There is no need Of going on that way.
Councilman Hoye-That doesn't dispose
of the fact that Mr. Back ran away.
Councilman Back-The meeting was ad.
journed and had a right TO- Nothing was
said about hearing Mr. Gregg. guess
had a right to go when the meeting wa,
adjourned. I did and I'll do It again II
want 10.
President Zimman-Mr. Clerk, proceed.
Report on Water Pressure.
The committee on FIRE. water and police
composed of Councilmen Schroeder, Evanl
and Back brought in a long report con
J cerning General Manager Fairheld's criti
cisms on the city attorney for what tn,
latter had said about deficient water pres
sure. The report, which was adopted, sa
down heavily on General Manager Fair
. field and sided with Mr.. Breen, on tn,
theory that recent and former tests OF tn,
water pressure found II short Of contrac
. | requirements and not affording ample fir
protection within a radius Of 1000 feet
. from the hydrants without the use of han,
: / or steam engines. II was asserted that tn
, city attorney was justified in his remark
= about the water company, and he is In
| structed to go ahead and resist the suit
OF the company 10 collect full hydrant ren
"A bills for the last half OF 1904 BY way o
Y emphasis the report pronounced the rate
, OF Ss4 and $50 yearly for hydrants much TO
- high for the quality OF service rendered
Bills at the full amount should not b
paid unless the contract is filed declare
the report and In short the city attorne
was held up for admiration, respect an