The Morris County chronicle., 1905-10-17
POLICE HOLD O0UNCILnEN
Members Of Omaha's Legislative
Bcdy Restrained BY Force.
MAYOR HURLS WILD EPITHETS

Outcome Of Gas Fight in the Nebraska
Metropolis Of Unheard Of Dis
order in the Council ChainDer--Court
cOnsures Political "nin=" For Its
Greed and illegal Methods.
Omaha, Neb--A sensational climax
lin the $4,000 gas steal fight came
when Mayor Moores stationed a Gordon
of policemen at the doors Of the Coun-
Gil chamber and forclbly prevented
three members from leaving the room,
thus Keeping intact quorum, while
the ring majority passed the gas lease
ordinance
For two hours the Council chamber
resembled more cage of maddened
tigers than the assemblage of men,
and men, too, intrusted with the re-
sponsibility OF guarding the interests
of the citizens who elected them.
Finding after two months of battle,
that it could not win by ordinary legal
methods, the gang, headed by the
Mayor, decided on brute force to ac-
complish its ends. Acting under the
Mayors orders to permit no member
of Council to leave the chamber until
the meeting adjourned, score or more
policemen resisted by sheer Drawn and
muscle the efforts of two Aldermen
opposed to the gas ordinance to de-
part. Within the chamber the Mayor
himself hurled vilest epithets at the
minority Councilmen, and they, mad
dened by the abuse, retorted in like
manner An open fist fight between
the Mayor and Councilman O'Brien
was only averted by the active inter
ference of O'BrienS colleague
The fight centres on the determin-
alton of the Omaha Gas Company,
which is owned by the United Gas I'M
provement Company of Philadelphia.
Pa, to extend its present lease for
lighting the city's streets at a high
figure and to shut out rival corpora
ton, backed by Cleveland, Ohio, capi-
talists. who offer light at a much re-
duced price. Mayor Moores and FIVE
OF the nine Aldermen composing the
City Council are lined up with the
Omaha concern. For three months
past the battle has waged furiously.
The present contract of the gas COM
pany is for sixty-candle-power lights
at cost of $25 per lamp. One night
the gas company had introduced into
the Council bill agreeing to furnish
eighty-eandle-power lights for $28 per
lamp and asking that the contract be
made at once, although the present
contract does not expire until Dec.
81. The bill was referred to the prop
er committee. Then the row began.
Seeing that the gas ring had a ma
1ority of votes, the opposition secured
an Injunction forbidding Council to
pass the gas lease ordinance But at
the very next meeting Of the body
Councilmen Back, Dyball Evans,
Huntingdon and Schroeder announced
that they would not obey the orders
of the Court but would pass the or
dinafce If they desired to do so.
At the proper time one of these
Councilmen moved that this bill be
considered, and was informed by the
president OF the Council that because
of the injunction he could not permit
the bill to come before the body for
consideration.
Amidst scenes Of wild disorder one
Of the Big Five" put the question and
the other four voted AYE" declaring
the bill had passed
Stirred by the big Five's' disohedi.
ence of the injunction, Judge Sutton.
who issued it, summoned the gang
Councilmen before him and sentenced
each to thirty days in Jail. A stay
was secured, however, and they kept
clear Of cells
Again the minority members ab-
sented themselves. Mayor Moores.
however, sent police officers to bring
them in.
A member of the majority made n
motion placing the ordinance on is
passage, but President zimman re-
fused to put the question. Councilman
Huntington, member of the majority.
put the question, five members voting
for It. The minority members de-
ellned to vote.
Mayor Moores Immediately signed
the ordinance, and returned it to the
Council with the bond and contract.
which We're at once approved by the
big Five" The City Attorney. how
ever. declares the ruling Of the chair
recommitting the committee report
for week carried the ordinance with
IT, and that the subsequent action of
the Council was of no avail.