Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-05
WATERORDIN COESOVER
Measure Fixing Rates Will Not Be Called
Up Tonight.
MAYOR MAcRAE DEFENDS PROVISIONS
Executive IL Doubtful IL He Can
Keep Aldermen In Line I'm View
of Fight on Meter
Rate.

The ordinance fixing the water rate may
not be brought up for its second reading
at the meeting Of the city council tonight
as had been expected Mayor Macrae said
yesterday that he would favor letting the
ordinance go over for another week at
least so as to give its opponents further
time in which TO Chew the rag as he
expressed 1t.
Mayor Macrae makes no secret of the fact
that he Is greatly chagrined over the
criticism which has been melted out to the
proposed ordinance. Personally he is In
favor OF standing pat on the measure. but
II is doubtful is he can keep a sufficient
number Of the aldermen in line. Some of
the aldermen, It is said, are now favoring
making some changes in order to pacify
those who are clamoring against the mini
mum meter rate OF s12 a year. Alderman
Weaver chairman of the special committee
to which was entrusted the drafting OF the
ordinance with the assistance Of Harl &
FINLEY. the special counsel. Is like Mayor
Macrae, 1t IL said. ready to stand to his
guns and uphold the ordinance to the last
ditch.
II is understood that the West End.
West Council Bluffs South Side and Fair
mount improvement clubs have arranged
to be represented at the meeting of the
city council by good sized delegations for
the purpose of voicing their objections to
the proposed ordinance. 1t is doubtful.
however, II the ordinance will be brought
up tonight.
Every taxpayer in the city is benefited
by the material reduction the proposed
ordinance makes in the annual hydrant
rentals" said Mayor Macrae yesterday.
"If we had placed the hydrant rentals at
a much higher figure and not decided upon
a minimum meter rate of 81 a month there
would not have been this cutlery by the
small consumers. but Il is impossible to
please everyone, and therefore l in
favor OF standing by the ordinance in its
present shape. The committee framed this
ordinance as II thought In the best interests
Of the city. 1t felt that If it could force
the water works company to accept these
rates what might prove to be almost end
less litigation might be avoided. II some
adjustment of the rates cannot be made
what will be the result The water works
company will be able to get the present
hydrant rentals from the city until the
question is finally settled. The city council
as 1t looks now, is between the devil and
the deep sea. with the water works com
pany Directing to the rates on one side
and the people not satisfied with the work
OF tho council on the other"
member of the city council was yes
terday inclined to look on the opposition
to the ordinance from another point Of
view He stated that he had good reason:
to believe that the oppositionito the rates
was being fonented by republican poll
ticians. who see IN the situation an excel
lent opportunity to deal the democratic
administration and democratic party IL
Council Bluffs solar plexus blow. Tha
the democrats took upon their shoulder
two years ago a mighty hard problem
when they promised the people of Council
Bluffs municipal ownership and an equit
able adjustment of water rates this alder
man admitted was surely the case.