Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-17
HITCHCOCK HARKENS In VAIN
Fails 10 Make CSuncilmsn Back Up or
Leave psmOCratiO Party.
WILL NOT FAVOR HFN-YtAR FRANCHISE
DR.. Davis and Brueker REFUSED 20 ne
BuIltea Into supporting Phone
Project Editor is In
terested In.

Councilman whose designations are de-
manded by Editor Hitchcock on failure to
vote for the particular long time independ-
ent telephone franchise which he is boost
ing smile broadly at the slight request and
say they do not believe Mr.. Hitchcock has
any call to come buttlng I'm on their prem
tses, at least, not yet.
Councilman Davis, who submitted a long
report protesting against taking snap judg-
ment and insisting that the thorough" IN
vestigation into telephone rates and con-
ditions mentioned in the democratic plat
form be had before a second franchise
was granted. says the Hitchcock editorial
has not shaken his position. In fact, DR..
Davis states positively that he will stand
by his report until a certain place Ct
superlatively high temperature freezes
over. AS to resignins, the doctor gives
the matter no thought whatever. believing
that he and not the World Herald is tn
sole arbiter Of this question.
LegaIizing n Monopoly.
THE Home franchise is for a ffty-year
grant" says DR.. Davis. "A fifty years
concession means practically legalizing an
other monopoly, and / cannot favor it. !
maintain that the mayor and council have
not investigated the telephone question
thoroughly or have even gone into 1t
specifically. and until the right kind OF
an inquiry is made that no second fran
chise should be granted. In subject like
this, of so many sides and complexities
hasty action is highly improper. II strikes
me that IL the men interested in two
ostensibly hostile enterprises can meet,
eat, drink and combine, that IL wouldn't b.
so difficult for two telephone companies ~
do the same thing and how much con
sideration for the people would enter init
the deal?' -.
Brucker Not scared Either.
Councilman Brucker, who is one of the
Ave councilmen opposed to the Home fran
chise. does not show any signs Of being
stampeded by>t the threats Of the Hitchcock
organ. He says:
II am opposed to the Home franchise
first because a grant of fifty years is en-
tirely too long The twenty-1ve-year OPP
tional purchase clause is valueless because
| telephones are not desirable for municipal
| ownership and operation. / do not believe
the city would care to own a telephone
plant in twenty-five years, and IL 1t did
not. what good would the purchase clause
| dor
II do not intend to resign but do intend
to vote as my judgment dictates. believe
should act on business principles in filing
my duties as councilman, and this l pro-
pose to do. supposing there was only one
! independent telephone franchise asked and
this was for 100 years and contained high
rates. etc. Would 1t, be contended that
under the democratic platform the council
should vote the franchise? think not,
and believe have the right to discrimi-
nate as to what is likely to prove to the
city's interests and what is not"
|
strong impression prevails at the city
hall that Mayor Dahln1an will not sign a
6fty-year grant to. any company. His
honor is known to oppose longtime con.
tracts of any kind. II he vetoes the Home
ordinance the proposition slost in the form
requested. as five councilmen are against
1t and It would require eight 'votes to pass
IT over the mayors veto.
The muddle over. the inaccurate engross.
ment and amendments to the ordinance
remains uncleared. Various lawyers have
been trying to straighten out the tangle OF
unskillful work, but the ordinance has moi
yet seen Its first publication.