Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-18
VETO FOR LIGHT CONTRACT
COuroil Passes 1t, But Mayor Indicates h,
Will Not Sign Document.
VOTE ON THE QUESTION is -FOUR TO TWO
DIR. Miller. Food Inspector, Files Ills
Report aud H. Reappointed to
serve for Another Month
Sidewalk Contract Let.

Sidewalk Contract Let.
IF have got to stick Il into anybody, I
would rather stick It into tile gas COM
pany than the people," was the character
istic remark Of Mayor Macrae last night
at the meeting of the city. council. when
to all inteuts and purposes he announced
{ that he would veto the lighting contract
, with the Citizens Gas and Electric COM
pany. The contract, which has been pend
ing before the. city council for several
months. was passed by vote of 6 TO 2,
Councilman Fleming. Hendrix. Knudsen.
Maloney, Smith and Youhkerman voting
for its approval and Councilmen Olson
and Wallace voting against 1t.
When the contract was read by the clerk
Councilman Maloney moved that IL be ap-
proved and that the mayor be instructed
to sign il. The motion wss seconded by
Councilman Fleming The discussion was
started by Councilman Olson. who again
wanted to know II the lighting company
would be responsible for the maintenance
of the electric light towers and RESPONSE
/ BILE In case any one of them collapsed.
City Solicitor Kimball gave 1t as his
opinion that under the contract the com-
pany was required to maintain" the
! towers, but he did not believe 1t could be
/ held responsible for the collapse through
some act of Providence. Councilman
Olson said he thought this was one mat
ter which ought to be fully determined
before the contract was entered into.
} Councilman Wallace reiterated his pro-
| test against the contractS contending that
Council Bluffs should not be required to
pay more for its electric lighting than
Omaha, considering that the current was
supplied from one and the same plant
He moved to amend by changing the rae
to be charged for arc lights from se5 for
moonlight schedule to s55 and SIS for
= an all night schedule to s75. Ills amend
ment failed of second.
Indicates a Veto.
Mayor Macrae said he agreed with
Councilman Wallace and indicated he
would veto the contract by refusing
to attach his official signature unless he
could be convinced otherwise In the next
few days II am not at all satisfied that
the contract Is for the best interests of
the city and shall have to give the mat
ter much investigation before 1 make
up my mind whether to sign IL or return
IT unsigned to the. council" he said.
The contract calls for rate Of s69.50
an arc light on the Philadelphia modified
schedule and SIS for an all night schedule.
royalty on rebate on its gross earnings on
all other electric business IN the city,
which. II is estimated Will reduce the cost
of the lights on the moonlight schedule
to SOS. The company further agrees to
extend its gas mains when ordered by the
committee on FIRE and light, provided
there are not less than six consumers to
every 500 feet of extension. The price
i;of gas after January u. 1901 is to be re-
i@duced from $1.45 TO s1.e5 provided the
bills are paid on, or before the 18Th of the
succeeding month and s1.s5 If paid after
that date These are the main points OF
the new contract. which extends for 1--WE
} years from July of this year.
Sidewalk Contract Let
The IDS for a large amount Of four-foo
br/k sidewalks were opened. John shin
luo secured the contract on his bid OF 3
, tents a lineal foot. with 30 cents a cubi,
J lard for grading. f. A. Wickhams biz
: Was Ss1a cents. with 80 cents for grading.
On an adverse report from the COMMITTEES
/ on claims the claim OF former Fire Chic
Nicholson for the $50 reward for causinl
the arrest OF a youth named Deveney TO
turning in false alarms was rejected.
: | DR.. S. T. Miller. the city food inspector
j filed a report in which he stated that h.
. had. paid periodical visits to all dealers Il
meat. fruit. vegetables. etc. During tn
hot weather much fruit and vegetables ha'
been spoiled, In most instances the dealer
4 threw the stun out themselves, while 9th
!, ers kept 1t and offered It. for sale until or
e dered by him to destroy II. He said tina
!, peddlers from across the river were in tn
q habit Of peddllng Omaha garbage" sue
q as decayed bananas and other fruits, 4
u this city, and he had been obliged to hav
= several wagon loads confiscated and de
n stroyed. AS the period for which DR.. Nil
; Ter had been appointed expired he was rs
y appointed for another month.
r. The pay roll for the work on India
e creek for the two weeks ending Septembe
= IA. amounting to $685. was allowed.
e BEWARE OF CAR SHORTAGES. Goa
will be hard to get in October. Orde
u ,,our md naf nrood aarrdna lrihanaAaiu