Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-12

a water commission for Omaha. why not
also empower him to appoint a water
commission for Lincoln? Why now EN-
power him TO appoint the mayors and
councils OF all other towns in the state, so
as to insure nonpartisan government, on
the lines laid down by Senate File No. II
There might be some excuse for the gov
ernor appointed police commissions on the
plea that the public safety demands the
extension OF police powers over large
cities. But no Nebraska legislature has
ever sought to deprive the citizens Of any
town or village Of the right Of self-gov-
ernment, which is at the base Of our en-
tire fabric.
incidentally and quite apart from its
anh-American spirit Senate File No. 1 is
crude and seriously defective in many par
ticulars. 1t contemplates the purchase Of
water works on the three appraisers plan,
which would expose the city TO the risk
OF paying from one TO two millions more
for the works than they could be duplicated
for, or force It into the quicksands and
shoals of new construction on engineering
estimates that may fall millions short by
the time the city got through building.
1t ignores and rejects the right to pur-
chase the plant by the condemnation
process under eminent domain that would
give the city the privilege OF appointing
all the appraisers and rejecting the ap-
praisement in case 1t is deemed too high.
Under the provisions of the bill no ap-
praisement Of the works can even be sub
mitted TO the people without the approval
Of the governor appointed water board. II
this board should be induced, by fair means
or foul, to balk the negotiations for the
purchase Of the works no proposition could
h., Cd %, he
empowers the board to compel the mayor
and council by mandamus to submit bond
proposition, there is no power given to the
courts by the bill to compel the water
board to take action in the premises. They
are constituted a trust unto themselves.
Not only is this close corporation to be
above the mayor and council and citizen
ship of Omaha, but above the governor
even.
After IL has once been installed all va
cancies are to be filled by Il, and not being
removable for misdemeanors In office by
the governor, or by anybody, 1t may be de-
pended upon to hold the fort until the job
which Mr.. Howell is trying to secure Tor
himself has been anchored. Under the
provisions of Senate File No / the water
commissioner cannot be removed after the
first year except for cause by less than
a vote OF two-thirds of the full board.
There are other holes in that water works
skinner which should be plugged before
the bill passes the house. The bill grants
authority to the water commission to
operate ten miles beyond the corporate
limits Of Omaha at its discretion, but no.
where does the bill make provision for ac-
countabillty to South Omaha in collecting
water rents, planting hydrants or extend
ing water mains. That omission alone in
sures sufficient litigation to complicate the
negotiations and acquisition Of the water
works for months II not for years.
The safe plan for the house Of representa-
tives would be to indefinitely postpone the
bill or TO recommit II to its parent for re-
construction on the lines of home rule anc
popular sovereignty.