Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-05
MORE GRAND STAND PLAYS
Additional Plans Of Democrats 70 Garry
Out Air-Oastle Platform.
sUReoMAsTtRs NOT YET SATISFIED
NuneEous Investi~~ lion Ressiutions
Adopted DO Answer, ss
They Pa FOol
the =.

Additional plans for making obvious ef-
forts TO carry out the provisions Of the
msde-to-order democratic platform with
respect 10 public service corporations have
been evolved by certain councilmef. These
burgomasters are not satisfied with the
numerous Investigation" resolutions
adopted and have learned that the public
regards them as largely farcical.
Without waiting for prolonged inquiry
into lighting and telephone rates and
street car regulations or a reply from the
corporations. II is now proposed to pass
franchise ordinances open to acceptance
by the world, or any group Of capitalists
or promoters who will 60 to the expense
OF submitting the franchises to popular
vote.
II is hoped the corporations will eapitu-
late before prospective competitors have
seized upon the opportunity. in which case
the ordinances may be quickly and easily
repealed.
some Things Promised.
These are some OF the specific things
promised in the democratic platform and
objects to be achieved
Reduced telephone rates and local con-
nections with outside independent lines.
one dollar gas.
Universal street car transfers and lower
rates
This is about as far as the most radical
counciimen care to go at this time. For
some reason they are not willing to tackle
electric light and power rates.
Resolutions Are Light.
THE resolutions adopted last Tuesday
are pretty Hight MATERIAL said one OF the
councflmen. 1.-THE public service corpora
tions know their import and there is no
need OF the committee comforting with the
officers and asking them II they will cut
the rates. AS a matter OF fact. there was
"a good deal OF absurdity and hot air In
some of these resolutions. Our committees
have about decided that it would be q
waste Of time to follow instructions.
Some Of us have been working along a
plan OF passing franchise ordinances, open
to acceptance to the individuals or COM
panies making the best offers OF course,
franchise would not be worth anything
unless endorsed by majority vote of the
electors and the interests desiring Il would
have to bear the cost Of the special cleo
ton In this way general competition
would be invited
No Chance for Reduction.
The gas company's franchise permitting
II to charge higher rates than are now ir
force does not expire until 1918. Meanwhile
there is no way to compel II to reduce the
price OF gas to 81 except to threaten com.
petition. Neither is there any method &c
induce the telephone company to meet thS
demands for connections with outsid,
Independent lines except in the same way
l believe. however. that the council car
legislate for reasonable street railway regu
lations and telephone rates"
The last clause of the telephone planl
is specially interesting in view Of tn,
fact that several combinations want 9
franchise. The Omaha Independent com
pany and the Home Telephone company
are already in the field, and the latter 1,
Incorporated with the chairman OF thu
democratic city committee as a stock
holder. For several days Albert Won Hon
man OF Milwaukee, a capitalist and eiec
trio light and street railway man. has beer
In Omaha on business connected with
possible application for a telephone fran
chise. Just who Mr.. Won Hoffman Il
working with locally is unknown but tn,
suspicion has been raised that It Is Lei
Herdman, q any one. Herdman Is credited
with desire to control the local tele
phone situation at the city hall SOM
time ago he admitted being intereestet
I'm a proposed Independent company.
With all these things and others incubat
ing, the dopesters are saying there will b
warm times around the city hall this sum
mer