Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-27
No Cut in Light Rates.

NO OuN IN IiRhN
The Gas company and the electric light
company sent letters to the lighting COM
mittee. saying they didn't see how they
could possibly reduce their rates any, con-
sidering the fact THAT Omaha has the best
and lowest-prieed service in the United
States for town OF It's size. age and ge-
ography. Tho committee submitted letters
without adding anything Of its own and
the documents were laid on Ale. Mr. Nash
said the average rate received by the cleo
trio light company was 5 cents, "a less
rate than received by any company in the
United States similarly located as to fuel,
labor and other conditions applying to the
manufacture and distribution Of electric
current" Also that figuring in the royalty
Of per cent Omaha got its lights at a
lower price than any city in the country
President Hamilton of the gas company
remarked that the franchise held by the
corporation permits 1t to charge Sl.45 per
900 cubic feet for its product, but It only
asks H.o5, having made three voluntary
reductions and having another drop of 10
cents scheduled for October /, 1905. He
pointed out the vicissitudes Of manufac-
turing and distributing gas in Omaha and
the special reasons that made II dificult
and said that the combined royalty and
taxes paid amounted to II cents per .OOO
cubic feet which Ia more than any other
company IN the United States and brings
the net price OF gas down n less than 81
All this was brought out by the councils
polite inquiry n the corporations asking
the latter II they would not help 10 carry
out the democrstlc platform pledges.
Message from the Mayor.
Mayor Dshtr1an, in message, declared
enla regiments were needed for the city ian
and that the Capitol avenue market house
should he transposed from mere monument
to idleness into something useful He said
that from three 10 hve more cells were
needed At the jail and should he provided
but he urged the council TO inquire into
the project Of selling the Jail and grounds
and building new and modern police sta
ton elsewhere with the proceeds. He had
been told that this was feasible with ref
erence to the market house, he said he
understood an automobile dealer was will
ling TO sign A three-year lease for So 900.
In this connection his honor said perhaps
It would he a good idea to make a public
bath house out Of the structure that per
haps plumbers might be Induced 10 bear
the expense of equipment in exchange for
advertising privileges, and that cents
=.
soap. water, caretsker, etc. The message
went to the committee on buildings and
property for consideration.
The council refused to sustain the veto
~ the mayor 10 the resolution proposing
TO create the ONCE OF second assistant city
attorney at 1900 a year. The mayor said
he thought a salary OF 81 800 a year sum
Client Zimman and Funkhouser took issue
with him on the point. Zimman said that
Union Pacific tax litigation involvine
$4,000 is lying in the federal court oecauss
the legal department does not have tim,
! 10 attend TO it. He asserted that more Iii
CATION with the water company is probabl,
in store. and with that corporation employ
/ ing the best lawyers It could find, h,
/ thought the city should have better thar
1850 men opposing. He said he woul,
favor a higher salary than $1,000 for IN,
/ position. The council majority saw il hi
way.
Taylor Draws the Job.
Tom Lee and John c. Lynch were agail
rejected for the positions OF prosecutor an,
gas inspector. but the mayors appeal [,
reconsider action on Egbert Taylor, col
ored. for janitor at the city jail. on tn
ground that his honor had known the ap
pointee twenty years and he was a ICON
ststent democrat and a man Of goo,
habits" was needed by the council an,
Mr.. Taylor awarded the Job.
| Councilman Alma Jackson Churchill
Parker and James schneiderwind wer
named and confirmed as the board Of ap
praisert for city property
Treasurer Fink's protest against tn