Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-12
Senate File No. IA Prophecy


The compulsory waterworks purchase bill
has been rairoaded through the senate
without discussion as an emergency meas
ure. White strictly local in its scope and
affecting only the taxpayers Of Omaha and
South Omaha this bill violates a funda-
mental principle Of self-government 1t is
in fact, an indictment Of the intelligence
and integrity Of the citizenship OF Omaha
and a public declaration In favor OF placing
OHtrha in the hands of a receiver or ap-
y Anung a guardian to protect It from it,
THE salient features Of Senate File No
re that Omaha must either buy the exist
Ag water works or build water works of
81 Is own by legislative mandate. with this
snd in view the governor Is empowered
~ directed to appoint a water commission
composed Of six citizens. clothed with un-
limited power to negotiate for the purchase
of the water works now existing OF to
proceed with the construction of new water
works, and when the purchase or construc-
ton is completed to operate these works,
purchase the supplies therefor, collect the
rents and, In fact, become a government
within the government, responsible to no
body and removable by nobody after they
are inducted into office.
with the exception of issuing bonds al
ready voted and voting more bonds here
after for the contamination OF the pro.
posed purchase by the commission, Omaha
is to have nothing to say about the man
agement of the water works. which will
involve an oVtlay OF anywhere from three
to six millions until after the expiration of
four years, when the governor appointed
commission s to give way to a commission
elected by it's citizens on the gradual in
stallment plan.
The darkey in that woodpile is The provi-
sion requiring the governor appointed
water commission to appoint water COM
missioner at any salary It may see at to
pay and we betray no secret In saying
that the progentor Of this scheme and
author Of Senate File No. / is to be the
beneficiary with an income anywhere from
5000 to $4,000 a year. That this is to be
the outcome II the bill should become a
law in its present form may be Judged from
its context, which provides only such
qualifications as Mr.. Howell believes him
self possessed Of In this regard Senate
File No. 1 is decidedly ingenious. The
creator of the commission expects, Of
Acourse, to be favored by the commission,
md to make sure of this result he makes
the paramount duty Of the commission
appoint the water commissioner i'm
Pmodlately after its organization, although
by reason of litigation, or by failure TO
secure popular endorsement of the bonds
the commission may have no water works
to manage or to plan for from six months
to two years after the induction of the
high-salaried water commissioner.
II the people Of Omaha can be trusted
to elect an honest and capable board Of
n water commissioners four years hence, why
!. pre- they not equally competent to elect
IN honest commission before the negotia-
kfons for the water works are submitted
flor their ratification? Why should the
fcltlzens Of Omaha be deprived OF the right
OF home rule in the selection OF water
commission so long as they have right
to elect their mayors, treasurers comp
trollers, police judges and city councils?
II II is right for the governor to appoint