Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-29
CONTEST OVER Gas TANKS
Bruoksr Measure Recommended for Pas
sage By Council COMMITTEES.
PERMITS ENLARGINs The PRESENT PLANT
McGOvern Ordinance for Municipal
Electric Light Plant Meets Early
Death by Being Voted Down in
Committee of the whole.

The Brucker and Bridges gas tank or
dinances were brought up yesterday after
noon before the city council COMMITTEES. of
the whole, the former measure being
recommended for passage by a vote Of G
to 4, while the latter ordinance took the
count by the same vote reversed This
does not mean. however that the BRIDGES
ordinance VIII not be In the running at
tins evenings council meeting but ii does
clearly indicate the council majority con-
tend that the Brucker ordinance stands a
strong chance Of going through and that
the long drawn-out gas tank hgh. will be
settled. Councilmen Bridges Funkhouser
Ztmman and Elsasser voted for the Bridges
ordinance and against the BruCker ordi-
nance in the committee meeting Coun-
Gilman Hansen has taken a change Of base
by deserving the Bridges side Of the coun-
Gil in the gas tank fight
The Brucker measure providen that the
gas company may erect gas tanks in
territory bounded by Nineteenth. Twenty
second, Center street and the burlington
tracks, this territory including the present
gas plant at Twentieth and Center streets
and, should the ordinance pass this even
ing, il VIII be a victory for the gas com
pany. The Bridges ordinance allows the
gas company to place new tanks only on a
Z strip along the river.
Two Counter Petitions
petition containing 4OS signatures Of
! southside citizens, protesting against the
/ location Of any more gas tanks at Twen-
tieth and Center streets, WAS received by
I the council yesterday afternoon, while a
/ petition from 800 citizens from all over
the city, urging that the council allow
the gas company opportunity 10 en-
large its present plant, also was received.
The 1900 citizens. many Of them prominent
IN commercial and professional lines. pre-
scented q statement Of present conditions
regarding the gas supply and the urgent
need Of an enlarged plant TO meet grow
ing demands and 10 conserve public in
| terests.
Councilman McGovern's municipal cleo
trfc lighting plant ordinance died young
Mr.. McGovern made q motion that the or
dinAnce be recommended for passage. Nj
Zimmsn asked Mr.. McGovern 10 explain
his measure. to say what the proposed
plant would save the city and give sons
idea as 10 cost Of plant. price per arc lamT
and other details. But Mr.. McG0veru was
not inclined TO enHghten his oonferees, -
he alone voted for the recommends tiOI
when II came 10 vote.
Mr.. McGoveru's idea was 10 let the cleo
tors vote this fail on the question Of is
suing S5G00OO in bonds for a municipal
lighting plant. The ordinance was genera
in its terms.
An ordinance introduced at the instlEa,
tion o. W. J. Brnatch Of The Board Of Fir,
and Police Commissioners, 70 regulate IN,
sale Of liquors IN drug stores. was tabled
The judiciary committee Was directed ts
draw up another ordinance on the subject
requiring druggists 10 abstain from serv
ing any iutOEicauts over fountains or Il
their stores and 10 refrain from eKhibitin
bottles Of liquors in show windows OF o.
shelves.
RemOdeIinE sign Ordinance.
M McGovern's sign ordinance Is TO b
modified by the judiciary committee befor
having further consideration In it's pres
ent form the ordinance prohibits signs O
I al kinds over OF On sidewalks and the dis
play Of merchandise on walks In view O
T the many expensive and attractive eIectri
signs now IN use II was suggested that IN
ordinance be made less stringent. M. Tin
man said there was something loose ia n
/ municipal government when such chea
/ signs as the one nov across Douglas ST. es
al Sixteenth street should be permitted Il
/ a metropolitan city. The sentiment Of IN
] council yesterday afternoon Was that som
action in this ma tier should De taken bI
no such radical action as proposed by III
McG0vern.
Mr.. Sheldou's smoke ordinance came q
for recommendation for passage, but va
/ lost when the vote was taken. Mr. Sheld1
[ explained his measure vas prompted 3
complaints from citizens living near
briclyard Al Thirty second and ONO. th0s
citizens protesting agains The smoke II
suing fr0n a brick kiln, which had n