Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-04
TANCLE OVER WATER WORKS
Other Members Of COMMITTEES Know Moth
ing Of Councilman Knudssn's Plan.
SOMEWHAT N:TTLtO OVER the MATTER
Knudsen Says He VIII Meet Conn
merciRI Club Just the same and
Present HIS Proposed So
tuition of Question.

The announcement that Councilman
Knudsen, member of the special water
works committee, had a proposition 20 Of
Ter which he believes will prove solution
for the water works problem, Councilman
Wallace, chairman OF the committee, de-
clared yesterday was news to him and
likewise to the other two members OF the
committee. he believed. The fact that
Councilman Knudsen had some plan to
| propose without consulting him as chair
man Of the special committed, was evil
IDENTIFY, somewhat displeasing to Mr.. Wal
lace.
Councilman Wallace insists that mu-
nicipal ownership Of the water works plant
is still feasibleS> The fact that the city
council when fixing the last tax levy,
failed to make a levy for the sinking fund
for the purchase OF the water works was
taken as an indication that that body
had come to the conclusion that the ac-
quirement by the city OF the plant by pur-
chase was not under existing conditions
| feasible. Councilman Younkerman, al
though admitting that Il is time that the
city council did something in the matter,
| declared yesterday that the council is
| committed TO municipal ownership and that
he for one intends to redeem his pledge to
the people. o.. = .,,
1--WE have already spent several thousand
dollars on the water works problem look
ing to its acquisition by the city, but to-
| day we are no nearer to some arrange
ment than we were three years ago. It's
time for tangible results or a complete
change OF method or procedure" said Mr..
Younkerman.
Wallace Net Advised.
Councilman Wallace also denied yester-
L sIax H. - 49,
ence between the special water works
the Commercial club tomorrow afternoon.
On the other hand. Councilman Knudsen
declares that he WIN be there ready to
| submit his proposition for a settlement of
the question, whether the other members
are present or not.
That the business men Of the city are
| growing impatient over the inactivity of
the city council in the matter OF the water
| works question, President Mcdonald of the
Commercial club stated yesterday WAS very
apparent, but IL apparently did not make
P any impression on the members OF that
body. 1T is not that the city council
has not done this or that, or the other
thing. but that II has done nothing at all.
is what the business men complain or
The business interests OF the city demand
cOHlc lthhculdNc anu tilib Tic SOuNh-
cilmen should realize. The proposition APP
pears to me as 1t does to other business
men. perfectly plain. 1t is a mere waste
OF time and words TO talk Of municipal
j ownership. The city is going to continue
getting water through the present plant
and the present plant will continue under
private ownership The failure on the part
of the city authorities to recognize this
plain fact Is preventing the securing Of
the much needed Improvements and ex
tensions. Personally, I fail to see how th'
report of Expert Kiersted can possibly altel
the vitality important conditions" said
President Mcdonald. -
Manager Hart Of the water works com
pany declined yesterday to discuss the mat
ter further, saying that his views on the
situation had already been made public
but he reiterated that his company wal
prepared to make the improvements de
manded by the business interests of th'
city the moment the city council made 4
possible for It to do 50. . a. -