Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-26
CITIZENS TAKING A HAND
Present Petition to Council to Make
Contract with Company.
SAY CITY HAS NOT THE MONEY TO BUY
Matter r. Referred TO the Special
water Works Committee-PavinE
Ordered on n Number of
Streets.


Of seventy of the leading business men and
taxpayers of the city was presented to the
city council last night:
We understand that the present taxable
valuation of the city of Council Bluffs Is
$3,Sl2O0J, that its legal limit of debt out
side of debts incurred for purchase or
construction OF water works to be per cent
of this amount, nearly $195,600 while the
face of the boRds now outstanding less the
cash on hand to apply on their payment
10, in round numbers, $4,000, or about
SSs, 400 in excess of the legal limit.
We further understand that under au-
thority Of recent legislation that for the
council may legally Increase the city's
debt to an amount equalling per cent of
the cty's actual valuation, in fact to
yl62, 800. If the amount of the present debt
Is deducted from the figure there would be
available for water works purchase but
sos, AT, which amount added TO the cash
already in the water sinking fund would
make the total amount available for the
requirement of a water plant Sl5,552, or
about 100000 less than the amount figured
necessary to acquire and reinforce the
present plant and without provision for the
extension of water mains to districts now
faxed for water works purposes, but not
provided with water service.
In view of these facts it is our opinion
that the present time is inopportune for
the requirement of a water plant and We
respectfully request that your honorable
body proceed at once to enter into con-
tract with the existing company. We sug-
gest that any franchise that may be Of
fered to the company should be for a term
of years long enough to warrant the in
vestment by the company of sufficient
money to make necessary reinfOrcements
and extensions, but that the city should
reserve the right TO purchase at any time.
In view of the further faCJ that the power
to make or change rates at any time rests
with the council and to the end that the
necessary improvements may be made at
once and to the end that this matter be
settled without any more direct expense to
the city or indirect expense to the people,
in the matter of insurance rates, we sug-
gest that for a basis for rate making only
"A valuation midway between the city's APP
praiser and the water companys appraiser
be used.
That your consideration for the taxpayers
ana the business interests of the city will
influence you to grant this petition and
Immediately take steps to bring negotia-
earnest wish of your petitioners.
Among those signing the petition were
Ernest e. Hart T. G. Turner, J. p
and Implement company, Pioneer Imple-
ment company, Metcaf company, +. +. Ev-
w. w. Hanthorn, Franklin Printing COM
pany William Groneweg, w. II. Town, e.
II. Merriam. John p. Davis, F. s. Davis
j ~ Mallory: Thomas %su Metcaif Charles
pany, O. M. Brown, J. w. Peregoy, John
Beresheim, Joseph r. Reed, c. E. Price,
A. HBuSnnell, h
p. Gounnoude, August Beresheim. John
w. Camp p. c. DE Vol, Emil II. Leffert,
]. Chris Jensen, H. w. Binder, Harle Hass
rus %narer Ask p %o dfr John Beno sqpT
Empkie. b. M. Webster, John r oliver.
Charles A. Beno, b. M. Sargent, II. H. Van
Brunt' y. p Anderson. Ole Rasmussen,
Stephan, Standard Manufacturing company,
TIL. N. Petersen, S. T. McAtee. l.. Eur
muehlen, L: Zurmuehlen. jr;; G; strapb.
company. Kimball Bros, j. b. Long c. b.
Jacquemin, Continental Furniture company,
II. A. Quinn, w. d. Hardin; John l. Lutz.
Jacob Neumayer, John @. Woodward.
Matter Goes to Committee.
The petition was introduced by Council
man Smith. accompanied by a motion to
the effect that the prayer of the petitioners
be granted anN thai the special water
works committee By directed to draw up
an agreement with the water company,
together with table Of rates, and submit
the. same to the council at its first meeting
in March, with Expert Kiersted's report
on rates to be used as a basis for figuring
the new schedule
Councilman Wallace at once raised an
objection to the passage of such motion,
and insisted that the petition should by
right be referred to the special committee
without any instructions attached to It.
In this he was supported by Councilman
Younkerman and Mayor Macrae. The
mayor stated he was Suspicious of the
origin of the petition, and ascribed II 10
persons directly connected with the water
works company. At the same time, he
said. he had no fault to find with the
petition itself. but he seized the oppor-
tunity to read from the municipal owner
| ship PLATFORM which he declared had been
adopted by both republican and democratic
city conventions. He said the petition
should go to the committee which had been
| entrusted with the settlement of the water
works question.
Councilman Wallace's substitute motion
to send the petition to his committee car
ried, Councilman Smith being the only dis
senting vote.
| Paving Ordered.
Final and favorable action was taken or
the resolution providing for the paving OF
a number of streets and avenues, the list
Of which had been published. Councilman
Wallace raised his usual objection to or,
dering Broadway paved beyond Twenty.
eighth street at this time, but as It was
decided not to advertise for more paving
on this thoroughfare this year than funds
would permit. the resolution was allowed &c
stand as originally drawn.
As a result of the crossing accident at