Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-23
COURT ORDER BARS BOARD
Temporary Injunction Secured by
Water Company.
KEEPS MEMBERS OUT OF OFFICE
Representative Of water Board Go
TO city Hall and Advise Public
Against Paying the ola
water Rates.

Officials Of the Omaha Water board were
barred out Of the office OF the Omaha
Water company Tuesday morning py
a restraining order issued late Monday
| afternoon by Judge w. H.. Munger IN the
United States circuit court and the coup
planned by the board against the company
thereby went by default.
Ths board Saturday evening decided 10
Mace a representative in the office Of the
water company in the Bee building anu
I another in the office of the board in the
city hail for the purpose of explaining to
consumers the basis Of the new schedule
of rates adopted a couple Of months ago
and ordered to go into effect January l.
1909. The consent of the company was not
asked or secured and when the action OF
the board became known the company OF
ficials, together with their attorneys hetu
a conference which resulted in the pet-
ton in federal court for a restraining order
against the board or the officials OF the
city from interfering with the business OF
the company.
Order Secured Quietly.
The restraining order. was secured late In
the afternoon and members OF the poaru
knew nothing of It until Secretary koenls
Of that body presented himself at the ofilce
Of the company in conformity with the
| boards orders TO ADVISE DeODlt ~ fNS
the old rare. No time was lost in explain
ing to the secl etery that he was enjoined
from interfering. and that official then
gathered up his books and adjourned to
the city hall where he, G. E. Bertrand
attorney, and a stenographer held forth
during the day, attending to a long line OF
seekers after information.
The restraining order has nothing to do
with the actions of members or employees
of the Water board from doing what they
please in their office in the city hall. IT
merely refuses them admittance to the
company's private offices.
Callers at the office Of the board were
told not to pay the present rate, but the
refusal of the company to accept the lower
rate on pain of having the water turned
off resulted in all paying the present
schedule. On the bills of those who paid
under protest, however, the clerks in the
office stamped across the face of the re-
ceipts this statement: upon presentation
hereof, we will refund the amount paid
hereon In excess of rates specified in order
of the Omaha Water board of October "a,
1908, provided such order be finally held
valid by the courts. The Omaha Water
company
Two years ago when the board ordered
a lowering Of the rate. the, couapany ac-
cepted the lower rate under protest, but
later, when the courts upheld the COM
pany the difference in rates was collected
from the consumer.
Difference in Rates.
Under the present schedule Sc a year Is
charged for water for a five-room dwelling
house and 70 cents for each additional
room. The new rates contemplate the pay
ing of $500 for a five-room house and g
cents for each additional room. Private
baths under the present schedule cost $3.50
under the new rates they would cost $2.75
Under the present schedule 80 cents Is