Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-20
NASH TO ASK FOR FRANCHISE
Electric Light Company to Go Before
City Council Monday,
10 ASK FOR FIFTY.YEAR GRANT
VIII offer 60 Pay Bonus Of Thousand
DoIlars = Month Into the CITY
Treasury for Privilege of
Doing Business.

Power company. and certain members OF
the city council have progressed so far
that the light company will petition the
city council to grant IT a franchise 20 do
business In Omaha at the meeting Of the
COMMITTEES OF the whole next Monday
afternoon, unless present plans are
changed. The electric light company
franchise matter is now in the higher
courts
A tentative draft OF the franchise has
been drawn and circulated among mem
bers of the council, who have been invited
TO confer with Mr.. Nash. The draft asks
for franchise for a period Of fifty years
FOR which the electric light company agrees
TO pay 5000 monthly during the life of the
franchise into the city treasury.
While the company asks a fifty-year
franchise. 1t Is said to he willing to take
one for twenty-five years and agrees TO
pay a fixed sum each month in addition
TO the royalties and occupation taxes. The
royalties and occupation taxes, however,
are not mentioned in the franchise as
drafted
Other Franchises ID.
Rumors that the Omaha &sfCouncu Bluffs
Street Railway company has decided to ask
for a lighting franchise has been given
credenCe by the officials of the electric
light company to such an extent that in
retaliation they have decided to ask for
street railway franchise. Officials of the
company have stated that sufficient money
has been subscribed by Omaha capitalists
10 float a company for street car purposes.
hut the request for the franchise is CON
tingent on the action OF the street railway
company in askng a lighting franchise
Lively competition is anticipated II the
lighting company sticks to lts plans to
To
afternoon. Arrangements have been made
to have attorneys for the company at the
meeting to present the companys side OF
the case.
The street railway company. II Is said,
II conversant with every move made by
the electric light company and will have it's
representatives at the meeting also. The
latter company has entered the lighting
business, at the present time supplying
power to many private concerns in the
downtown district.
No discrimination in rates Is promised
by the lighting company If the franchise
is granted. II agrees to give the same
rates to consumers of equal amounts of
light power under similar conditions
and tabooes all rebates. All consumers
will have the same service and no favors
arc to be shown.
City May Use Poles.
Certain privileges are also granted The
company agrees to permit the poles and
. standards to be used for the purpose of
placing and maintaining wires that may be
n necessary for the use of either the fire or
police departments.
The city is given authority to reason
ably extend the present conduit service
and the company agrees to lay conduits
in such districts in advance Of paving
Service Is to be metered and tho city is
given the right to test the meters at any
time. However, service which Is furnished
on flat rate. is exempted from this pro-
vision The city comptroller is given
authority TO examine the books of the COM
pany at any time to verify the statements
AS to expenses and earnings.
Amount of Royalty Paid.
For the year 1903 the electric light com
pany paid to the city treasurer Sls,s4ss2 in
royalties, and for the first four months of
the year. s6,7OOSO as occupation tax. For
1910 the company paid slsds2.S5 in royalties
and yls.07Ia for occupation tax.
The draft OF the franchise. as drawn
by the Electric Light company. and handed
out to members of the council follows:
Section l,-That the Omaha Electric
Light and Power company, It's successors
and assigns. Is hereby granted the rignt
and authority to construct reconstruct
extend, acquire, use maintain and operate
In. under through, over and upon ne
streets, alleys ana public grounds OF the
city OF Omaha all necessary convenient or
appropriate conduits, poles STANDARDS
wires, cables, lamps, appliances ana APP
purtenances for the purpose OF supplying
and selling electric current for lKnting
neat power and all other commercial and
domestic purposes and for the purpose of
and power business
Section 2-Ghe rights, privileges, author
ity and franchise hereby granted shall
be and remain In force for a period OF
fifty years from and after the final APP
proval OF this ordinance by the electors
OF the city OF Omaha and It's acceptance
by said company. but the rights, privileges
authorty and franchise hereby granted
Section a-Upon the acceptance of said
company OF the franchise. herein granted
by the city of Omaha all OF the rights
privileges and authority OF said company
under its present franchise or any other
franchise heretofore granted by said city,
shall be terminated and extinguished.
Section 4-Satd company shall make no
OF an equal amount OF ught or bower WIFI
the same demand and urder the same con-
duons, and rebates are prohibited
Section 5-The city comptroller of the
city Of Omaha shah have the right and
power 10 examine the books OF said com
pany FOR the purpose OF verifying its state
ments as 10 earnings and expenses.
section e-The city OF Omaha shall have
conduit district and IN such districts 50
reasonably extended from time To time
vance OF paving,
Section The service furnished b. said
company teNcept as hereinafter provided
shall be metered and the city OF Omaha
shall have the right TO test all meters at
any time The provisions OF this section
shall not apply 10 service which said com
pany now furnished at flat rate OF 70
service OF similar character which a may
hereafter furnish at flat rate
Section s-Ali conduits, poles, standards.
wires, cables, lamps, appliances and appur-
tenanees shall be so placed and maintained
by said company as 10 conform 10 such
reasonable regulations as may be now or
hereafter provided by ordinance.
Section e-Said company shall at all times
when 80 requested by the authorities OF
80 the city Of Omaha permit Its poles and
standards TO be used for the purpose OF
placing and maintaining thereon any wires
that may be necessary Tor the Use OF the
fire department on police Of said city
Section i0-Said company shall pay to
the city q Omaha the sum OF 81 co monthly
throughout tho period covered by this ordi-
nance.
MUST NOW FACE TWO CHARGES