Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-10
| NASH HINTS AT BLACKMATL
Explains Why Light Company 0per-
ates Without Franchise.
HAS TILT WITH coUNCnMEN
Representative of Pool Hall Owners
Come Before Council and Make
Objections TO Commercial
Club Plans.

Characterizing the petitions Of the oma-
ha and Council Bluffs Power company and
f. l.. Kirk and associates for electric light
power franchises as blackmailing schemes,
F. A. Nash, president of the Omaha Elec-
trio Light and Power company, urged the
members OF the city council not to APP
prove the franchises Monday afternoon at
the meeting Of the committee of the whole.
Declaring that neither petitioner had any
intention OF carrying out the terms OF
the franchises, Mr.. Nash cautioned the
council not to rush into any action which
granted franchises TO other companies
Mr.. Nash also charged that the Omaha
and Council Bluffs Street Railway com
pany has been and is doing a power and
lighting business in direct violation Of the
city ordinances.
For thirty years. the Omaha Electric
Light and Power company has been doing
business in the city OF Omaha" said
Nash. In all that time, we have Lived
up to every requirement of the city; we
have paid our royalties and occupation
taxes gladly. Last year we paid into the
treasury 5 per cent Of our gross business,
We have tried to avoid litigation with the
city and have tried in every way to merit
the good will Of the people.
Now, these companies come in and ask
for franchises which II granted, would
seriously handicap our business I hate
to say 1t, but the propositions are black
mall. The promoters know they can
| force US to buy them out, and 1 have no
| hesitancy in saying that is what we would
have to do"
Mr.. Nash's statement precipitated q long
argument between himself and Councilman
| Funkhouser, who commended that IL was the
duty Of the councilmen to consider any ap-
plication for a franchise. Funkhouser sug
gested TO Nash that his company petition
for a franchise.
You have no rights and privileges
legally" said Funkhouser. why don't
you come In and ask for franchise? The
courts have held that you have no rights
to do an electric light and power business -
Decision IL Not Final.
Mr.. Nash contended that the decision OF
the appeal court was not final and that
his company stu considered that It had q
perpetual franchise. Are you willing and
ready to ask a franchise?" intertected
Councilman Hummel.
Not at present" replied Mr.. Nash
| Until the supreme court declares our
franchise void or until we can agree with
the council as to what franchise we should
have. we will stand on our rights. We are
giving the people every thing they demand
What else can they ask?'
Residence rates are too high and 1 car
prove It," interposed Funkhouser. "By
competition, we can get fairer rates The
people look to US to protect their interests
and when It comes to granting franchises
for twenty-five or thirty years, we will
investigate it from every angle"
The franchise ordinances were laid ovel
for two weeks that the city clerk may have
copies of both made for members of the
council. Neither ordinance was discussed
by the council members.
Pool Hall Ordinance Up.
The Commercial club ordinance, reRulat
ing and licensing pool halls, again came III
for discussion, as did the Sheldon anC
Berka ordinances. which differ from tn,
Commercial club measure, in that the lattei
makes 1t imperative for the proprietors e
furnish bond in the sum of $500 and pro
vides for a forfeiture OF the license OF
second conviction, and also provides tina.
the halls must be closed at midnight.
Judge Ben Baker, representing pool hal
owners, objected to the bond provision an,
asked that proprietors, who conduct a mer
camille business in conjunction with tn,
pool hail. be permitted to run the Iatted
after midnight. He also asked that tn,