Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-03
Council Bluffs,
COUNClLMEN TAKE SEATS
New Members Installed in Office at
Windup Of Session.
WAGE INCREASES AGREED TO
Report OF Solicitor Ilimball Read
In which He Comments on Law
with Regard TO ExactinE
Telephone Royalties.
WAGE INCREASES AGREED II

The old city council In an extended ant
busy session last night concluded its Of
neisl existence and the new council tooS
its place. 1t was all done In the pres,
ence Of an audience that packed tn,
chamber. the anteroom and the corridor
When the old council adjourned ant
the members were about to retire Their
way was blocked by Mayor Maloney ant
all OF the new members. and for about
five minutes there were expressions Of
real congratulations. refined by diplo.
matically expressed regrets and constant
handshaking. All OF the business OF
the session was done by the old council
and the new members had nothing more
10 do than to organize. They did this
by adopting the long established rules
and re-electing Charles J. Duff. city
clerk, who Immediately announced the
appointment Of Don Unthank as his de-
putty.
The most important part OF the busi-
ness of the old council was the opening
Of bids for the new concrete bridge and
retaining wall extending from No. 3
fire station TO and including the Mynsteg
street bridge, which includes retaining
walls nearly 90 feet long on both sides
Of the stream and covering them With
concrete girders sufficiently strong 10
carry paved surface and street traffic.
There were a number of bidders, but the
bid Of f. A. Wickham was far below
them all ard contained no restrictions
whatever. II was also the briefest Of
all. II was the simple proposition to do
the work I'm accordance with the plans
and specifications for N0750, aud was
accompanied by a certified check for
s2.5oa. The bid was about 5000 lower
than expected and fully as much lower
than the engineers estimate
Bids Vary Greatly.
Peter Nelson bid sl5.sO0. with s. per Gu
bic yard for additional concrete. IS cents
per foot for extra piling and $3.50 per
foot for extra steel reinforcing. c. C.
No"saard. who has recently been the
lowest eidder on all other public work.
including the rev water reservoir, filed
bid OF $H7N with approximately the
same charges for extra material. Peter
Peterson bid slI651. The National Roof
ing company bid s1l,7s2, with IS per yard
for extra concrete, 80 cents for extra plI.
ing, 2 cents per pound for extra steel
The Midland Bridge company Of Des
Moines wanted s1s,75o. $50 for extra con-
crete. 30 cents for extra piling and 2 cents
for extra steel. The Kimballton Con-
struction company OF Atlantic figured
the cost of the work at $ls.s3s. 20, with
SN25 for additional concrete and 42 cents
Tor extra plling. James Saguln offered
10 do the work for sl5.66S.5e with s. for
extra concrete and IS cents for pllins.
All Of the bids were referred TO the city
engineer for tabulation.
Question OF Phone Royalties.
Contrary to the rather dramatic deela-
ration Of Alderman Fisher a month before
election that the question OF exacting
royalty from the telephone company un-
der the provisions Of the new Independent
company's charter would not be deferred
until after election. the matter was not
brought up again until last night When
II was ascertalned that the exaetion OF
the royalty would add Just that amount
TO the price OF the phones Il was sug-
Eested that II might be dangerous prop
osition to fool with Just before election,
which Alderman Fisher as chairman of
tho committee with the matter in charge
resented with vigor. II came up last
night In the shape Of a report from City
Solicitor Kimball In which he said:
The company reports that there are
about GOO phones within the city OF
Connril Bluffs, paying on an average
about Sis per month. but that the num-
hef Will be somewhat increased in
short time This would bring an income
10 the city on 5 per cent of the gross in
come Of little less than 5000 per wear.
The company also SAYS that under the
present conditions the royalty will be
added as an increase of rate. which under
the ordinance they are allowed to collect
over the present rates charged by the
company.
After a conference with the attorney
Tor the company find that the company
viii pay this royalty upon the gross re-
eeipts, as shown by its books, from and
after the consolidation Of the two switch
boards about the first OF February 1872
The honorable mayor and myself have
also had conference with the company
relative TO an increased telephone service
for the fire department Of the city and
have been assured that this can be Sc
cured. regret that | was not able TO
finish this matter before leaving office
but believe that satisfactory adjustment
can be made between the city and the
telephone company whereby the addI-
tional telephone service for the depart
ment can be supplied as suggested by
the mayor and the chief Of the fire de-
partment and this royalty paid from a
date that is fair to both.
therefore recommend that the CITY
request a statement OF the telephone
company as TO the amount of royalty
due and on what terms and conditIonS
they Will install the additional telephone
service.
Wage Increase Passed,
The council passed. under suspension
@; the rules, the ordinance increasing the
ray Of the members of the fire and
police departments. agreed to ut the pre-
vious meeting. The reports OF ali the
heads OF departments were received and
placed on file. The report Of the fro
and light committee had a number of
recommendations for the new council tn
consider. II contained a list of the an
naratus of the fire department and recon-
mended the purchase OF an automobils
for the fire chief. a new auto fire trucl,
for No. and a new fire station for the
western part OF the city, to be equippsI
with combination chemical and hose
wagon. A number of miner recommenda-
tons were made, including the purchas sA
OF Loo feet Of new hose to add 70 the
Sto9 feet on hand, and the replacing Of
the small hook and ladder truck in
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