Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-19
SENATORS OPPOSE
LIGHTING MEASURE
AS PARTISAN ACT
Opposition Manifests Itself Directly
Against Saunders Water-Light
Bill on Floor in De-
bate.
DEMOCRATS ARE AGAINST IT
Grace Gives Views in Extended De-
bate When Matter is Up in
Committee of Whole.
H0AGLAND DISIIKEs SYSTEM

CFrom a Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN, Feb. 49, Especial. >
Opposition developed today to S. f.
No. 9, the Saunders measure per-
mitting the Metropolitan Water dis
trict of Omaha to engage in the cleo
trio lighting business. The bill was
discussed in committee of the whole
where Senators Grace and Hoagland
made plain they we're against 1t and
an undercurrent of sympathy with
their position was plainly apparent.
Senator Grace declared that Man
Rger Howell of the district was
urging the bill as partisan measure.
Off the floor 1t is frequently said
he lie seeking to build up a repub-
lican machine in his own behalf.
Senator HoagIand of Lancaster, a
republican, told the senate that II
the Greater Omaha bill we're a law,
the consolidated cities would be in
better shape to enter the lighting
business than the water district.
Senator'S Dodge and Saunders we're
the principal defenders. An ad-
journment was taken until tomor-
row when the debate will be con-
tinued.
saunders Proposes Changes.
The author OF the bill, Senator Saunders
read several amendments made by tho
committee to the bill, one of them fol-
lows
Provided, that nothing herein contained
shall be construed as in any way abridg-
ing the authority possessed at the time
of the passage of this act by the mayor
and council, or village board of any
municipality, embraced within such
metropolitan water district, TO fix rates
and to regulate the service OF any person
or company. except the metropolitan
water district. transmitting electric cur
rent within such municipality; and pro-
y iding further, that any Judgment re-
covered against any such municipality
because of any act OF neglect OF the
board OF such directors of such metropoli-
tan water district shall be paid only out
Of funds under the control Of said di-
roctors and all suits arising out of funds
under the control Of said directors and
all suits arising out Of transactions of
tanned In this act shall be prosecuted or
defended by the attorney. and at the cost
OF said metropolitan water district.
Another amendment to tho bill agreed
to on motion OF Saunders cuts out tha
emergency clause. '-"
The discussion lasted until after Il
O'Clock when a motion to adjourn car
ricd aid the discussion will be continued
tomorrow morning probably.
Grace Points Out Howell.
The course of debate brought out from
Grace OF Harlan the charge that "a GER
tain gentleman from Omaha had been
here for week urging the bill as a par
tisan measure" Grace is a democrat II
is thought that he referred to r. b.
Howell, late republican candidate for
governor and present chairman of the
water board. who has been in the legis-
lature working for the bill
There wore various calls made upon
Grace to name the man he referred to.
However, he declined. Mr. Howell was
in the senate chamber at the time The
charge has been made by friends OF the
bill, although not on the floor, that Ger
tain democratic leaders. known to be in
Lincoln, are working against the bill as
a republican measure designed to build
MP political machine. for Howell.
Dodge Makes Denial.
Dodge OF Douglas. who was speaking at
the time IN support of the bill, denied the
charge by Grace that the support of the
bill was being derived from partisanship
Moreover. he argued the democrats would
be entitled 20 credit il the bill should
pass. The measure had obtained demo-
CONTINUED on Page Two, Column TWo5