Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-19
Omaha, Nebraska.
September 18th, 1916

September 18th, 1915
To the
Honorable City Council Of the City
OF Omaha
The Omaha Electric Light and Pow
er Company
At the time Of the last session Of
the legislature, the matter OF securing
more favorable electric light rates for
the City of Omaha was brought to the
attention of the Commercial Club OF
this city. A general discussion OF
same was carried on among the mem'
bers OF the club, and the citizens OF
Omaha generally became deeply in.
terested in the subject.
~ On the sixth day Of April, 1915, an
ordinance was passed by the City
Council requiring the electric light
company to reduce its rates and the
enforcement of this ordinance was
suspended by temporary injunction
in the Federal Court at the suit OF
the Omaha Electric Light and Power
Company. (This suit is still pending
at the time of making this report.)
At this juncture, when 1t seemed
that several years Of litigation would
probably ensue before the controver'
sy should wend its way through a
series Of courts until the highest court
in the land should render decision
in the case that would be final, the
Executive Committee of the CONNER.
cial Club, after due consideration, de-
cided that, II its good Offices should
be acceptable to the City Council and
TO the Electric Light Company, and
that the benefits might be enjoyed by
our people within comparatively
short period Of time, in undertaking
to ascertain the fe1ts as to the
amount Of the investment Of the
Omaha Electric Light and Power
Company, the amount of its revenues
and expenses, the determination OF
II fair rate of return on its invest
ment, and a study Of rates to con-
sumers that would produce such rea-
sonable return, to the end that the
controversy might with reasonable
promptnsss be brought to a con.
clusion, 1t would offer its ser.
vices to the parties. and the chairman
of the Executive Committee was in
structed that II the offer was &C.
ceptable to the City Council and to
the Electric Light Company, he
should appoint committee to take
charge of the investigation and 10
make its findings in the premises.
THE President of the club, John L.
McCague and the chairman Of the
Executive Committee, J. A. Sunder-
land, presented the matter verbally
10 the City Council and to the Elec.
tric Light Comrany. resulting in ia
vorable action by both Of the parties.
Thereupon, the chairman Of the
Executive Committee appointed the
following committee to take the mat
d ter in hand, viz:
F. A. Brogan,
F. j. Harrington.
Geo. H. Kelly,
= F. S. Knapp,
T. ]. Mahoney,
r. H. Myers,
H. A. Thompson
J. L. McCague,
W. S. Wright,
The Executive Committee added to
this committee the name of
j. A. Sunderland.
The Committee organized at a |
meeting held at the Commercial Club
rooms on June Gath, 1915, by the cleo
ton of j. A. Sunderland, chairman,
and the designation of R H. Manley,
Commissioner of the Commercial
Club, to act as Secretary. The Com
mittee decided to ask the City Coun'
ell and the Electric Light Company
TO share in the expense Of the investi-
cation. In response to this request,
the City Council on July eth, 1915,
passed the following resolution:
'Inasruch as a Committee from TIE
Commercial Club of this City has
communicated with this Council its
desire for the City to participate In
carrying half OF whatever costs may
be incurred In the necessary and pro-
per investigation Of the books and the
value of the property of the local
Electric Light and Power Comrany,
in an endeavor amicable to arrive at
fair and equitable rates, to the vari.
Gus class Of consumers Of said Com.
pany and to said Company for current
supplied by the Company, and,
Inasmuch as 1t seemed to be
n. ought proper and necessary by the
Committee that neither the com~any
nor the City have further voice or d..
rection in such investigation, to the
end that whatever findings and deter
mination the Committee might report,
the same would have, at least, the
greater appearance Of fairness and
mpartiality, and,
lnasmuch as it is the advice of the
'aw department. of the City that the
City is without lawful authority to
expend the public money for such pur-
poses without retaining definite control
and direction over the investigation
and work in hand as well as the
III :ney to be expended, the manner,
abe methods and the objects for
which It Is expended. and,
WHEREAS, it may be feasible and I
yossible for the Committee from the |
numerical Club, working in con ,
'uaction with various officers and de- ,
ar.ments of the City, assuming such ,
La AMMAN hla 10, 4hn