Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-02
Liqht on the LiQkt Question.

Omaha is to vote next Tuesday street lighting
tract upon which referendum has been invoked The
heated discussion far however has not been of char
acer to shed sufficient illumination to focus public opinion.
What is really at stake?
l. If Omaha votes yes" the city will get 1910 addi-
tona electric street lamps of the different types described
and at the stipulated prices at aggregate cost the as
at present for period of five yearsunes the city sooner
purchases the existing plant The city now has 14l4
electric street lamps, this almost doubles the number at
extra outlay The company would also substitute for the
present makeshft in the downtown business dsrcta mod
ornamental lighting system such other progressive cit
les enjoy. vote Eyes, furthermore ESQ assurance is
gven would induce acquescence in the order for rate
duction to 6 cents without contest in the courts.
II. If Omaha votes mo- the city is left where it is to-
day number and character of street lamps which
Der has not been increased for two despite expansion
of territory and many demands For indefinite period
would have absolute stagnaton in street lighting improve
ment just as we had sagnaon of water service and fire
protection for ten years. pending proceedings to acquire the
water plant Voting no would also risk contest of the
recent rate reduction ordinance in the courts which might
hang up the promised 6cent rate indefinitely.
III. Opponents of the contract only objection is not to
proposed price, but to the veyear term which they
tend would block municipal ownership If the contract pc
od for year two years they plainly would have
ground for this contention. Is it valid objection then,
that the contract five years. which the company insists
is the shortest period that would warrant the necessary in
vesment of upwards of 900 to install the lamp
equipment? 1t took Omaha ten years to acquire the water
works Of could buy the existing lighting plant
any time at price acceptable to the but how long
would it take to municipal plant without their
assent? Remember that the referendum is two-edged
sword and the referendum invoked in turn be
invoked by the electric lighting people, No step still be
taken toward competitive municipal plant without
abng law, and law for that purpose could be held in
allegiance by referendum until voted at the next general
election, which in November 1915 the result Off
cially canvassed and proclaimed month later Assuming
the needed enabling law approved referendum that
would bring at the earliest to the year 1919 after which
must submission of the question of municipal ownership
and the voting of the bonds at successive special elections
Even then would only have cleared the decks for raising
the money drawing the plans and inviting bids for construc
on With utmost speed would be the fall of 1919 before
contracts could be let and authority would say that an
electric lighting plant of scope and capacity to compete
fully with the present plant could be built in less than two
years. municipal lighting plant in actual operation there
FORE except by purchase of the existing service not in
prospect in five years.
w. From this analysis, it would seem that injection of
the municipal ownership into the referendum discussion
raises false issue. The question purely this business
proposition: % good contract?" supplies the street
lamps demanded at prices low by comparison with other
cities (and all agree that it does) Omaha should vote
Only those who prefer keep Omaha for five years
poorly lighted city, under the deuson that they are thereby
promoting public ownership, should vote mo-