Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-24


first, to a reduction in the electric
light rates for commercial Lighting
and, second, to modern, up-to-date
system OF street Lighting.
at was believed that the electric
light rates for commercial service
were too high; and it was also recog-
nized that the street lighting system
in Omaha was SO out-of-date as to be
unworthy OF a small village, and that
it was also inadequate in that there
were many hundreds OF street inter-
sections in outlying sections which
were not lighted at all, thus furnish
ing opportunity for assaults and
holdups.
THE officers of the Commercial
club rendered the good Offices of that
body to the city and the electric light
company, in an effort to ascertain and
secure to the city fair and honest
determination as to what reduction
could and should be made in the cleo
trio light commercial rates. This ten
der having been accepted, commit
tee was appointed, consisting of the
following: J. A. Sunderland, F. A.
Brogan, +. ]. harrington, George H.
Kelly, F. S. Knapp, 7. J. Mahoney,
John L. McCague, F. H. Myers, II.
A. Thompson and w. S. Wright.
That committee employed eminent
accountants and experts, to whom
were submitted all the books, records
and accounts Of the electric light com.
pany, and the reports Of those &C
countants and experts were carefully
considered by the committee. The
committee filed its report, stating that
reduction of $4,000 year in the
rates charged for commercial lighting
would be fair and reasonable, pro.
vided the company was allowed te
continue its business unaffected by
controversies and litigation. If litiga
ton and controversies were to con
tinue, the committee stated that thu
company could not in fairness ant
justice be asked to make the stated
reduction in its rates.
Upon the filing Of this report, il
conferences between the city council
and the electric light company, tn,
city council insisted that if all con
troversies were settled the compan,
should establish on January | next ;
maximum rate of 6 cents. This en-
tailed reduction in the revenue o
the company of 100000, which wa
greatly in excess of the amour
recommended by the committee.
AT the same time the company an
the city council agreed upon a con
tract for the lighting Of the street
of the city Of Omaha which woul
secure to the city modern, up-to
date, ornamental system Of stree
lighting, consisting of double lamp
upon posts throughout the entir
business section Of the city, an
which also provided for over, 100
additional lamps for The intfreset
tons in the outlying portionssof tn
city; all OF which was to be secure
at the price which the city now pay
for lighting its streets. The install;
ton OF the ornamental lightin
throughout the business section !,
the city would entail an investmel
on the part of the company of
least 100000,
1.-THE electric light company yield,
l to the insistence of the city count
i upon both propositions.
"Thereupon an ordinance was i
, troduced and passed providing for
, reduced rate for commercial lightir
with maximum of centsNto go I'M
effect on January l, 1917. The ci
also passed an ordinance authorizir
! the execution of contract for sire
lighting as stated above.
AFTER the passage of the ordinan
I authorizing the contract for sire
) lighting a petition was filed with i
city council asking for a referendu
: vote OF the people OF the city up
q this ordinance. Pursuant to law, I
council has called an election to q
4 termine the question whether Il
' street lighting ordinance shall becor
J. effective. The election is to be he
c December 5.
MANY citizens of Omaha, reco
l. nizing the great benefit which h
e been secured to the city by the pa
d age OF these ordinances and appr'
e ating the need of the city for me
S, ern and adequate system of str'
t lighting. have organized a commit
the purpose of which is to take 81
action as will inform the citizens
the merits and desirability of this &C
b tract for street lighting, to the {
\ that the ordinance shall become
l. fectivc and the city realize the bel
r. fits secured thereby. The follow
S, comprise the committee:
S. Frank H. Myers, chairman.
a, ]. w. Metcalfe, secretary.
lie DR.. c. c. Allison, physician.
a, T. c. Byrne, Byrne & Hammer [
N Goods company.
Charles E. Black, Black the Halter
LIZ. Z. Bruce, Z. E. Bruce & Co.
Harry S. Byrne, insurance.
- DR.. w. O. Bridges, physician.
&c NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Il. IS Is Your Skin
m ! Rough?