Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-26

| ing system, as we'll as of the orna-
mental lighting system down. town,
shall be borne by the Electric Light
company.
BY approving the new street light
ing contract the present rate for cur
rent used in homes and stores will be
reduced on January !, 1917, to &
cents, reduction OF Is per cent for
private users OF electricity. A 6-cent
rate IS as low as is made in any city
OF Omaha's class, where definite fig
ures are available. 1t is cheaper for
the small home owner than the rate
made by the municipal light plant at
Lincoln, which at the time OF its
publication received much favorable
comment as an innovation in electric
light rates for private use. A monthly
bill on Lincoln's rate for ten kilowatts
would be % cents new Omaha rate,
90 cents. For fifteen kilowatts, Lin
coin, $l.l0; Omaha, 90 cents. For
twenty kilowatts, Lincoln, $3.50;
Omaha, $l,20. II the new street light
ing contract be not ratified. this re-
duction may not go into effect until
ventilated i'll court for years.
According to my best information
and Judgment, the above are the prin-
cipai facts and comments in favor OF
the ratification OF the new street
lighting contract on December 5. i.
Immediately after the passage of
the above mentioned contract by the
mayor and city council, petition for
the repeal of this contract and ordi-
nance, or the submission OF same to
referendum vote, was presented to
the council. In compliance with this
petition the question of whether or
not this ordinance. embodying the
contract, shall be ratified, will be sub
mitted to vote of the people on
December S. A cross in the square at
the word "Yes" will be vote for
this ordinance and contract to remain
in force and effect, while cross in
the square at the word mo" will be
vote for the repeal OF same.
The petition recites no reason for
the request it makes; it states no OBJ
lection to the contract, nor does il
show any reason why the ciry would
be justified in spending about $1,000
for special election. For the best
interests OF the city ] am at COM
pletc loss to see or understand the
reason for this action. ..
! have been asked IL entering into
this contract would be a stumbling
block to municipal ownership. This
question | have answered mo-" be-
cause the contract contains cancella-
ton clause as above stated, for this
very specific purpose. This clause was
inserted and worded by the city's own
attorney, Mr.. Lambert, and was in
sisted on by the mayor and city coun-
Gil before the contract was approved.
This clause even prcchides anticipated
Lrofts OF the future, il utilized before
the expiration Of the contract.
| have been asked il it might not be
possible that the municipal water
works at Florence might furnish this,
service or electricity for Omaha bc,,s
fore the expiration of this contractj;-
| would answer this question also in,
the negative, for the reason that it,
the Metropolitan Water district
should be granted the. right to enter,
into such service by the coming leg
islature and bond issue for the money
equipment should be voted at the !,
earliest possible moment, it is very
doubtful if such service could be fur
r;shed before the expiration Of the
contract, but it is sure that 1t would
cost nearly double of what ii ought
to on account of the extremely high
prices prevailing and apt to prevail
for some time to come. Let no one
be deceived as to the present water
works equipment being able to furnish
any electrical service worthy of mem
ton or fit for even part competition,
as such would be simply foolish. The
electric light company has ON its lines
more than one consumer who uses
more power than the total power
plant at the water works can pro-
duce. lft.#,
The question l.. been asked. "How
can the electric light company fur
nish current to the packing houses for
cent per kilowatt and then charge
the city about cents per kilowatt for
current furnished for street light--
ingI" This question can only be asked
by persons grossly ignorant In the
fundamental rudiments of the cleo
trical business. The former current is
delivered on switchboard without
any transformation, distribution or
maintenance during hours when the
general demand for electrical current
is but small. Street lighting current is
furnished during the hours when the
heaviest demand for current exists
and includes transformation of cur
rent to suitable voltage, labor and
material for maintenance, renewals
and Inspection depreciation and inter-
est on investment for equipment. In
other words, the first is wholesale
delivery of raw material, while the
other is a complete service rendered.
AS far as my time will permit, |
shall be glad to answer any questions
on this matter, to anyone who may
care to ask me, for the purpose of
further information in good faith. |
seek notoriety.
In conclusion permit me to say that
from the best information and judg-
ment / possess and without assuming
undue authority, | will frankly state
that | can see no reason why we
should not ratify this contract, as it
is the best one anyone has made US
and it does not tie our hands if the
Water board should at any time be
able to put its dreams into tangible
form and definite proposition,
preferably one without an afterclap,