Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-21
LIGHT QUESTION
is PUT ON TABLE
Council Rejects Jardine's PROPOSE
tion for More Lights at Same
Cost as the Old
HOWELL ENTERS THE FIGHT

After two hours discussion on the
proposed electric street light con-
tract, the city council committee OF
the whole, by a vote of three to four.
decided to indefinitely postpone the
whole proposition.
Mayor Dahlman and Commission
ers Kugel and Jardine voted in
favor of the Jardine resolution,
which, briefly, is: That the city
shall enter into contract with the
Omaha Electric Light and Power
company for three years at rates OF
SS1, sS6 and S6S per lamp for the
three types of lamps previously de-
scribed in detail; that the city shall
have the right to buy all of the
street lighting equipment any time
after three years on an appraised
valuation and upon sixty days mo-
tice to the company.
When the proposition was lost by a
| vote OF three to four Chairman Butler So
cured adoption OF motion that the mat
ter be indefinitely postponed
| Wants Matter Cleared Up.
A few weeks ago the light company Of
| fered a proposition on the basis of $50,
SSS and S72 for the three types Of lamps
but Commissioner Jardine came IN with
which arc understood to be agreeable
to the light company Mr.. Jardine ex-
| planned It was his aim to secure improved
street lighting now and at the same time
leave the matter in n status that at the
end OF three years there would be no I'M
his resolution for the reduced figures
pcdiment in the way of municipal owner
ship.
| General Harries read statement IN
which he outlined the position of his co n.
pany as a public service concern, stating
| "Our company will not knowingly do am
unfair thing. 1t will never ask for i'm
| proper or unearned consideration. II wants
only a reasonable return upon the actual
| cash It has invested or may invest. 1t
seeks the good opinion of those whom it
| serves, and is always deeply concerned
as to the trend of public thought. Just
now It does not altogether understand
| why It should be assailed because of an
official effort to provide Omaha with
greatly improved lighting facilities over
| a largely increased area for sum which
does not and can not exceed the amount
of the present appropriation, which bet
| terment would require investment by the
company OF approximately 100000. The
| company is not attempting TO put any
thing over. II the terms to which we
have consented are disapproved - public
(sentiment we will not accept the con-
tract"
Howell Enters Fight.
General Manager Howell of the city
water plant addressed the commissioners
at considerable length. contending that
the electric light company il not faiI
with the public. Mr. Howell asked Gen
eral Manager Holdrege OF the light com
pany for financial statistics of the com
pany, but Mr.. Holdrege declined TO make
any statements. He further contended
that $1,000 year now being paid the
electric light company for street lamps
would pay interest on s3,0O0,OO0, twice the
amount municipal plant would cost
There is pending at this time an effort
to engage an engineer who will prepare
plans and estimates OF municipal cleo
trio light and power plant, this informa-
ton to be used by the city council In the
submission of bond proposition next
November
The result of the councils action or