The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-07
Biennial B attIe
on Municipal Light
Opens at Lincoln
Mayor and All Omaha City
Commissioners Except But
Ter Oppose Howell
Measure.

Lincoln. Feb. 6.-lSpecial) From
early in the afternoon until near mid
hight. r. b. Powell, United States
senator elect. and attorneys and
friends Of tho Nebraska Power com
pany engaged in their regular bien-
NAL battle Of wits in arguments for
and against the Powell muny light
bill, giving the Metropolitan Utilities
district. instead the city OF Omaha.
power 10 call a special election to vote
bonds for a competing power plant.
The hearing was held before the house
committee OH cities and towns.
Dan Butler. Oclaha. city commits
sioner. was present to augment the
Howell arguments. while letters writ
ten by every other member Of tho
Omaha city commission. including
Mayor James c. Dahlman. were read
by J. \. G. Kennedy, Nebraska Power
company attorney, expressing disap-
proyal of the Howell bill
DahIman Praises Present Service.
These letters were the surprise OF
the hearing as Butler had expressed
regret that Mayor Dahlnan was not
present 70 AID him IN HE arguments
for the Howell bill. Immediately aft
erwards Kennedy read the letters.
AS the laws now provide the peo-
pie with ample power 20 adjust this
problem to their satisfaction, IL seems
this bill is serving no purpose IN \
+ ~ IA ~ Yfs IA -
ter. addressed to George Dyball. chair
man OF tho cities and towns commit
tee, read: Prom my observation Of
conditions existing in other metro.
poltan cities. I am convinced that
we have the best possible service a
the most reasonable rates. and that
our contract with the Power company
Is working TO the advantage OF the
overwhelming majority OF small con.
sumere"
Similar expressions appeared IN let
ters of the other commissioners How.
ell, in rebuttal. read resolution
adopted by previous Omaha city
commission urging placing the bond
election power in the hands of the
Metropolitan Utilities district
Howell Replies TO Kennedy.
Kennedy declared that Omaha had
the cheapest light rate In the country
for any city Of its sizo with a pri.
yate plant. In reply. Howell charged
that these rates did not begin failing
until he started agitation FOR com.
peting plant
Further. Howell asserted there was
approximately $1,000 900 in water in
the Nebraska Power company's stock
Kennedy declared tina, it the Nebtas-
ka Power company were free from
taxation as the water plant IS that
electricity could he sold FOR cents
per kilowatt hour.
Kennedy read statement madc
b. Butler before the League II Ne.
braska Municipalities only shor,
time ago in which Butler hoasted
Of the cheap light rate in Omaha
Wants Five-Cent Rate.
We'll. now I'm advocating n scent
ate, 50 evidently ! don't think il Is
cheap enough. Butler rctortei.
Kennedy read figures to show that
the Nebraska Power company's rate
had fallen 607 per cent against a
decrease OF % 3 I'm tho rate OF the
municipal water plant.
Kennedy declared Howcll's demand
in his bill for arbitrary power to
take the street lighting contract FOR
his proposed municipal light plant
was conflseaiion of moro than s ono
900 IN property investment OF The
Nebraska Power company in street
lighting equipment.
Kennedy called attention 10 the
freedom from tax of n municipal light
company The Nebraska Power com.
pany paid $3.50. 600 in taSes this year.
he asserted.
Kennedy further charged the Howell
bill by calling for n bare majority
10 carry n municipal light bond olcc
ton violated provision of the homo
rule charter. granted by the leEisla.
ture Two years ago. which calls FOR
a three nth majority In bond cleo
1 tions.
Would Destroy Existing Plant.
"Ruthlessscompctition ~ the Metro.
polltan Utilities district exempt from
taxation. and unrcguated as 10 rntes.
would destroy the existing plant as
contradistinRuished from the water
Turn Ia rswe Two. Column rhreel