Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-03

~ tt' NV Oh POthSO "
prepare an ordinance increasing the
force to twelve from whom o chief and
q captain shall be selected, the latter
at q salary Of $50 per month,
An ordinance was introduced pro.
vidipg for q $500 bond and fixing the
rate for saloon licenses at 5000, pay.
able quarterly In advance and going
into force May LIST. The rules were
suspended and 1t was unanimously
placed upon It's second reading. Some
discussion was had and Heating ad.
dressed the council, after Seidentopi
called attention 70 the fact that II re-.
duced the bonds to 81, 500.
Heating said that some held that the
city would 20 into bankruptcy under
this low license ordinance, but that
the fact was that one of the chief in
dustries Of this city was being shame.
fully oppressed by the present high
license. That the saloon keepers were
supporting the finances Of the city, at
least that they we're the chief contrib.
utors to our treasury and that they
must not be oppressed.
Wood insisted that saloon keepers
paid no taxes to speak of-that they
went Into business with 1926 worth Of
stock, and that they ought to pay
something for they had the heaviest
to saddle on the city.
Alderman S~iedentopf held that the
most reputable dealers, Max Mohn
and others, were opposed to Q low
license but wanted to make the bust
ness respectable by cleaning out dog.
geries and deps.
The mayor stated that for good
reasons he had changed his views on
the liquor question: that 1t vas his
opinion that the liquor business could
and should stand q high license; that
II, was In fact necessary In this city.
Alderman Heating insisted that the
liquor dealers were doing more for the
city than any other business men In It;
that they contributed more literally
for public enterprises than any mer.
chants Of the city.
Alderman ~Siedentopf opposed the
lowering of the present license because
we would then have to license dry
goods and other dealers, az they have
been obliged to do elsewhere.
Heating came again to the front and
talked excitedly.
On motion the rules were suspended,
and the ordinance was put on It's third
reading.
On the call of the roll, the ordi.
nance was lost by q tie vote, Heating,
James and Mcmahon In favor, and
Eicher, Wood and ~Siedentopf voting
against 1t.
Adjourned to meet Monday at 1880
p. m.
MAYORS MESSAGE.
The mayor mskes . oreditable show.
ins of the condition Of the city, of its
credit and responsibility abroad, and
closes his congratulations by saying
the city's rapid growth has made
extraordinary demands for public
improvements, and with you rests the
responsibility of providing these as q
concomitant of municipal expansion"
During his first year as mayor of the
city it has been the pleasure of Mayor
Bowman not to have seen the bonded
indebtedness of the city increased.
Twelve months ago the city's bonds
were outstanding In the sum of $147,
600. The same amount isoutstanding
to-day. Eighteen thousand five hun
died dollars of this $147, 600 bearing
eight and ten per cent. interest per
annum are optional on the part of the
city during the year-that Is, the city
9 pay or refund the bonds, and has
decided to refund at six per cent.
The mayor gives notice that Or.
rAngements have been made to COM
plete the grading of Union avenue,
Washington avenue extension and
Main street. These will be accom-
plished early the present season.
Passing on to the condition of the
streets and sidewalks generally, the
mayor says: "The sidewalks have
been allowed to become horribly i'm.
passable In condition to the detriment
of business ana % q reproaoh to the
city government" He advocates
early repairs and additions, which
everybody will approve. voe
The mayor gives the particulars of
the tight of way procured for the levee
In front Of town at q cost Of $3. 994 76,
not yet completed, because the North.
western railway has not done its part;
speaks Of the necessary improvements
of Iadian creek, and says 81, $3.50 70
has been expended on the Madison
| street ~culyert,
In denoupcing the city prison Is o
Disgrace to Council Bluffs the mayors
head IL level.
The fund derived from fines and
licenses last year amounts to $23, 1885,
76. The cost of the police department
has been 1851 80. The mayor re.
commends an officer for night duty to
designated captain of police with the
same pay the chief receives.
The change Of the fire uerxico from o
volunteer to q paid department Ia sp,
propriately noticed.
The discussion of the water supply
involves the completion of tho water
works contract with whoa the people
OF the city are already familiar. The
subject Of sewerage, drainage, health
department, etc, ore carefully referred
to and will afford our citizens much
valuable information concerning the
condition Of the city.
After referring to the public parks,
the ordinances Of the city and the
railway bridges within the corporation
the mayor calls upon the new council
to "exercise every function with
solicituds and with our beet Judgment,
that when we lay down our trust Il
may be With o feeling of satisfaction
that We have earnestly strlven to dc
our whole duty with the light that hal
been given US to zee It,"