Omaha daily bee., 1888-02-15
BUSY, BREEZY CoUNClLMEN.
Confronted By More City Hall
Schemes and Petitions
THAT ARE PROMPTLY LAID AWAY
Couns,uan Wants a sketch Madc-Thc
Mayor Enters a.veto to Extrava-
gance-City Physician Or
"Ciiuance Passed.
IIast Night in Council.

b"Nt NI&ht SOuuCII
About the only sensational feature worthy
Of netice in connection with the regular
weekly proceedings of the city council at the
chambers hist night was that Hascall showed
| up clad with a necktie. "The gentleman from
the first" looked real 'purty," as Council
man Ford expressed It. The greater part Of
the lobby was composed of Sixteenth street
| property holders bearing parchment to the
J city rulers asking that the city hall be built
| on Jefferson square After the councilmen
| had finished whispered consultations Presi-
| dent Bechel told them to sit down to bust
ness. '..-
| The following communications were re-
| ceiyed from the mayor: Approving several
| ordinances passed at the last meeting; Veto
| ing claims of $56S32 and S167 Is in favor Of
| Mount and Griffin, the sums having been
| drawn on the wrong funds (veto sustained) !;
recommending the Importance of the franz
| ing of an ordinance for the running of street
and cable cars.
| Councilman Leo stated that he had sub
| mitted an ordinance to that effect at pre-
vious meeting. The ordinance stipuates that
| cars going north or south shall
stop within one hundred feet of
| intersections or crossings, and railway cars
| going east or west will have the right of way.
| A fine of not less than SO nor more than 800
| Is 1OT any Dre6Cn OF tnlS OrQlnaCe.
A communication from the mayor, setting
forth that the ordinance was being ignored
| by the council in reference to the employment
Of clerks in the various city departments,
was referred to the city attorney and commit
tee on appropriations The mayer said that
| the salaries paid clerks in the Office of the
city clerk were excessive, and that he could
secure equally competent men for Ss5 q
month.
Councilman Hascall defended the council
/ and said that the city not nmnl0yiup
| more clerks in the city clerks Office than was
necessary to do the work Besides, he ques-
toned the mayors authority to interfere
! with the clerks Office, as that Office was
| under the supervision of the council.
Councilman Ford believed the same as
| Hascall.
Councilman Burnham said that it was not a
question OF the competency or salary of the
clerks. The intent of the mayors cOmmun-
cation was to ascertain if the clerical forces
| in the city departments were legal, and in
accord with the stipulation of the charter.
From the board Of public works: Approx
ing and accepting Hugh Murphy's bond for
| constructing sewer in sewer district No. Al.
From the city engineer: Recommending
the payment of 800 to Stuht & Hamil for
extra work done on grading Harney street
the courts for number of months, and at one
time council authorized its payment in the sum
$1,000. The mayor vetoed it and it was re-
ferrcd back to the city engineer, who has
| ludly pIeValleu Ou ioUuHJ ~ f1dtIlu W CuU IL
down to 500. The later amount was al
| lowed.
The poundmaster collected s42.75 during
the month of January.
The city physician reported ninety-two
deaths and ll6 births during the month Of
| January.
An itemized statement of the indebtedness
| of the city to Brennan e. Co for work done
on the city hall basement was referred to the
| city engineer, superintendent of public build
| ings, President Bechel and Councilmen
Bailey, Lee, Counsman, Boyd, Kierstead and
| Lowry. '
The communication from the residents of
| Sixteenth street in reference to building the
city hall on Jefferson square was referred to
the committee on public property and build
ings. On motion of Councilman Bedford,
the city attorney was added to the commit.
| tee, as there was a diversity OF opinion as to
the legality Of the matter. He understood
that the premises could not be used for any
other purpose than a square.
Councilman Ford thought that the hall
could be legally erected there, and that's
where he would like to see it.
Councilman Hascall had been told that the
board of trade would hold . meeting next
Saturday night to discuss the city hall
matter, and he hoped to see everybody there
on that night.
Councilman Kierstead said that the people,
three to one, were opposed. to moving the
hall from it's present site. No one. except
few property holders from North Omaha,
| square.
A communication from A. Kountze and
others asking for the paving of Eleventh
street from the south line of Mason TO Will
liams was referred to the committee ON pay
ing, curbing and guttering.
| A claim of $500 for extra work on assess
| ment books and tax list for the year 1887
| from William j. Hahn, was referred to the
| committee on finances, and that of James
| Fox 81, for interest due him on building
sewers, was turned over to the committee on
| claims.
The proposition OF John M. Wilson, agree
ing to sell to the city for $500 per acre the
southeast quarter of the southwest quarter
of section 6, township Is, range 13, for park
purposes was referred to the public property
and building committee.
The following resolution by Councilman
| Kierstead was adopted
Resolved, That whereas there is an ordi-
nance compelling street cars and cable cars
| to pass to the farther crossing of streets be-
| fore stopping: and
Whereas, The street cars are in the habit
of stopping on the first crossing, thereby OBJ
structing cross streets; therefore be 1t
Resolved, That the horse and cable car
companies be notified to hereafter obey the
ordinance and that Chief Seavey be and Is
hereby instructed to have the police arrest
any driver or gripmen disobeying
said ordinance east of Sixteenth street, north
of LeavenwOrth or south OF Cunning street.
| A lively and animated discussion was in
dulged In as to the amount of salary the po-
lice and fire commissioners are entitled to
under the reading of the charter. Some of
the cpuncilmen were in doubt as to whether
they were entitled to 5000 or $3.50 apiece an
nually The city attorney was instructed to
furnishinforrhatiop on this point,
Councilman Counsman offered the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the leading architects Of
the city submit TO this council sketches of
suitable plans for a city hall, with all city
offices, With room for school board and also
city. library, the same TO be located on Jeffer-
son square and not to cost to exceed $3.50 900,
and said sketch to be drawn to cover the
space OF 1;32 feet BY 1872 feet.
Councilmap Ford moved that the resolution
Coqacilinah, Kierstead wanted it referred
to the COMMITTEES. on public property and
buildings, as he Gould not see the use of put
ting the city to an expense of sketch when
1T had no thought OF locating the building on
the Square site. :, ~.
Councilman Burnham agreed with Mr.
kierstead. ,r,..;
Councilman Connsman SAID that the city
would bs. put 70 no expense in making these
sketches. -. =. "a
Conncilmen Lee and Hascall could not see
into the practibility Of Counsman's resolu-
| tion and Mr. Kierstaad,S motiOn that IL he