Omaha daily bee., 1888-05-09
THE SOUTH OMAHA BUDGET.
City Councilman Increase Their
Own Salaries,
Bur KILL THE OCCUPATION TAX.
Changes In tho Ball Club-The City's
First Chain Gang-A Warm
ing to Tramps--
Notes.
sur KILL THE OCCUPATION TAX.
The CITY Council.

The city hall was crowded Monday night,
the biggest part of the crowd werethe cigh-
teen tram ps That held down the cells in the
dark end OF the room. TIL eight members
of the council took their places on the old
stand nearest he door, and the members OF
the citizens committee. sat with them.
In the absence of City Marshal
McCracken, Mayor Sloan called the
Hector read the minutes for the information
of the dozen electors that lined the walls and
sat III silent admiration. They were duly
adopted, and on motion OF Councilman Nc
MILAN the rules were suspended and the citi-
zens heard in reference to the
occupation tax. James II. Van Dusen pro-
scented the petition and for fifteen
minutes held tho council down with
listened to alike by the gentleman both be-
fore and behind the bars. He referred to the
selishness of the few outside parties who
advocated the scheme for tho purpose of
freezing out less opulent competitors, TO the
inopportune time chosen for raising civic sal
aries on an empty treasury, TO real estate
as being the proper basis Of taxation, and
then he presented the resolutions as already
reported in THE Der. His remarks were
brought to a close amidst loud applause, in
which the eighteen prisoners took u pro-
nounced part. Councilman Mcmillan, in re-
ply, objected to the remarks made in the
citizens meeting, which seemed to infer that
some members paid no taxes. He was will
ing to bet from 800 TO $500 that he paid more
taxes than the man that said it. Councilman
Bayliss objected to the resolutions because
they interfered with the increase of salary,
and claimed that the increase was perfectly
legitimate. He thought DIR. Glasgow and
others in the room were at the
head of it, for the doctor had told him
they would never get it. Councilman Smith
then moved that the resolution be referred
TO the ordinance committee, ana Councilman
Bayliss in seconding the motion, moved that
the ordinance be stricken from the file. This
motion carried and the electors, drawing a
breath, adjourned to the nearest saloons,
while the councllmen were satisfied with
water, and the marshal was sent out for q
can and a dipper. He secured a pitcher and
n glass instead and while the councilmen
were refreshing, the few electors left behind,
talked over next years election, and the
prisoners talked about their chances on the
morrow. The recess was brought to a close
by Clerk Hector announcing that Howard
Meyers, G. A. Melcher, Bernard Kribb and
Henry Michael had complied with the regu-
lations and were entitled to o license.
Councilman Mcmillan then moved that all
persons who had not complied with the
rules should be closed by the city marshal,
and the motion carried. Then the clerk read
an ordinance calling for the appointment of
a city s~cavenger, with powers to remove all
kinds of refuse at so many cents per barrel,
and II was referred to the health committee.
There was some trouble as to who were the
committee appointed to SEQ the Union Pacific
officials about having the dummy stop at the
Q street crossing, and it was settled by put
ting the work on the mayor, Rafferty, and
Bayliss. A petition asking that city officers
be furnished with copies of the city directory
was referred to the committee on printing,
and another to prevent the herding or rum
ming at large of cattle within the city limits
was referred to the committee on public
buildings, probably because there are no
public buildings. The first damper on the
proceedings was a petition from Henry j.
Abrams, claiming damages from the city
II they did not look after the drainage
on N street. James j. Hayes next petit
toned the council to become city scavengcr,
and as he only charged rs cents per barrel,
he was referred to the health committee.
The report of the city treasurer showed that
on May / there were S647.72 in the general
fund, S641.S in the dog fund, and $1,000 in
salary fund. That, however, was on May |,
and there have been some heavy drafts
against it since then.
The police Judge handed in his report, and
showed that slxty-seven prisoners had been
arrested, and fined, Sl07 collected. How to
collect a dog tax then took up some time,
and when the discussion was
over, it was found, it re-
then read for the third and last time, and the
councllmen will in future receive 500 per cent
increase, unless anyone cares enough about it
to secure a restraining order from
the courts. Its adoption was moved by
Councilman Bayliss, seconded by Council
man O'Rourke, and voted on by the rest of
the council, Councilman Rafferty, alone being
absent and the police alone being forgotten.
Peter Hanson went grubbing on Twenty
fourth street and charged 500, and his bill,
with others amounting to $500. OF, was re-
ferred to the finance committee. On motion
of Councilman Mcmillan the city engineer
was told to hurry up the plans necessary TO
the various projected viaducts, and when
Councilman Fenno moved that two special
policemen be appointed to attend all ball
games at the expense of the ball club, Mar
shal McCracken asked that the specials be
taken from the regular force. He got his
wish, but not until some members said they
thought the present force should do it for
nothing. 1t came out that there
was no money to pay them for
from three to twelve months, and
as that WIGS evidently satisfactory to the
councilmen, the debate was dropped, and
another taken up on the subject of furnish
ing the Jail with a telephone. 1t was found
it would cost 1872 a year, and a COMMITTEE OF
one was appoinped TO see if the telephone
company would not put one in for charity's
sake-that is, for nothing. Councilman
Bayliss was the unlucky committee and the
| city attorney was instructed to draft the or
| dinances necessary for voting bonds on sew
serage and water. Then they adjourned.
kT~A2n h~wUA shn VI