Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-19


The reelection of Senator Charles II. Van
Nyck was tho absorbing issue in the leRis-
lative campaign of 1886 A majority OF re-
publican county conventions ami many DEM
ocratic conventions indorsed his great work
u congress, and the nominees were pledged,
II elected, to vote for his return TO the son.
ate But the tools of monopoly and the ven
ON of partisan roustabouts combined IN
svery district TO defeat the men pledged to
vote for him. Notwithstanding this bitter
opposition OF the corporate strikers in both
parties, a strong majority OF the members
elected we're pledged to him. The senate
-ial contest in January was remarkably
Stter one. Every political roustaoout, every
lobbyist and procurer were enlisted together
with the railroad forces, to defeat the sena-
tor. Doodle was Unfortunately used by
contractors and jobbers, ana men WHO could
cot be bribed were threatened and bulldozed.
Had IL not been for the infamous decision OF
the presiding officer, Shedd, Van Wyck
would have been elected on the first joint
ballot The officer purposcly ignored the
rules and refused TO allow changes OF votes
after the roll had been called After
the first sew ballots, some Of the
men who publicly and privately pledged
themselves, betrayed their constituents, vio-
lated their pledges and openly joined the
enemy. They sold their manhood for money
or promise OF Office, and defeated me VIII
of the people, expressed in an overwhelming
majority at the ballot box Every republi-
can was finally caioled into a caucus and the
rssei. ,3 the election. u vJt a ,.sc..i0n s. Pad
dock.
Nonpartisan Judges.
The judicial campaign of 1887, in this dis
trict, was decidedly lively one. THE BEE
persistently urged the elimination OF politics
from the bench, but the roustabouts then
controlling the republican party machine,
banking on the sure republican majority IN
the district, determined TO ignore the advice
of the bar and the best citizens and foist
upon the bench men untitled by ability and
character 10 occupy that exalted position.
A nonpartisan ticket was nominated.
The roustubout machine, inspired by the
Republican, refused TO nominate Judges
Wakeley and Croft, the former because he
was democrat, and the latter because he
was a republican indorsed by democrats
Judge Hopewell was renominated and the
ticket filled out with .. III. Ballou, Lee
Estelle and A. U. Hancock, of Papillion. Tho
nonpurtisan ticket had a walkaway, the can
didates being elected by from $500 to 1000
rY.iority.
The City Hall Fight.
In the spring of 1885 the city council and
board OF county commissioners effected q
trade with Hon. w. A. Paxton, by which the
city obtained the present site for the city
hall. During the summer plans for the
building were secured from Architect Myers,
of Detroit. The board of education joined
with the city and contributed S!5, 000 toward
the cost of the building, or one-eighth of the
total. At the November election the ques-
tion of issuing s2OO,0o0 in bonds, the proceeds
to be devoted to the construction of the
building on the chosen site, was submitted
to the voters and approved by vote of 800
to 230. The contract for the foundation was
let to Regan Bros, and afterwards trans
ferred to Brennan 81 Whalen. The work
dragged along at snail pace. The con-
tractors stood in with the council ring and
the orders of the board of public work were
ignored Finding that they could not make
any money out of the job, the contractors
~. ,t,l 4 fhn nrab itns.T in
duced their friends in the council to abro-
gate the contract and reject the plans Then
followed litigation and a decision of the dis
trict court enjoining the council from chang
ing the plans or eXpendng the money voted
on any other site without first submitting
the question to vote of the people. After
years of delay and turmoil the question wa s
submitted to q vote last February, with
Eighteenth and Farnam and Jefferson square
as candidates for the SITE The campaign
was brief but exceedingly lively. The
boomers of Jefferson square were over
whelmed by mountain OF votes. In
this fight, as in nearly all others, THE BEE
fought alone for the interests and credit of
the city against the open and secret opposi-
tion of all other papers. The triumph was
therefore, as gratifying as it was emphatic.
Birdseyc View From the Roof
The roof is an immense expanse Of smooth
brick pavement, with just sufficient inclina-
. tiOu 10 Sueu unt WutcF. luc lltIlc tuTTStS
which from the streets are comparatively in
significant in size, upon closer acquaintance
loom up to an immense size. The sSylght,
invisible below, Is a huge mound of iron and
glass. The chimney, merely the park which
shows above the roof, contains brick enough
to build respectable house. The delightful
exhilaration inspired by promenade at this
altitude must be experienced To be apDreci-
ated. The city, with all her hills and val
leys. spires and domes, lie spread out below
like relief map. 1t would be difficult in
ssa wsrds Of 70 dal Rnas ns green eaSes Sa WIFE
spires and gables innumerable peep
ing up among the billows; roofs and
square of dull red brick; small forest OF
tall black chimneys spouting up light, grey
smoke; broad, straight bands of drab with
human flies on foot and in toy carriages
creeping everywhere; then broad valley OF
,yellowish green; winding, glistening river
burying itself in the sombre bluffs, and over
all the thin purpllsh haze of city's myriad
chimneys. the four points of the COM
pass there is an uninterrupted view of miles
of avenues of trees, roofs and roofs interlnn
able, that look as il they had come from g
gigantic sprinkler. To the south over the
Omaha is u dense forest of trees, rising ant
falling like the waves OF the sea, Away II
the north is the fort, Florence and the watel
works. while westward lie miles upon mile.
To and fro along Farnam, Sixteenth ant
other leading streets, visible for al
most their entire length surges
sestiess tide of humanity. Gally painted
carriages aNd gaily dressed ladies and chill
dren glance hither and thither through tn,
tide; gilded signs and trappings glsten in th
sun like molten gold, car after car tolls pain
fully slong with it's load, cabs and carriage
dash hither and thither through the crow,
and all the myriad sounds of the city bien,
INTO one ceaseless rumbling roar. TIL
bridgJs and viaducts, like fairy structures
seem suspended in midair.
Tho picture is inspiring to the eye an,
charming to the senses. 1t is a panorama o
human activity and industry, of vernal hill
and shaded homes. with the heavens un
tAvaled b,uo for canopy.
Superintenients.
Upon the recommendation of the architect
Mr.. II. w. Baker, of Milwaukee, was engage
rs superintendent OF construction. Mi
Baker had q record as one of the best build
ing superintendents in this country, his las
great building being the magnificent strue
ture erectetl in Milwaukee by the North
western Munal Life Insurance company
10 Mr.. Baker is largely due the perfect con
atrucfinn of tho vnrious parts IF tho pa