Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-16
The Third Ward Councilman in the
Role of Reformer.
THE UNION DEPOT PROJECT.
Conditions Under Which the People
Will Vote on the Question OF
Aiding the Scheme
Other Matters.
The COunCit.

/ w 'HS ShiOh bNBO1 anu NluuuCl SCublllcS.
| The last named feature is PROBABLY the
more important, but it did not create any
thing like the surprise that was occasioned
| by Mr.. Ford's innovation. He presented it
in the form of the following resolution:
| "That the committee on grades aud grad
| ing be instructed to investigate by what
| authority Michael O'Bricn, a foreman under
the street commissioner, could lay Off his
men last Friday to attend TO the democratic
| primaries with orders that il they did not
vote certain ticket they could not work
any more for the CITY,"
| The resolution took the members of the
! council so completely by surprise that it was
adopted without question. MIR. FORD ex-
| planned his action to reporter by saving
| that on Friday the twelve men who were
| working under O'Brien were laid off at 9
| O'Clock and sent to the Third ward primary
election and told to vote against Ford, or
they would not be allowed to work for the
| city any more. Mr. Ford said he was in
| favor OF purity in politics, and he wanted
the matter investigated.
| The special committee on the union depot
| and viaduct matters reported an ordinance
In accordance with its Instructions
| Inc matter came up in three sections
| Inc hrst two ordinances instruct the mayor
ana Alvin Saunders to convey to the Union
| Pacific railway company and the Omaha
Union Depot company the right and utle
| TO certain real estate in the city,
| which are to be used for the
| union depot ana .groudns. The third ordi-
nance provides for sthe SUBMISSION to the
people ut the regular city election OF the propo
| sition to donate Sl500OO to aid the Uniou De
| pot company In the construction of the pro-
| posed depot and viaduct the bonds to run
| twenty years and to be issued when the Union
Pacific and Is. Il Nj. sign a 5000 QUO
| bond to build the depot and viaduct accord
| ing to plans already agreed upon; also the
| bond of the Union Pacific Railway company
IN the sum of $500 900, agreeing to allow all
railroads centering at Council Bluffs to
nave access to the depot over the Union Pa
cific bridge. The ordinances were referred
| to the committee on viaducts and the city at
| torney.
An amendment to the building inspectors
ordinance was introduced and referred to
the committee on buildings and property.
The amendment provides that when the
building inspector snail declare the walls OF
any burned building unsafe, or that any
building is defective or dangerous from apy
cause, the owner or agent of such structure
Is liable to IA fine of not less than So nor more
than 500 for each day he neglects to take
proper steps to remedy sucn defects.
Another ordinance amending the building
inspection ordnance was presented, provid-
ing that hereafter the walls of all buildings
shall, below the surface of the ground, be
built of stone or brick laid in cement or NOR
tar. Ihe ordinance also provides for the
character OF the brick, sand and other mate
rial for use in buildings, and that
no building hereafter, churches and
grain elevators excepted, shall exceed a
greater height than ninety feet above the
| street level, unless built OF incombustible
material. The ordinance also provides that
no frame building shall hereafter be moved
unless worth % per cent of the original
value. The ordinance was referred to the
committee on public property and buildings.
Contracts were approved: With G.. ID.
Woodwork for curbing Twenty-frst avenue
| from st. Marys avenue to Preston & Will
iams' addition; Twenty-sixth avenue from
| Half Howard to ST. Mary's avenue: Pleas
ant street, from Cunning to Burt, and
| Eleventh street from Nicholas to Clark,
with Colorado sand stone; with j. r.. Riley
| for paving Twenty-tirst avenue, from St.
Mary's avenue to Preston & Williams addi-
ton, with cedar block on sand and plank.
On motion of Mr. Wheeler the work of
grading Lake street was dicontlnued for the
| season, the property owners differing as to
the grades desired.
| The board of public works presented an
| abstract of the bids for paving Ihirteth and
| Bristol and other streets on which the
| county commissioners have agreed to pay
| the cost of intersections. Mr.. Wheeler did
not want the contracts approved,
| son to begin work. Mr. Kaspar urged
| the approval of the awards so as to take ad-
vantage of the countys offer. Hewas afraid
| that there was string on The commission
work and the new board of commissioners
%sas rasts Wsn1F1| we"t over until neSt SnS ssa ssa
son. The contracts were approved.
The city attorneys recommendation of O
reduction Of Mrs Catherine Gentleman's
taxes was approved.
The board of education sent up a notice
that the city has not yet paid the board the
SlO,931.5O awarded as damages for
| the opening of Park avenue to
Farnam street. The board intimated
that unless the cash or its equivalent was
not forthcoming the city would be enjoined
from taking possession OF the property. The
communication went to tho committee on
claims.
The water works company asked the coun-
Gil to postpone the paving of Thirtieth street
north of Spauldng as the company wishes
to lay a large water main on that street The
matter was referred to the committee on
paving, curbing and guUtering.
protest against the proposed narrowing
of the grading of Jones street between Four
teenth and Fifteenth streets to a width of
eighty feet, was granted, and the street Or
dered to tho full width of 100 feet.
The fiGe of the building occupied by the
Daily Tax List is too small for the purpose
for which it is used and the editor presented
IA petition that Il part of the alley be donated
to the good of the cause for the puprose OF
enlarging the iiue. Snyder, bedford, Lowry
ana Ford wanted the request granted and
after some discussion il was referred TO the
committee on streets and alleys and the
building inspector with power TO act.
@. Il. 4. Smiths application for the posi-
tion of superintendent Of the new city hall
was referred to the committee on public
property ana buildings.
MIR. Lowrys resolution that all light wag-
ons and carriages be allowed to pass over
the Eleventh street viaduct faster th0n
walk was adopted, and the city attorney in
strncted to report the necessary amendment
to the ordinance.
MIR. Lowry offered a resolution resembling
the recent action of the council to the effect
that no warrants for grading be drawn until
after the fifty DAYS in which the property
owners have the privilege of paying the tax,
have expired Mr. Lowry thought 1t gas
wrong To nave contractors wait fifty days
for their pay after the completion OF their
work. The resolution was referred to the
city attorney.
Mr. OConnor offered resolution that the
city clerk be instructed TO have signs painted
or printed TO designate the places Of registra
tion in the various districts. The resolution
was opposed aud defeated after good deal
of discussion.
Mr.. Wheeler offered a resolution that Dr.
Ralph be given a three weeks vacation and
$50, TO enable hIm 10 attend "a meeting of the
National Health association ia Brooklyn.
II move TO give him years leave of alb
sence," said Ford.
Davis, Wheeler and Burnham thought
that Omaha should be represented at such
an important meeting, and the resolution
was adopted.
A M Raanor that to,a,lo.o