Omaha daily bee., 1893-08-16
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Executive Committee Of Ten Invites the City
Council to ListenIto Report,
EVIDENT INTEREST OF MANY TAXPAYERS
Aftermath otthc storm-Payne, the Assaii-
ant of Jim Holmes, Arraigned Before
Judge Fowler = Till Tapper
Gets Fifteen Days.

ut the meeting held in the school house one
week ago when Ed Johnson read report on
the actions OF the city council, met at the
Office of John Doe last night. Although the
mayor and all the members of the city coun
Gil and the city officials were invited to be
present the mayor, city attorney and Coun-
Gilman Wyman failed to put in an appear
ance. City Attorney Van Dusen sent in a
communication, however, stating that mas
much as the only information or knowledge
he had of the contents of Mr.. Johnson's re-
port was what ne had read in the daily
papers he was not at this time ready to
make any denials, corrections or statement
to the committee He would be perfectly
willing to reply TO any comments after he
had been provided with copy of the report.
The councilmen present were Bulla, Conley,
Bruce, Schultz, Wyman, Mullala and Kout-
Sky. City Treasurer Hoctor and, Garbage
master Sniveley were the only city officials
who attended. City Clerk Ditzon was longed
for, but never came.
There was a full attendance of the tax
payers committee. Mr.. C. Nj. Hunt is pres
ident, but did not arrive until late, and his
place was substituted by Hon. j. j. Breen
Secretary S. =. Brigham was present with
his minutes of the previous meeting, which
were read and approved
Dave Anderson arose and announced that
the meeting had been called for the purpose
of giving the members of the council and
others referred TO in the report an oppor-
tunity to refute the allegations He eX-
planned that the committee was not after
any ones scalp, neither did it make the
charge of Doodle crime 1t was simply
case he believed, OF msmanagement and
blunders.
Councilman Wood said that he was not
ia mi linr with hn fan re If Z ha nd
wanted a detailed copy of the same. The
council could then read it over. Johnson
said he had notified the council that the re-
port was in his office and could be seen dur
ing business hours by any one interested.
Councilman Wyman, he said, had telephoned
him that he would be up to his Office to look
over the report, but later on telephoned him
that the city attorney would first take look
at the document ana that Wyman had never
been to see 1t at all. Councilman Bulla said
he did not attend the meeting at the school
house. but he was ready to answer
any questions the committee might
| wish to fire at him. Then
there was a whole lot of
| discussion as to how the council was to geta
copy of the johnson report. johnson, it
| seemed, did rot want the manuscript to go out
| of his Office, but was willing to be there and
explain in detail its contents to any person
the council saw fit to send and get copy.
| Wood insisted on the committee furnishing
| full and detailed copy to the council, and
| UnCn tlldU DOuy WOulu uOtlly lIlS
! when it was ready to answer. Anderson OBJ
| jected to this Breen said the city was pay
| ing stenographer, and he did not see why
| he or she could not be asked to make the re-
| port tI..t..
"Is that report the individual property of
MIR johnson" +" ashed Mr. Bulla.
Yes; it is" replied MIR. Hunt. "He did
the work under the direction of the COM
mittee, but it was big Job and the manu-
script belongs TO him. Mr. Brigham sug-
gested that the report be printed and circu-
lated among those who were entitled to a
copy. Johnson explained that the council
l did not need only portion Of his report and
added that it would be foolish to copy it all"
Let the council judge what it wants and
what it does not want. Give us the whole
thing that we may answer it intelligently,"
Clipped in Mr. Bulla. This gentleman also
| suggested that q copy of the report be given
to the council and then hold another mass
meeting at the school house and give the
council the same chance the committee had.
He believed that great deal OF undue eX-
citement had been aroused that could be eX-
planned away very satisfactorily to the
public.
Again Mr.. Anderson took the floor and
stated that a new era would have to be in
stgated That the condition of affairs was
bad and needed mending. He considered
that the council had had ample time to post
itself and was opposed to any further time
being granted.
Councilman Conley said he was ready for
man Bruce was not. He ignorant of
the contents of the report. He said he had
no time to go to Johnson's office in the day
time and wanted copy of the thing that
| he might sit down ut home and peruse it,
Councilmen, he said, were not all angels and
were as liable to err as any one else. If he
had made any bad breaks he stood ready to
be jacked-up, but he wanted to know some
thing about the details before he talked too
much.
1t was finally agreed to have Mr.. Pierce,
the deputy city clerk, make copy of the re-
port in Mr.. Johnson's office for the perusal of
the council and let that body give its answer
one week later at the same place.
THIS ended the business with the council
and the city officials were next called to
time.
The charge in the Johnson report made
against the city treasurer is that he has
been collecting fees illegally.
i. City Treasurer Hoctor said that inasmuch
as the council had been allowed to go over
he preferred to make his reply at the same
time He was ready and able however, to
explain that all of his official acts had been
backed by law.
"Can you show us the law backing up your
acts2" asked Mr.. Anderson.
| 81 think | can"
what are the fees for which you have
| collected on delinquent taXesW
"Eor collectors of the same"
"Who have been your collectors lately2'
7 asked Mr.. Johnson
Henry Beal.n
! Have you been taking fees on taxes vol
5 unfairly paid"
| yes SIR"
"Then you deduct from all taxes col
lectedP
> There has never been any taxes allowed
to become delinquent without due notice
: either verbally or in writing, being given
Have you ever made a detailed report
/ | under the ordinanceln
Y mo, sir"
= "Who have been ybuT collectors2"
, ~ have had several Joe Copetz, Tom
. Downey aud others"
Z WAS Downing collector during the PERIOD
he was deputy city treasurer"
: "No sir he was. not l have collected
@ these taxes at the adyice of the city attorney
and other good attofpFys. If these gentle
= men have misconstrded the law and advised
me wrong and l have collected any none,
that is not legally due me | am perfectly
9 willing to pay it bacs. j consider that an
4 right ana prefer to give more detailed re
g port at the meeting when the council il
Q heard" No definite action was taken on Mr.
n Hooters statement. d N
. John Sniveley, the city garbage master
/ WAS the next gentleman elevated TO tn
carpet. He said he was responsible TO tn
city council and did not know what was II
e the johnson report, but was willing t
d answer any questions the committee nigh
| ,lr ~ & tl,o.