Omaha daily bee., 1894-01-03
THINK THINGS ARE WRONG
Property Owners Meet to Suggest Reforms
in Their Interest,
MR.. BoGGs STATES SEVERAL GRIEVANCES
Some Features of Public Improvements
Not Wen Likcd-Committeo Appointed
TO DEVISE Means OF Relief and Re-
port at u Future Meeting.

Thirty of the leading property owners OF
Omaha assembled at tho Paxton last even
ing at s O'Clock in response to an invitation
signed by n committee composed OF Herman
Kountze, Benjamin Smith, G. N. Hicks,
Judge Doane, Frank Murphy and II. T.
Clarke. The object of the meeting was to
discuss the expenditures of the city govern
ment, assessment, bonds and matters ofgcn-
eral interest to taxpayers and to formulate
a plan for retrenChment and the protection
of taxpayers interests.
Among those in attendance were: w. A.
L. Gibbon, Euclid Martin, Herman Kountze.
Henry w. Yates, Fred Willard, DIR. S. d.
Mercer, w. S. Poppleton, Benjamin Smith
w. Farnam Smith, w. V. Morse, w. IL. and
II. 7. Clarke, A. p. Turkey, Richard Berlin,
Frank Murphy, J. Z. Kitchen, j. +. Wiley,
Andrew Rosewater, George II. Boggs, G. N.
Hicks, G.. H. Payne. trastus A. b enson,
Peter Il. Her, George Parker, j. Patterson,
G.. Il. Summers, jr, and Judge Doane.
Judge Doane was elected chairman of the
meeting. He briefly stated its object and in
vited general discussion.
Bogss' Idea of Reform.
Mr.. Boggs started the ball rolling
by f~avoring an aggressive policy on
the part of property owners, as they
had been on the defensive long enough.
He favored re~trenchment," fair valua-
tion, discontinuance of enforced public i'm
proyements; petty taxes should be paid from
the general fund tax notices should be served
by a registered letter system favored a
change IN the law le3scning the penalties
for delinquency in taxes; objected to the
lien law III It's present form; believed that
squatters' rights should be cut off, and
wound up q series of complaints with an
argument IN favor of allowing only property
owners to vote at the polls on questions per-
tanning to the issuance of bonds. In fact,
Mr.. Boggs was in a "kiCking' MOOD and he
proceeded to uncork the vial of his wrath
Sin behalf of real estate interests"
City Engineer RosewaUer was called for
and detailed the progress of public improve
ments. He also reviewed the bond Ques-
tions. Some of the sentiments expressed to
him by property owners during the day had
been so radical that he took occasion TO
refer to such talk as "anarchistic,' not in
the broad sense OF the word, but savOring of
a desire on the part of some property
owners to disregard the laws of municipal
government. This caused Mr.. Kountze TO
register q mild protest.
Mr.. Rosewater quoted the present law
relative to district Improvement petitions
and stated that the majority of property
owners had it IT their power to either sign
or reject petitions of this character.
Too Far Oh for kountze.
Mr.. Kountze favored more improvements
II VII CULTURAL DOIllDu VI Ult ClJI utiu 1858 y
penditures in the suburbs as long as the cen
trail portion needed improvements On
other subjects he thought that the laws
were in need of revision. The present laws
were to blame as the municipal government
simply followed out the requirements of the
statutes.
DIR. Mercer scored the Board of Health for
some of its condemnation methods.
MIR. Boggs did not want to accuse the city
government as being dishonest. He thought,
however, that it was characterized by mad
vertence and extravaganza. Others spoke
in the same strain.
Mr.. Patterson favored the idea of having
the meeting suggest nine names for di
rectors of the Real Estate Owners associa-
tion. He said the latter had n fund of 81 200
which could be used to fight taxpayers in
terests.
MIR. Turkey then went into an extended
discussion on sewer bonds and intersection
finances were talked over for some time by
Messrs. Clarke, Doane, Yates, Smith, Mer-
Ger and Rosewater.
Named a Committee.
At the conclusion of the discussion Mr..
Kitchen favored prompt action. He
though that enough time had been
consumed in talk. He suggested that
a committee be appointed to propose
a plan aud after carefully reviewing the |
to call another meeting, at which
The committee would report for ratification
of its work. This idea met with favor. Mr..
made n motion to the effect that a
committee of nine be appointed. The motion |
The following committee was then APP
pointed: Judge Doane, chairmani Herman
Kountze, Benjamin Smith, G.. n. Hicks, II.
Clarke, Fred Willard, III. w. Yates, e. H.. |
Boggs and Frank Murphy.
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