Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-12
PROSPECT or MUNICIPAL REfoR

PROSPECT or MUNICIPAL REFORM.
And now we are assured by the organ
that claims to speak by authority that
we are on the eve of an era of genuine
municipal reform in the city of Omaha.
There is, as the organ of the incoming
municipal combine now admits. II great
field for genuine reform in the admins
tration OF city affairs. "We believe"
it continues, that Captain Broatch, so
far as is within the mayors power, will
hew directly to the line of the tax
payers interests, and we believe that
he will exert himself to give Omaha
the best administration in it's history.
So far as the council is concerned there
is good reason to believe that that body
will cooperate with the mayor on the
lines of economy and general public
interest,"
This assurance would be welcomed by
all friends of honest government, and
more particularly by the taxpayers, if
it had Il substantial basis. Coming as
it does from those who have never
raised a voice against embezzlers, job
bcrs and taXeaters in public office, but
on the contrary to whom public plum
derers and combines have never looked
in vain for aid and comfort. it will be
taken only for what it is worth.
Genuine reform certainly cannot be
looked for from men identified with the
spoils system and men whose course in
public life has proved them to be I'M
mindful pf thnir nhlirotinnc md tla ,,,,J,
lie interest. There is an old German
adage to the effect that what is to be-
come vinegar will turn sour very soon.
If Captain Broatch honestly desired "to
hew directly to the line" why didn't
he begin hewing when he was made
police commissioner? Why has he
piled up needless expenses upon the
taxpayers by keeping on the police pay
roll for over two months the special
officers who were appointed for extra
duty during state fair week? If Cap
tain Broatch proposes to hew to the
line in the interest of taxpayers. why
has he converted the burnt district into
u free zone for social vice and loaded
on the taxpayers Il new burden that
will range from $4,000 to $4,000 n
year? Was this in the interest of
public morals? Certainly not. 1t is
nothing more nor less than Il contribu-
ton to the owners and keepers of dis
orderly resorts and Il bid for their po-
litical favor.
Grant, if you please, that Captain
Broatch honestly intends to turn Over
a new leaf when he becomes mayor,
and grant that he would use his veto
for the protection of taxpayers as fear
lessly as has Mayor BemiS-which he
can 10 only by repudiating his political
mortgages to ward heelerS and CORPORA
tions-what chance would his yetoes
have of being sustained by the new
council? Is it not absolutely certain
that every veto of this character would
be passed over his head? Ont of the
holdovcrs in the present council lust
two may be counted on occasionally
when they have not tied UP with the
combine on some scheme of their OWL.
When Gordon resigns his successor will
probably he Ike HaScall, one of the
most dangerous men that has ever oc-
cupied Il seat in any council. OF the
'''' 'N' WV Dttll
tried and proved true. There may Dos
sibly be two or three others who will
stand the ordeal and keep their skirts
clean from stains of Doodle. But when
1t IN to any question where the in
~tcrests of the taxpayers clash with
those of the franchised corporations not
one of these seven can be depended
upon to stand up and be counted for
the people. Free gas, free water. free
street car passes, free telephones. free
electric lights and railroad passes for
themselves, families and friends when
ever they want to 20 on "A iunket will
be acceptable, and these Sugar-coated
brides will be gratefully reciprocated at
the expense of the taxpayers and the
public generally.
With the very best intentions CAPTAIN
Broatch will be unable to do ANYTHING
in the direction of genuine municipal
reform. He and all the other city otfi
Gals elected on the ticket with him are
simply dummies registering the edicts
OF Council l25. That body, acting
through its executive committee, will
dictate all appointments and ordain
every official act of Importance of he
entire administration. Council l25
does not pretend to be organized for
genuine reform. Its highest purposes
are the procurement of places on the
public pay roll for its members and the
distribution of public plumber among
the elect.
This is the unvarnished prospectus for
the year 1896, and all the assurances of
genuine reform in the city hall are an
insult 10 common intelligence. 1t il
even questionable whether we shall be
able to bring any public thief to Justice
If he should be caught with his hand
In the treasury till. These are unpala-
table truths. But there Is one con-