Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-22
CADET 1AYLOR'S DECALoGUE.

CADET TAYLOR'S DECALOGUE.
Councilman Cadet Taylor's views or
municipal reform. of which he has de
livered himself before the Current
Topic club, deserve more thar passing
attention. Mr.. Taylor's decalogue OF
which are in striking contrast with
Mr.. Taylor's performances before and
since he became Il member of the oun
ell. 1t calls to mind the biblical story
of the old patriarch who exclaimed,
'The voice is the voice of Jacob; but
the hands are the hands of Esau.'
The first plank in the Taylor plat
form is that the best business men of
the city should be sent to the lcgisla-
ture to work for Il revised charter, men
strong enough to work for the city's
interests and not those of corporations.
Nine years ago just such n delegation.
headed by Hon. George w. Lininger.
was elected to the legislature from this
county. A charter framed with due
regard to the best interests of the tax
payers and the city generally was pre-
sented to the legislature by the delega-
ton. But Mr.. Cadet Taylor. acting in
concert with the corporation lobby, had
that charter mutilated beyond recogni-
ton and its enactment forced over the
heads of the Douglas delegation. That
mutilation Of the charter of 1887 has
cost the city millions and has retarded
it's growth very materially.
Mr.. Taylor's second plank demands
home rule for the city Of Omaha-in
other words the right of its citizens to
make their own charter. This can only
be brought about by an amendment
to the constitution. When such an
amendment, introduced at the instance
of the editor Of The Bee, was pending
before the last legislature, it received no
support from the city council, of which
Mr.. Taylor was a member, nor did Mr..
Taylor exhibit any interest in it's pass
age. 1t was defeated by the selfish
Vaccinations of franchised corporation
managers who owned the majority of
our late legislative delegation. Had it
been submitted with the other twelve
amendments to the constitution that are
now pending it would doubtless carry.
Voted on by itself such an amendment
will not stand a ghost of a show, be-
cause nobody outside of Omaha will
be sufficiently interested TO vote on the
proposition, and every vote withheld is
a vote counted against it.
Mr.. Taylor's third plank in favor IF
the consolidation of Omaha, South
Omaha and Douglas county under one
government, like his second plank, was
%sandbagged by the last legislature for
lack of support from Mr.. Taylor's city
council.
The fourth plank, TO reduce the council
to nine members, will come up in due
time before our next charter revision
committee. There is Il chance TO re-
the council now from eighteen to
members, and DR.. Taylor should
make a beginning by taking his own
prescription.
Mr.. Taylor's fifth plank, in favor of
a~bolishing all charter boards and sal
aries, leaving the council to fix salaries
and to create offices by ordinance, will
meet with approval, but must also be
to the charter makers. Mean
time, let Mr.. Taylor and his associates
show their good faith by abolishine
created by ordinance, such rs
the council sergeant-at-arms, health in
spectors, and s%uperfiuous clerks.
The sixth plank, to establish n sys-
of fees that will make all city
offices revenu producing, is of doubtful
eNpediency. 1t means more taxation
and the people want no more taxation,
whether in the shape of fees or addi-
tax levies.
Sevcnthly, Mr., Taylor says no fran
ehisr shorll be granted extending over
more than two years without n vote of
he people. This is very good, but
after what has been lone by the last
two councils savor of locking the barn
loor after the horse has beer stolen.
Mr.. Taylor's eighth commandment Is
for the city to own the water works
plant That is no doubt desirable.
The only question is, What price Is the
city to pay and how is it to raise the
necessary money?
Mr.. Taylor's ninth commandment Is
IN injunction that no citizen shall be
e any report rejecting on a public
'tiicer until he has made a personal in
That is imposing u heavy
ask upon the people. No man was
lost who Travelled on a straight |