Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-02
COMMISSIONERS REFUSE IT
Will Not Give South Omaha Branch Coal
Yard.
WOULD CAUSE NO END OF TROUBLE
Similar Requests from Charitable Or
ganizations Could Not lie Denied
and Expense to County Would
lie Increased.

The old question OF the county dispensing
aid to the poor through the medium OF
charitable organizations held the boards at the
meeting Of the county commissioners yester-
day morning. The matter was brought before
the board by Rev. Irving Johnson OF South
Omaha who Represented the Associated
Charities Of that city AT the request of Mr..
Hector Mr.. johnson was allowed the floor
and stated that the association did not ask
for money from the county, but 1t had what
II considered a Just claim Last year, he
said, the association had been able to raise
a fund OF $1,000 by private subscription,
and this year 1t had only been able to raise
$3.50 in the same way, this falling off being
due to popular opinion, the theory being
that the money raised last year had not been
5udciously expended. The reason 1t was
thought the money of last year had not been
judciously expended was that 1t had been
largely used for buying coal and other sup
plies for people who were really entitled
to assistance from the county, but were un-
able to secure the same as promptly as 1t
was required. This year the association had
been called on to furnish coal to a great
many persons who were really county charges
but who had been unable to get fuel from
the county for several days after they made
their request. He therefore asked the board
to send carload Of coal to South Omaha,
to be stored in place to be furnished by
the association and issued only on the order
OF commissioner Hector, free of expense to
the county.
Commissioner Hoctor called attention TO
the fact that last year the county had fur
nished assistance TO $40 families in South
Omaha, while this year there had been less
than forty families given relief The de-
crease in number. he said. was due to the
gaIden plot scheme operated under the di-
rection Of the Associated Charities.
Commissioners Jenkina and Kierstead
talked In favor of the pan jenkins remark
Ing that 1t cost about 81 per ton to deliver
coal at South Omaha.
Williams opposed the idea of establishing
branch coal yard and said it would be
followed by similar requests from other
prrts of the county. /,
Stenberg made long speech against the
plan. He said II the request were granted, It
would establish precedent from which the
board could not escape. The Associated
Charities Of Omaha handled twenty times
az many paupers as the South Omaha organi-
cation, and they would be justified in apply
ing for twenty carloads OF coal The Old
Women's Home, Open Door, Refuge Home
for Fallen Women, and all the other charita-
BILE institutions, which were caring for peo-
pie, who would otherwise be charge on
the county, would be on hand with similar
requests, and the board would have no good
reason for refusing them. The resources OF
the county, he said, were nearly exhausted
cised to keep within the limit. The charity
store was now costing great deal of money
and he thought 1t would be very unwse to
increase 1t by establishing branch. The
request for a carload of coal he characterized
as modest request, but said it would be
followed by similar requests In less than two
weeks, and probably two cars would be
needed then. The same question, he said
had been before the board several times
before, and after mature deliberaton the
board had refused to grant it, and he warned
the members that 1t would be dangerous
to grant 1t now.
When vote was taken the srequest was
denied.
On motion of Stenberg the report of the
committee of the whole on salaries was cor
rected, so far as 1t referred to the office Of
the county Judge, to provide for probate
clerk at $55 and recorder at S45 per month
instead Of two recorders at s45 each and the
minutes were corrected accordingly. Stem
berg stated that clerical error had beer
made in drawing up the report.
The finance committee reported on a Ions
list of jury and witness fees, deductine
$53SS1 for unpaid personal taxes.
In accordance with report of the judiciary
committee, Oliver Gown was appointed JUS
tice of the peace for Valley precinct, ant
G. w. King was appointed constable fol
West Omaha precinct.
The complaint and charges against Justice
OF the Peace Karling of Clontarf precinct
presented by p. +. Gustavison were placed
on file because they were not IN proper form
Superintendent Wright of the poor farm
submitted his report for the month OF Janu
ary, showing inmates as follows: Insane
males 26; insane females, IA; pauper males
CO. pauper females, 30; total number OF in
mates 1873. Jenkins remarked that this was
= the first report received from a superintend
ent of the poor farm for two years
Judge Keysor requested that his court room
be changed to the fourth floor Of The Bee
building, over the room occupied by Judge
nd hn mi
and jail was authorized to have the change
made, 1t being understood that the county
would be to no expense in the matter.
PnHe DAT