Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-11-06

4 Valuable Object Lesson in Municipal
Gpyprumeut

| Government.
The governing body, executive as well as
| legislative, is the city council says a writer
in the Century. The eighteen wards are each
| represented by four members, one having
| the title Of alderman and three that of
| councillor, all meeting in a single body. One
| is elected annually for each ward. so that
| twO-thirds of the councillors, and all the al
derman. have had experience They are
! chosen by DurSesses. who are male or fe-
male oCcupiers of any dwelling house shop
| or mandatory, or of any land or tene-
ment of the annual value of f10 The differ
| ence between burgesseS and parliamentary
electors is that women are admitted to the
| former.
The parliamentary electors number 81 ,097,
and burgesses and school board electors
92,7O9, the difference representing with fair
accuracy women voters. Members of Par
lament are elected by districts councillors
from wards. and the school board on a gen
eral ticket. No two classes are voted for at
the same election, though practically the
Same machinery Is employed. The eXpendi-
ture permitted to municipal candidates is
about $50 each. Vacancies in the council
are filled by special election. One alder
man from each ward is elected by the coun-
ell for six years, half the terms ending
every three years. AS a rule they are re
elected indefinitely, party or fractional CON
siderations having little influence.
The council is reOrgani2ed on the 9th of
November OF each year, when the general
purposes committee comprised of the mayor
rs chairman and the chairman of each of
the working committees, dominates the
committees for the ensuing year. Outside
persons are appointed as additional members
Of the Museum and School of Art, free
libraries and technical schools committees
who in practice control the technical work,
the council members retaining financial
management.
Each member OF a committee proposed is
voted for separately. The wishes OF indi-
viduals arc rarely consulted until their
names are presented, when they may decline
and be excused. None may serve on more
than two committees. nor be chairman of
more than one. Every effort Is made TO &c
cure the very best results No prcCcdeuts
require tho appointment OF old members
even to important committees, and a new
member known to be capable and interested
in some special work has no difficulty in
obtaining an assignment that may enable
him to do his best. But In practice the cN-
pcrienced men are reappointed without qucs-
ton. Each committee selects It's own chair
man.
The council is a thoroughly representative
body. OF the sevcnty-twO members Of the
present council, twcnty-three are manufaC-
turers six are classified as gentlemen men
retired from buslness) six are provision
merchants, five are brass and iron founders
solicitors jewellers and medical men, respect
lively, three are merchants there are two each
OF auctioneers, chemists and diapers, while
printers, teachers, butchers, bakers glass
workers, tin plate workers and newspaper
managers each have on, So far as ! cln
find out, but one publican has ever been
in the council, although this class had much
influence prior to 1871.
No member has any privileges on a rail-
way or public conveyance Of any sort, even
on the tramways belonging to the city or
admission to a thcater or entertainment,
and none Is permitted to vote on a ques-
tiOn when he has a personal interest. He Is
subject 10 fine OF $50 with loss Of Office,
II he enters into any contract with the city
or sells an article OF even tho smallest
valuo TO tho council or to any OF its sub
sidiary or associated committees or depart
ments. SO strictly Is this observed that a
member OF committee, suspected Of de-
sire to sell eligible property TO the city,
was forced to retire from public life
When the work OF a committee Is to be
discussed, II presents a report OF all It has
done since It's affairs were last before the
council, setting out what II proposes. This
report or agenda must BIO printed and sent
to each councillor three fun days before the
meeting. In some cases, especially when
new scheme is proposed; each member
Is requested to make a personal inyestlga-
tion Of the conditions with which 1t is pro-
posed TO deal.