Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-17
WRANGLE OVER AMENDMENTS
Taxpayers and City Officials Lock Horns
Over Charter Revision.
BOTH CONDEMN CROW PAVING BILL
Douglas County's Legislators Break
Their Promise 10 he Present
Another Meeting TO ne Held
saturday for Their BENEFIT.
,TH CONDEMN CROW PAVING BILL

saturday for Their BENEFIT.
The friends and opponents Of The charter
revision bill now pending 10 the legislature
assembled in the council chamber about 200
strong last night for the purpose 9f talking
at the representatives and senators Of Doug
las county about the measure-of present
ing q continued chapter Of the arguments
that were made before the delegation al
Lincoln last Tuesday and were adjourned
TO allow the Legislators 90 attend the Hay
ward banquet This banquet, however,
seemed To have been too much for the Jaw
makers for they teleEraphed that they could
not attend the session. Having come to
talk though the meeting was not 10 be
discouraged at the absence OF their pros
pective listeners and argued for q couple OF
hours at each other Adjournment was
taken until next Saturday when the Doug
las county Legislators have promised to be
Oh hand and play in the cast Of audience.
The meeting, however took definite action
in one respect il emphaucally expressed
its disHpproval Of the Grow paving bill by a
unanimous vote, resolution TO that effect
hy City Engineer R0sewater carrying with
out a single dissenting voice. This is the
bill that takes away from the mavor and
council the power Of ordering paving with
out petition but subject to protest Of prop
erty owners, and also abolishes the com
petitive system by which contracts for paw
ing are awarded
Henry W. Yates appeared TO be about the
only advocate OF this bill. He was also the
spokesman for the band Of so-called heavy
taxpayers who are fighting the charter
amendment bill. He was on the floor dur
ing a goodly portion OF the meeting and
as the first talker OF the evening being
recognized Immediately after the meeting
organized by electing W S. Seby chairman.
He pointed out in detail the various mat
ters in the bill to which be was opposed
Yates Argument.
Mr.. Yates laid down as the foundation
proposition OF his remarks that what Omaha
needs is a reduction Of taxation and there
fore a reduction in the cost of running the
city government With this principle IN
mind he discussed the amendments One Of
the first sections be took up was the effort
10 raise the salaries of the city clerk and
comptroller from Sl,SOO to s. 800 a year.
The present salary, he said was more than
men who did similar work in business es-
Establishments receive A reason for this in
crease, be stated. is assigned in the fact
that other city officials are receiving pro
portionately higher salary. What should be
done, he maintained, is TO lower the other
salaries.
Mr. Yates also found objection to the
amendment which Will permit the mayor
and council TO order repaving without pc
utlon subject to protest within thirty DAYS
the similar provision to the one which gov
arT,g ,rfv
sisted that such a law would he very per
nicious, as, on account OF the indifference
or absence Of property owners. 1t would he
decidedly difficult to get up a majority pro
test In place Of such change he insisted
that the present paving law should be SC
amended as to put ii on the same plane as
repaying-that paving may not be ordered
unless petitioned for
Mr. Yates also found fault with the rro.
posed amendment compelling property
owners TO accept the cheapest kind of de.
sired paving-briCk, asphalt or stone-of.
Tered In competition, even if they want IL
pay more money in order to get the best
pavement. All these faults, Mr. Yates said
were femedied by the Grow paving bill now
before the Legislature.
Talks for the Railroads.
Banker Yates then took IN and onnoso,
The amendment by which it is PROMISED :,
compel the railroads to pay as rnucb cit,
lakes as other property owners in Omaha
am a banker and interested in raiIroa,
securities explained Mr. Yates Il ais,
Tlde on railroad passes. But everybody VIII,
knows me knows that this does not preju
dice me in favor Of railroads ] want then
to pay their just taxes, but I do not believ,
in squeezing them
Mr. Hates then went on to sav that IN,
Burlington could have done its business eas
ily in the old cowsheds, bur the publi
wanted and demanded something better
This demand was met and satisfied in tn
present magnificent structure which is tn
equal of any depot anywhere"
Isn't that grand" demanded MIR. Yates
And now they want 10 tax that mag
nihcent building and those sidetracks ou
OF sight"
Mr. Yates went on TO say that If this rail
road amendment We're retained 1t would b
sure TO Kill the whole bill.
Mr.. Yates then took up the amendment
increasing the limit Of the fire fund from
S195,000 to 600 and the sinking funt
from $500, 900 to $35O.OOO. The fire depart
ment is as good as is required he asserted
and need not be increased. Regarding tn
sinking fund. he maintained that the presen
is no time 10 pay of debts He advised
rather Thar the city should renew its bond
al lower rate Of interest and pay off som
time in the future.
The scheme TO substitute for the presen
per cent warrant system another by whicl
certificates Of Indebtedness will be issue,
10 draw only per cent when there are N
funds available was also objected TO by Mr
Yates. He insisted that these certificate
would have to run at least a year while IN
warrants can be taken in whenever none
is in the treasury, The result would be tina
the interest charge would be greater.
Mr.. Yates then maze objection TO The pol
tax law He insisted that the s. tax on ever