Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-12

I SOUTH OMAHA NEWS. !

Judging from the opinions expressed at
the mass meeting held at the council cham
Der last night the High school bond PROPOSE
tion is off, for the time at least. There
was a fair attendance of representative
citizens. E. j. Seykora was chosen chairman
and P. j. Barrett secretary. After briefly
stating the object of the meeting Chairman
Seykora called upon ex-Postmaster John Nc
MILAN for an expression.
Mr.. Mcmillan stated that a short time ago
he was in favor OF bonds, but he had
changed his mind and now thought the bonds
would not carry If the proposition was sub
mitted. 1t was too late in the year to do
any good for the coming term and he
thought the interest on the proposed bonds
might as we'll be saved for six or seven
months. The question, he said, should have
been brought up last March, thus giving
the board time to arrange the preliminaries
before spring opened up. AS the Board of
Education had made a 20-mill levy for this
year he did not think 1t was good policy
at this time to submit the proposition. In
conclusion Mr.. Mcmillan said he thought
a great many people felt as he did about
the matter.
w. c. Lambert was called for and COM
menced by saying that the city could make
no better investment than to provide ade-
quate school facilities He did not, how
ever, think that II submitted now the propo-
sition would carry.
David Anderson stated that for five or
six years he has been anxious to see the
city buy block of ground and erect upon
| 1t magnificent High school building. He
was opposed to the scheme now for the
| reason that the Board of Education had
shown no disposition to economize or cur
tail expenses in any manner. Not having
confidence in the present board he was there
| fore opposed to the proposition.
| When F. A. Cressey was called for he
said Mr.. Lambert had about expressed his
| ideas.
]. ]. Breen wanted to know why the
intended coming before the people with a
bond proposition. He thought the 2O-mill
| levy would prove the death blow to the
| building of High school at this time.
| Fritz Freitag, member of the Board Of
Education, in answer to Mr.. Breen, ex
planned about the making of the levy. He
stated that it was at first proposed to get
along with a 16 or IS mill levy, but on
account of the overlap it was thought best
to levy to the limit and thus save paying
| Z per cent interest on Indebtedness. An
other reason for the high levy was the
fact that an eight-room building was needed
!
cost from $4,000 to $24, 900. The enumera-
tion, Mr.. Freitag said, had shown an in
crease of S73 children of school age over
last year. OF this number 400 OF this
increase was in the Second ward.
William Brennan, chairman of the finance
committee of the Board of Education, stated
in reply to a question from Mr.. Breen that
it was almost impossible for the board to
reduce its expenses. The teachers were now
being paid less salary than in Omaha and
for this reason it was difficult to retain
good teachers. 1t was the same with the
janitors. Mr.. Brennan asserted that the
revenue from saloon licenses was 81 600 more
than 1t was last year, but this money would
have to be used in making repairs to build
ings and replacing heating apparatus.
| A. Fl. Murdoch asserted that he was op-
posed to bonds until there was radical
change in municipal circles. Mr.. Murdoch
Is of the opinion that each saloon should
pay license of 81 600 year and other re-
sorts in proportion. In this way considera-
BILE revenue would be raised for school pur-
poses. The speaker thought the people were
being overtaxed and would not vote for
bonds until some disposition was shown to
reduce municipal expenses.
Other speakers followed in the same strain
and 1t Is evident that the feeling at the
present time is against the bonds.