Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-22
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
More Trouble is in Store for Police Judge
Gordon.
INVESTIGATION is NOW PROVIDED FOR
Task Of Looking Into Charges of
Incompetcncy of OHicial is
Delegated to
Committee.

At last nights council meeting City At
torney Connell recommended that the coun-
ell investigate the charges OF ncomptency !
made against Police Judge Gordon by the |
Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, |
this investigation being preliminary TO ac-
tion before the district court for the re-
moval of the police judge If the charges |
are considered well grounded. This report |
was referred to the general committee of
the council for consideration.
In his opinion on the matter which had
been asked for by the council, City Attorney
Connell said. Under the law, special ref
erence being had to section 1903
OF the charter the police judge
can be removed only by the district court
upon proper charges and specifications being
made by the mayor and any three council
men, and upon such charges and specfca-
tions being filed with the clerk of the dis
trict court, alleging and showing that the
officer charged is guilty of malfeasance or
misfeasance or that he is incompetent or
neglects any OF his duties or that for any
other good and sufficient cause stated he
should be removed from his office, the judge
OF said court issues the required writ to
show cause. after which the party charged
is given hearing on the charges and spec
ifcations so filed. For the purpose of de-
nature should be taken in the district court.
] think, as already suggested, that it is
proper that the matter should be first con-
sicered by the committee on judiciary"
Council ms a Committee.
Chairman Mercer of the judiciary commit
tee at once objected to the matter being re-
ferred to his committee. This committee
has on it's hands all the investigation 1t
wants, as three of the members are to be
investigated on various and divers charges"
he said, referring to the Rosewater accusa-
tions. II think this ought to go to the COM
mittee on fire, water and police"
"The committee on fire, water and police
has as much investigation as the judiciary
committee" returned Chairman Burmester
of the committee on fire, water and police.
Tue dispute was finally compromised by re-
ferring the matter to the whole council as
general committee.
The remainder OF the council meeting was
rather featureless, as the members were
anxious to clear away all business in time
to take the train for Kansas City An ad-
tournament was therefore taken within an
hour after the body was called to order.
The council formally adopted a resolution
deducting from the bills of Joe Danbaum for
feeding city prisoners the sum of $40 for
each of the months of November December,
January and February as rent for the kitchen
in the city Jail and for the gas and water
consumed by him. similar deduction will
continue to be made monthly as long as
Danbaum continues to use these quarters in
the Jail.
Mayor Moores In communication eulo-
gized the late Francis E. Bailey, who was
at one time member of the city council.
The communication was ordered inscribed
in full on the journal Of the council by a
rising vote.
Settles Belt Line Tax Matter.
Tax Commissioner Sackett reported that
under the direction of the council he has ad-
justed the loug standing controversy be-
tween the Omaha Belt railway and the city
regarding taxes levied on some lots claimed
by the road as right-of-way and therefore
being a double assessment. The city as
sessed the entire lots without regard of the
right-of- way while the state also assessed
the right of way. According to the settle
ment made by the tax commissioner, the
taxes on the right amounting to
$1,7225O, are cancelled, while the taxes on
the remainder of the lots, amounting to
s7O7.13 together with special taxes of $500
or more will be paid by the road. The re-
port was adopted.
BY resolution Of Stuht the city engineer
was instructed to draw up an ordinance de-
clariug the necessity of appropriating the
land necessary to open and extend Fourth
street from it's preseut southern terminus
through Sauter's place TO Riverview park and
thence eastward to the B. & NJ. right Of way
and thence west along the B. & NJ. right-oi
way along the park. This road will offer a
more direct thoroughfare to Gibson.
A resolution directing the Board of Public
Works to repair the bridge on Thirtysey
enth and Ohio streets referred. The
same action was taken on a resolution or
dering the board to remove at expense
of 5000 a quantity of dirt that now OBJ
structs Yates street between Twenty -enghtt
and Twenty ninth.
resolution instructing the mayor t.
lease to the City Garbage company part o
Leavenworth street, east of Sixth, which
street is unopened. for period of five year
at yearly rental of $50, was referred. Th
garbage company proposes TO erect stable
on the ground
The various contracts for stationery sup
plies, which were awarded by the Advisor
board couple of weeks ago. were formal
approved
The following ordinances were read frs
and second time and referred: To repai
Thirty second avenue from Dodge to Far
nam, to create sewer districts Nos. 232 an
233. :fEi'