Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-05
GIVE POINTERS TO POINTER
Delegations Of 0mahans Offer Their Advice
to the Governor,
) TALK ABOUT tn: NEW CHARTER BILL
One Group Urges the FusionIst EN-
ccutiNe 90 Sign the Measure,
While the other wants
Him TO Veto 1t.

LINCOLN, April --CSpecial) Governor
Poynter was visited today by numerous dele
cations, each Offering reasons why certain
bills passed by the legislature should
be or should not be vetoed and IL he does
the wrong thing it viii not be because OF
the lack OF good advice on all sides.
The first delegation was composed Of the
following omaha people: g. w. Wattles
President Bingham Of the city council H.
a. Thompson OF Thompson, Belden Co.,
Tax Commissioner Sackett, Comptroller
Westberg, President Hayward OF the Com
mcrcial club. Il Rosewater and Representa-
tiyes Sturgess and Beverly. These were
favoring the new amendments to the Omaha
charter As they entered the governors
room they we're joined by another delega-
tion OF Omaha people which had come down
TO oppose the charter amendments. The
anti-charter people allowing Ernest STUNT
TO act as spokesman, said they did not de-
sire the charter people to be in the room
when they presented their side OF the case,
and so they would withdraw until their turn
came. Following the lead Of STUNT they all
filed out.
Mr. Wattles made the opening talk for
The delegation which had remained in the
room. He explained the proposed system
OF certificates of Indebtedness, saying they
would enable the city to pay the officers and
laborers without Issuing to them warrants
that would have to be discounted to loan
broker The certificates would draw low
rate of interest. could be taken up at any
time and could even be purchased by the
city from other available funds on the same
plan as the state now invests the school
fund in general fund warrants. This pro-
vision in the bill and the sections relating
TO the appointment of the police commission,
al y,s,1f i,,IFY and thn
amendment which would allow the increase
in the fire department were the important
features of the bill.
Poyntcr Evinces Interest
Governor Poynter was especially inter-
ested in the certificate idea and asked
number of questions to make sure that the
plan was similar to the state plan in rela-
ton to the investment of the school fund
He was assured that the certificates were
limited to one year and that there was no
danger of the amount being expended be
yond the limits of ordinary warrants.
Mr. Sackett and Mr.. Thompson added to
the arguments advanced by Mr. Wattles.
MIR Rosewater told of the great need of new
paving on Farnam street, which would be
allowed under the amendments. He
also discussed the political features of the
charter as amended, showing clearly that
in the matter of electing officials to city
offices the new charter would II anything
favor the fusion forces. But the large tax
PAYERS of the city, he said looked more tt
the business proposition than to the poltt'
ial side and were almost unanimous IL
favor Of this new bill
The other members Of the delegation DIS
cussed the prominent features of the bill
The matter OF annexation, the effect on the
bank clearance reports and the urgent need
of better fire apparatus all received full at
tention before the delegation left.
STUNT Opens Up.
The Stuht delegation then came in, those
present being C. o. Lobeck, Joseph Red
man. DR.. Saville. r. C. Patterson, Ferdi'
nand Streitz, Balthus Cramer. John Powers
Fritz Muller and Z. STUNT The talk was
opened by STUNT who said the city did no
need any improvement or enlargement II
the fire department and he hoped the gov
ernor would veto the bill. John Powers fol
lowed with the explanation that he repre-
sented the wishes OF the members OF th'
South Side Improvement club, adding, now
ever. that the club had held meeting tt
consider the matter. He also hoped for
veto.
Joseph Redman said it only the tax
eaters that wanted the new amendments. Th
old charter was satisfactory, but this nev
one would be a club in the hands Of the re
publicans He said the men receiving larg
salaries under this bill would be able L
control elections because they would hav
the money to pay out. I'm the countr
where you came from, Mr. Governor h
said "the people vote on honor, but dow,
there we vote for money
4 Dr. Saville said there was some goo
things in the charter, but in his mind ther
was enough bad to condemn it, He had no
read all the amendments, but he wante
the bill vetoed.
MIR. Lobeck talked principally about tn
expense of keeping up the fire department