Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-07
WHY 1HE cHARrER VAS VETOED.

| why me CHARTER WAS VETOED.
Governor Poynter gives these rca-
sons for vctong the Omaha charter
amendments:
First-That the present charter has
in no way hampcrcd the growth of the
city since its enactment two years ago
and is therefore good enough for omaha
for two years longer.
This Is frivolous and senseless. The
city has prospcrcd and grown during
the past two years not because of its
defective charter, but i'm spite of 1t. 1t
Is because of its growth and the impera-
tive demand for municipal expansion
that charter amendments have been
framed. The proposed annexation of
South Omaha which the governor has
defeated by his inexcusablc veto was
| alone important enough to justify the
revision.
Second-Governor Poyntcr declares
that the revised charter would increase
the number of city officials.
| This is not only frivolous but untrue.
except so far as it restores the mem
bcrship of the council to the same num-
Der as it was before the present charter
was enacted. That part of the vetoed
charter was moreover inserted at the
request of the fusion members of the
| Douglas delegation, presumed to rep
resent politically the people by whom
Governor Poyntcr was elected. The
creation of an elective street commits
ci in 70 l,., 1,nY of
city officials Omaha has always had
a street commissioner and has one now.
The only change would be that the COM
missioner would be elected by the pco-
pie instead of being appointed. Surely
the people 's-indepcndent governor can.
not be honestly opposed to trusting the
people with the choice of their own
officers.
Third-GovernOr Poyntcr declares the
amended charter would increase to Il
dangerous degree the power of city Off
cials inasmuch rs 1t authorized the sub
stitution of low rate certificates of in
debtedness for high rate interest-bear-
ing warrants.
This is the vcriest buncombc. The
provision denounced as dangerous is al
ready in force in other large cities. 1t
enables city employees and laboring men
working in the streets to be paid in cash
instead of in warrants they are now
obliged to hawk about or trade out. If
it is dangerous to confer the power on
city officials to issue these certificates
it is no less dangerous to continue them
with their present power to issue war
rants and bonds.
Fourth - Governor Poynter asserts
that the vetoed charter would increase
tax burdens.
This may be a debatable question.
The Bee has shown by comparison that
cannot be controverted that instead of
an increase of taxes there would have
been Il substantial saving. But If the
governors tender conscience revolted at
the idea of a possible increase of the
burdens of taxation resting on Omaha
citizens, why was his conscience par
alyzed when he approved the bill
that enables the Board of Education to
levy almost unlimited taxes upon
Omaha property owners without redress
or recourse?
AS Il matter of fact Governor Poynter
has trumped up several preteXts for a
veto which he knows to be unwarranted
while concealing his real reason, which
is still more reprehensible. The true
reason for this veto is nothing more
nor less than II part of a political con
M 10 ,IF
ernment in Omaha.
The present charter, which Governor
Poynter tells us is good enough for two
years more, contains the provision that
the governor shall appoint Board of
Fire and Police Commissioners for
Omaha. That section was declared I'M
constitutional and void by the supreme
court In conformity with this decision
the revised charter bill repealed the
dead clause and substituted for it an
express provision vesting the appoint
ment of the Board of Fire and Police
Commissioners in the mayor and coun-
ell. 1t is an open secret that the Herd
man gang expects to elect Il candidate
for the supreme court this fall pledged
to reverse the home rule decision and
thereby put Governor Poynter in posi-
ton to reinstate the Odious and lawless
Herdman commission.
This Is the true inwardness of the gov
ernor's veto, and this is why Noise,
Tanning. Herdman and the rest of the
hold-up gang have clamored so loudly
and successfully for the defeat of the
charter amendments. That also eX-
plains Governor Poynter's veto of the
supreme court commission bill at the
bchcst of the same gang, whose chief
subsistence has been blackmail levied
upon keepers of gambling houses and
laWless resorts.
BETTER without An ARMY
% "a;