Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-08

II will be seen that the appropriation for
the street department has been materially
reduced. This fund is used mainly for street
cleaning Much less money than last year
will also be spent by the council in repair
ing streets and crosswalks. for the appor-
tionment ordinance also sets limit to eX-
penditures OF this character. In the past
councilmen have ordered as much of this
sort OF repairing as the body as a whole
would stand for, but according to the ordi
nance each councilman in the future will
be limited to a fixed amount. For such re-
pairing total sum of $4,000 is appropri-
ated OF this amount $500 is distributed
among the various wards as follows: First
Second. Fifth Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and
Ninth, 81 900 each; Third and Fourth, $3.50
each. The remaining S2,500 of the fund
will be used in emergency and in
absolutely necessary repairing under the
direction of the Board of Public Works.
Just before the council adjourned Coun-
Gilman Karr introduced a resolution that
was innocent enough in appearance, but
bore directly upon the use of these street
department funds This resolution provided
that every department should be permitted
to use its money as 1t saw fit without any
further authorization from the council This
will certainly govern all the departments
but 1t will particularly affect the street
department City Engineer Rosewater has
frequently complained that he has not been
permitted to use his funds as he saw fit,
but has been limited to what the council
permitted him to use by virtue of resou-
tion passed year ago, which ordered him
not to do any street work unless specf-
cally ordered to do so by the council. Karr's
resolution was referred to a committee with
out discussion or comment.
Action Postponed.
The resolution ordering the city comp
troler to discharge the two men who were
hired by him year ago to do special work
and have been retained since was again
up and action once more postponed
because Of the absence OF the comptroller
Some OF the counclmen were inclined to
let the comptroller retain the men if he
wanted to long as he kept within the
appropriation made for the maintenance Of
his Office. Councilman Burkley however
stated that the men We're not paid out of
the comptroller's apportionment, but their
salaries were specially provided for
somewhat sharp contrast with these
proposed reductions was furnished by n
resolution from President Bingham, in
structing the city engineer to draw up an
ordinance preliminary to the grading of
Eighteenth street from William street to
Lincoln avenue, the city 10 pay One-nalt
the cost of the work. This latter condi-
tion appeared, however. to cause Bingham
TO think that there was small chance c
having the work DONE for he said: "In
view OF our strained finances, | do not
presume that the council will want to pay
half the cost of this grading, but / intro
duce this resolution by request" On his
own motion the resolution was referred
May Remove Smallpox Hospital.
The demand of the residents about Fon-
tanelle park for the removal of the smallpox
hospital that was located there during the
recent smallpox scare will probably soon be
complied with. City Physician Spalding
presented a communication, in which he
stated that there is no more need of the
hospital and therefore recommended that 1t
be removed TO some permanent location
where it would not be Objectionable This
communication caused several members of
the council to express themselves as desir-
Gus OF removing the building as soon as
possible because of the complaints of the
people who live near the park. No action
taken, but the matter was referred to
dhs building and property committee with
the understanding that something will be
done very shortly.
People who want South Twenty fourth
street opened over the Union Pacific and
Burlington railroad tracks pending the con-
structon OF a viaduct will probably be dis