Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-10
South Omaha News

Suggestions for the proposed new city
charter are coming in thick and fast to
the various committees working on the doc
ument. The citizens committee does not
appear to be doing anything OF moment and
for that matter the same may be said OF
the Commercial club committee 1t is true
that Attorney A. =. Wells has formulated a
10 OF IDEAS which he hopes to incorporate
in the new charter. but the fact that he is
a corporation attorney will possibly be
against his report when 1t is submitted.
Among the suggestions made to the trio
OF committees is the need OF a tax commits =
sioner 1t is advocated that a man shall
be employed for this purpose, who shall re-
ceiye good salary and thus place him
where he cannot be Influenced IL an as
sessment OF the valuation is made on these
lines 1t is stated that the revenue OF the
municipality will be greatly increased. A
board of review is suggested. This board
10 to consist Of the mayor and two free
holders who will pass upon cases where
an exception has been taken. The duties
OF the board will be to revise and arbi-
trate and all taxpayers who have q com
plaint will be given hearing. 1t is rec
commended that no valuation on property
shall be increased without due notice being
given.
iho mdNttl vi paving lS CduSluS CJUSlueT-
able worry on account of the courts hav-
ing declared certain paving assessments IL
legal. In this connection one taxpayer said
that he would favor a proposition compell-
Ing the city to pay for one-half Of the paw
ing, thus cutting down the district ndebt-
edness. While this might and probably
would increase the general debt the public
at large receives the benefit.
Another suggestion in this matter Is the
abolition of paving and grading petitions.
All the trouble the city is now having In
the courts is caused by defective petitions
and II this feautre is abolished II is figured
that n number OF lawyers who make a spe-
cialty OF prosecuting cases against the mu-
nicipality would have to turn their atten-
tion TO something else. However, instead OF
a petition the council Is to be empowered,
providing the sugge. ton carries, TO grade
or pave and assess the cost against the abut-
ting property, OF course deducting the
amount coming from the city. Thirty days
notice is to be- given in such cases and the
council may be deferred from carrying out
the provisions OF the regulations only by
a protest from the majority OF the property
owners in the district Now the council
has no authority to grade, pave or improve
streets without n petition signed by n ma
jority OF property owners of the district.
Again It is suggested that the number OF
wards be increased according to population.
In one OF the charters now under construc-
tion there is a proviso that the city be cut
into six wards and that there be six coun-
cilmen each to be elected at large. BY re-
ducing the number OF councilmen there will
be a saving OF 5000 In salaries and the cleo
tion at large will mean that every voter is
permitted to express his choice for munici-
pal lawmakers.
1t is generally conceded that the city
treasurer should receive salary commen-
surate with the responsibility attached to
the office. In this event interest on daily
balances will be converted into the city
treasury.
One very important feature being con-
sidered is the granting Of franchises. In
this connection II is suggested that no
franchises of any kind be granted or any
existing franchises renewed without pro-
viding for a royalty for the city. The gas
company now pays a certain sum per year
for the privileges granted and other cor
porations will be compelled, II this sugges-
tion is adopted. to pay percentage OF the
income into the municipal strong box. II
is figured that the street car company the
water company, the electric light people
and others can he compelled to contribute
under the proposed regulation.