Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-23
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
women of the city Ask that n Police
MatrOn lie APPOINTED.

Women of the city Ask that n Police
Matron lie Appointed.
At the meeting of the city council last
night the following petition, asking for the
purchase Of a city ambulance and the ap-
pointment of matron at the police sta
ton, was prcsented
To the Mayor and City Council of Coun-
Gil Bluffs la. We, the undersigned women
of Council Bluffs Ia, representing a con-
stitucncy of 300 or more. do respectfully
ask you to grant the following petitions:
l. As we have occasion so frequently to
view the spectacle of some poor unfortu-
nate being transferred to a hospital. or
police station exposed to the blazing sun
or driving rain, well the idle curios-
ity of every passerby, we are reminded of
the necessity of an ambulance, provided
granted this ambulance without delay
. Section 65i, page 2S2. code of Iowa,
provides that mayors of cities of 25,0OJ
population or more shall. for each station
house, for the detention of women and
children. appoint two or more women to
act as police matrons. We belive the pop
but In any event do think that at least
one woman should be appointed for the
purpose, one competent to minister to the
necessities of women and children who
through misfortune or crime drift within
its doors. We therefore ask that a suit
able woman be appointed for the purpose;
that she be paid such sum to insure
good and efficient service, and that she
be one moved by u spirit of Christian
charity toward the erring and unfortu-
nate.
The petition was numerously signed by
the officers of the different women's clubs
of the city. members of the various churches
and church organizations, superintendents
of the Woman's Christian association and
st. Bernards hospitals and by almost all
OF the leading physicians. 1t was referred
to the committee of the whole.
A gas or water stop box, protruding above
the level of the sidewalk on Broadway and
Tenth street was responsible for two claims
for personal injuries. j. C. Nielsen filed
claim for S35OO damages, alleging that on
the night OF January he stubbed his foot
against the box and was thrown to the pave
ment, receiving a large rupture. James
Henry claimed that on the night of Jan
uary 10 he also stubbed his toe against the
box, cutting his shoe through and seriously
injurng his right foot. The amount of dam
ages to which he is entitled he left to the
city council to decide. Both claims were
ordered filed with the understanding that
the injured parties can bring suit against
the city IL they feel so disposed.
These two claims induced Alderman Cas-
per to move that the city attorney draft
an ordinance prohibiting the placing in the
future of any stop or cutoff boxes further
than eight inches from the curb and that
all stop boxes at present above the level
of the walks be brought down flush. The
motion carried, although the question was
raised whether the city would have the
right to order a stop box lowered that was
on grade, but projected owing to the side
walk around it having sunk.
DR.. J. F. Walters filed a claim for per-
sonal injuries, alleging that on the night
of January IS he had sprained his ankle
owing to defective sidewalk on South
Seventh street The claim was referred to
the city solicitor.
The Omaha Bridge and Terminal company
and the Lake Manawa & Manhattan Beach
company filed their acceptance of
the right-of-way ordinances recently passed
by the council.
Alderman Atkins, chairman of the fire
and light committee, made a report on the
cutting Of hose during a recent fire by cars
of the motor company riding over 1t. Cen
eral Manager Dimmock of the motor COM
pany also filed statement to the effect that
the motoneers responsible for the cutting
had been instructed to make good the dam
age to the city or lose their jobs The mat
ter of settlement was left with the fire and
light committee
Alderman Brough called attention to the
"deplorable" condition of the Fifth avenue
bridge and suggested that the city and the
motor company get together in the matter
either of erecting a new structure or else
repairing the old. The matter was left with
the committee bridges and city prop
erty to confer with the motor company.
Alderman Casper wanted to know, in view
OF the recent report of the district court
grand jury, what steps were being taken TO
make the city jail habitable. Chairman
Brough OF the police committee stated that
the contractor would commence work next
week without fail
l.. P. Judson complained that the bridge
now being erected by the Terminal COM
pany at Thirteenth street obstructed the ac-
cess to two of his lots in that vicinity and
the matter was referred to the city attorney
to investigate.
Justice OF the Peace Divide Vien's bill
against the city of $119.7O costs in poll tax
suits, was allowed.
The application OF David w. Foster for
remission of certain taxes was refused on
the grounds that he is and has been for
some time janitor of the Madison Avenue
school.
The annual report OF the trustees OF the
public library was received
The council adjourned to next Monday
night.