Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-18
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Tar Commissioner Fitzgerald Appoints His
Nine Deputies
RAISE IN VALUATIONS IS ExPEcTED
mayor aud Council Members in Favor
of Higher Assessment and Lower
Tax ~Rate-NaEic City
Gossip.

Yesterday TAX Commissioner Fitzgerald
hled with the city clerk the names Of
the deputies he had appointed to make
the city assessment for 1902. The list
follows: william Tracy. Charles Akoner,
P. J. Hsnnigan, william Rowley. j. NJ.
Fitzgerald. Richard 0Neil. James Krecek,
r. 3. Burmese, Peter Cockrell. IL viii be
seen that the AK commissioners manages
to get along with nine deputies. while the
county assessors need twenty"four.
This assessment Of city taxes will com
mence on Mag / and the commissioner Is
allowed by law forty-hve days in which 10
complete the work.
Following the making Of the assessment,
which will be greatly simplihed this year
on account OF the making out Of the field
books during the winter and spring. the
Board Of Review will pass upon all com
plants. This Board OF Review is com
posed Of the tax commissioner. a member
appointed by the mayor and one by the
city treasurer.
In this years assessment II rs expected
that with a new administration the valua-
ton will be raised. II this is not done by
the tax commissioner the Board Of Re
view has 10 power to make changes in
valuation. Last year the valuation was
not what was expected, even by the cor
porations. but this year there will very
likely be q change. Not only the mayor,
but members Of the new council seem to
favor a higher valuation and a lower levy.
Mayor FavOrs Retrenehment.
Mayor Koutsky is starting in TO cut
down expenses and proposes TO do so by
abolishing a number Of useless ofhces. In
the first place the once Of special agent
for the legal department has been dis
pensed with. This once was created with
a view to furnishing a place for William
Kelly, a brother Of the former mayor. Kelly
made 1t a point to show up regularly on
pay days, but at other times the city at
torney was forced to hunt for him when
he wanted anything done. With the abol-
ishing Of this once the city will be saved
$40 q year.
Then there n Nose Howard, city meat
inspector. He gets $50 a month for doing
nothing and Mayor Koutsky says that be
will save the city $500 a year by declar-
ing this once vacant. Mayor Ensor tried
20 stop the pay Of Howard when be was
serving his FIRST term, but he failed owing
10 the fact that certain influences were
brought TO bear. Those with the influence
who have held Howard in his position
worked against Mayor Koutsky at the last
election. az least IL is SO reported, and II
there is a meat inspector hereafter the
mayor will do the appointing. Mayor
Koutsky says that he does net see the
need Of a city inspector Of meats at this
time, as the sanitary inspector can very
we'll attend TO any complaints received al
the city building in relation TO the mea,
sold and the condition OF the butcher
shops.
Then there is the building inspector, who
In to 20. Hs work will be attended TO by
the city engineer. Herman Beai. The
mayor figures that he can dispense with
the services OF the present inspector with
out any detriment to the eity's interests
1t is the same with the plumbing inspec-
tor. The work performed by these two
ofhciAls will now be done by the city en-
gineer and q couple OF assistants at a great
!, reduction in cost. While the mayor il
going slowly in making changes. be Is
figuring on the present income Of the city
and shows a desire TO cut expenses where
ever be can.
!. Increasing Food Prices.
you will have to take a piece Of tough
steak today" said a we'll known restaurant
man to a regular customer yesterday
This "a because the price OF meat hR,
1 gone SO ulkn LnAL VIC NalnON ANU " pun
chase the same grade we formerly did.
Nov the steak comes on with the elasticity
of a horse hide and about as thick. WheI
IL comes 20 q slice Of roast beef the portion
served at any OF the restaurants is about
as thin as an expert carver can cut Il
|, ana almost as tough as sole leather. Few
vegetables are served at restaurants or thu
hotels on account OF the high prices. While
so far there il no agreement among restaI'
rant men. they have all with one accord
boosted prices and cut down the amount o.
food furnished patrons.
Council Meeting Tonight.
The city council is billed for a meeting
tonight. In case the recount of the bal
lots in the McIntire-O'Connor contest 4
not completed the chances Of a meeting
are slim. II Is expected, however. that tn
count will be completed sometime todal
and that the city clerk Will be In a posi-
ton TO issue certificates to either one Of
the other Of the contestants. In the even
OF o'Connor's election the deadlock viii b
broken, but with MeIntire in the s~ituatiol
will remain the same.
, Library Board Paying Rent.
= TIT recently organized library board 4
nov paying rent in two places Room
were recently rented in the Murphy bloc
for the use Of the secretary and in orde
to have a place for holding meetings S
/, far no effort has been made TO remove tn
: books belonging TO the association from tn
, room on TWenty-fourth street formerly &C
: eupied By the postohce and the board wi
have TO pay SO a month for this room unit
E the books are moved. The board has AbOu
4 $500 at It's disposal now. but this wi
r doubtless be used up before the 1902 lev
IL made. II may be that the council vi
q not make a levy for library purposes thi
8 year. as the members may want to see III
] color Of q building before levying an ad
ditiOnal tax upon the people.
Providing Fire Escapes
II is understood that before the presen
: Board Of Education goes out OF ~eXistene
e that fire escapes for the Central sehoc
E will be provided. Bids viii be asked 70
: and 1t is expected that a contract viii b