Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-28
CHANGES FOR CITY CHARTER
Amendments Beng Considered Without
- Publicity by Douglas Delegation.
LEGISLATORS HAVE AGREED NOT TO TALK
EHpressian OF Public Sentiment t. De-
sired by some Members of the
DELEGATION. hat They Dare
Not Ask for n.

At the meeting OF the joint committee OF
citizens at the Commercial club Friday
night the impression was given out by one
OF the members that the Douglas county
delegation to the state legislature had pre-
pared, In part, a number OF amendments TO
the city charter which would have an effect
upon the administration OF the city from a
political standpoint, and that ihe delega-
tion preferred to receive from the joint
committee recommendations upon what may
be called the business features Of the char
ter and not the so-called political features.
Yesterday a member OF the delegation
denied that this impression was correct and
said that as far as he knew the members
Of the delegation desired suggestions on all
subjects relating to the city charter.
person very close to the members Of
the delegation and who has kept in touch
to a great extent with their conferences.
but who would not permit the use Of his
name, said
II am in a position to know that while
the members OF the Douglas county delegn-
tion have an understanding by which none
will speak for publication without a united
expression from all, number OF the mem
bers desire more general discussion Of
matters which may be presented, and were
II not for the rule which has been adopted
they would talk more freely Certain mem
bers who have expressed themselves upon
certain subjects have been cautioned by
their fellows, and steps have been taken to
keep them from breaking into public print
For this reason do not desire to be quoted
by name, for the matter might be traced
to one OF more OF the delegation.
For Changing Election Time.
"At the same time know that a number
OF matters have been considered and that
number Of the Legislators would like to have
them discussed by the public. Among these
questions. and to cover which l understand
bill has been tentatively drafted, is one to
change the date of the city election from
April TO May or June. This Is done on the
representation Of a number OF citizens, who
say that at the time OF the spring election
the business men are very busy and cannot
take that part In the campaign which they
feel they should, and that II the election
were held In the quieter summer months
they could take part.
Another proposed change refers to the
election Of county commissioners At the
preaMnt time the city councilmen are elected
by all OF the electors of the city, and II is
proposed TO have the county commissioners
elected by all Of the electors ot the county
as the people In one part OF the county are
as much interested in the selection OF the
entire board as they are IN the selection OF
any one member.
There is a strong feeling with the dele
CATION that the city attorney, the city en-
gineer and the prosecuting attorney Of the
city should be elected and not appointed.
When this proposed amendment was sug-
gested there we're those present who suE-
gested that II this we're done the Board OF
Fire and Police Commissioners and the
street commissioner should also be elected,
as this board and this officer have much In
huence in the city government. An express
sion was earnestly desired on these subjects
by number Of the members of the delega-
tion, but they are not in a position to ask
publicly for such an expression. as they
cannot get a unanimous request for 1t.
Municipal Ownership.
Another question on which an express
sion Of public sentiment is desired is the
municipal ownership Of public utilities.
Suggestions have been made that the law
governing this feature Of the city govern
ment should be changed to give the city
right to much freer action in this regard.
1T is almost certain that no charter
amendment will be submitted as an inde-
pendent bill. The majority of the delega-
tion feel that 1t would save opportunities
for making mistakes to have all bills to
amend the charter referred to a committee
which will compile them and introduce an
omnibus measure. This measure can then
be considered as a whole and be amended
as found desirable. II Is true that this plan
will make It more difficult to secure any
amendments, but 1t is believed that 10 will
be the best plan, as 1t will save the pres
ence OF contradictory and conflicting pro-
visions In the charter.
$50 far as I can learn there is no opposi-
tiou TO placing In the charter a provision
which will place the railroads upon the
same basis as regards taxation as all other
Dronertv In the cftv hut the rnattar has rof