Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-30
LIBRARY GETS TAX LEVY
ozly Two 0ounoilmen Vote Against Three
Mills fer Building Site.
TOTAL CITY LEVY OVER FORTY MILLS
street Supervisor Taylor Resigns and
Theodore Guitar is Appointed
to the POsItiOn-New Fire
Limit Ordinance.

The arguments Of President Rohrer and
other trustees Of the public library carried
the day and the city council yesterday aft
ernoon authorized the levy Of a 3-mill tax
for the purchase Of q site for a perma-
nent home for the library. With a suit
able site assured the library trustees hope
to secure a donation from Andrew Carne-
gle suhicient to erect the building.
The members Of the library board who
appeared before the council were Presi-
dent Rohrer and Trustees Baird. Cleaver,
Tyler and Stewart. In presenting the mat
ter TO the council President Rohrer told
Of the correspondence had with Mr.. Car
negie and the hopes the board entertained
Of receiving financial assistance from him
in the event Of a suitable cite being as
sured. He explained that nothing could
be expected from Mr.. Carnegie until such
a site was assured. The authority for the
3-mill levy, he said, would place the board
at once in a position where It could seek
Mr.. Carnegie's assistance. Trustee Stew
art urged that the council take favorable
action on the request Of the board. He
said he felt certain that no taxpayer
would begrudge 81 OF the tax, as the pub
lie library was the only general educa-
tional enterprise In the city, and that the
time would surely come, whether assist
ance was received from Mr.. Carnegie or
not, that a library building would be
erected in Council Bluffs. Trustee Baird
told the aldermen that even in the event
Of the board falling to interest Mr.. Car
negie in the project II would not be aban-
doned, as he believed the citizens would
ultimately devise means whereby the Ii
brary could be installed in a permanent
building OF its own. He argued that the
library at present was situated in a build
ing which he characterized as little better
han a finder box, and that in the event
Of a fire 1t would cost the city from $685.
900 to $50, 900 to replace the books now
In 1t. He urged the necessity Of a fire.
proof building for the library. DR.. Cleaver
and Trustee Tyler also spoke on behalf Of
the tax proposition.
Two Oppose Levy.
Alderman Casper opposed the levying OF
the tax and suggested that at some future
date there would be need of a new city
building. which could also contain the IL
brary. Alderman Mcdonald spoke In ia
vor of the levy. holding that the public
library was the best public institution in
the city. When the vote was taken AL
dermen Casper and Huber alone voted
against the levy.
With the 3-mill tax for a library site
the levy for city purposes for 1909 will be
4Ok mills, exclusive OF the 2-mill levy for
park purposes. E8t Z
The report Of the nance committee req
commended a levy OF III mills for the
bridge fund, but Alderman Casper, chair
man of the committee on bridges and city
property, was Of the opinion that 1 mill
would be SUFFICIENT and the half mill was
cut on, leaving the levy for this fund the
same as it was last year. The levies for
the other funds were left as recommended
by the committee. The levy as decided
uDOn will he az foIIoua.