Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-03
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Board Of Education Outs Levy from Fifteen
to Eight Mills.
PROTEST AGAINST FRANCHISE EXTENSION
water Company Not Likely 90 Get
Extension of Contract Unless II
Pays Royalty or Furnishes
Free Hydrants.

Free Hydrnnts.
The action Of the Board Of Education in
cutting down the levy for school purposes
from Is mills to 5 mills meets with general
commentator on all sides. II must be
understood that the board made the levy
Of Is mills before 1t was aware OF the
valuation and was merely following
the precedent Of previous years. This levy
for school purposes is made on the valua-
tion returned by the county assessors and
the Board Of Education in this district.
which is No, 8 makes an annual request
for a certain sum Of money. Now that IL
has been ascertained that the schools can
get along with less money than was consld-
cred necessary at first, another request will
be sent to the county commissioners This
reduction Of Z mills means a big saving
to the taxpayers here, who have for years
been compelled to pay the regulation school
levy in addition to the high city levy. 1t
Is figured by members OF the finance COM
mittee Of the board that the money de-
rived from liquor licenses will pay a large
proportion OF the expenses OF the school
for the coming semesters and it will be
necessary to raise only about $25, 900 for
additional expenses. This money to be
raised by levy will, It is stated. be mostly
used in payment for the construction of ad-
ditions to present buildings and the rental
for rooms which may have to be rented
later on.
Want Royalty Paid.
1t was reported yesterday that a protest
would be made against the proposed ex-
tension of the Omaha Water company's fran
chHaa The ,htoctton .,nr,r 80 - &, To-
with the general policy Of the city govern
ment to exact a royalty from all corpora
lions. with the exception mentioned there
seems to be no objection to the granting
Of an extension of the franchise as desired.
What some OF the citizens would like would
be a 5 per cent royalty on the amount Of
revenue. Against this, however, is the
proposition OF the water company for forty
eight hydrants free for two years provid-
ing the extension Of franchise is granted or
a new contract entered into. The rental OF
forty-eight hydrants for two years would
amount to over s., 900 and this would be
much more than the royalty would amount
to. When the council gets down TO con-
slider the matter 1t is probable that the
best interests of the city will be looked
after by accepting the terms offered. After
five years 1t may be that some provision
may be made for the payment Of a royalty.
Court Reverses Judgment.
Yesterday afternoon Attorney w. C. Lam
bert was notified that the supreme court
had reversed the judgment in the case Of
James Burke and 1t is presumed that there
will be another trial. Several years ago
Burke met with an accident at Twenty
second and N streets and 1t was asserted
at the time that his son James was quite
badly injured. The accident was caused by
Burke's team running into an open ditch
dug by the gas company. Burke, for his
son James, brought suit against the city
for 5000. This was cut down in the dis
trict court to 81, 500. Then the city appealed
the case to the state supreme court with
the result mentioned. Quite a number Of
other personal injury cases have been APP
pealed to the supreme court by the city
and decisions favorable to the city are
looked for.
Leaking OIL Tanks.
Some OF the grocers in the business por-
ton Of the city are keeping quantities Of
oil in frame sheds in the alleys in the rear
Of their stores. some Of the oil casks
have been found by Inspector Jones TO be
leaking and a report Of the matter will be
A%a ~ NHN PANPNA ~ AAAAN1H ShAGL
Etter has recommended that those who deal
in oil be compelled by ordinance to con-
struct galvanized iron sheds for storage
purposes. This. he says. will greatly re-
duce the chances OF FIRE. 1t is expected that
the council will soon cause an ordinance
to be drafted covering the suggestions OF
Chief Etter.
Hawthorne school Addition.
Contractor T.. C. Mcdonald, who has
been awarded the contract for the con-
struction OF two additional rooms at the
Hawthorne school, is getting ready to
commence building operations as soon as
the material can be procured. Builders
say that brick is scarce and the price is
high. but the contract price is, It is stated,
high enough to warrant the contractor pay
ing $3.50 per 1000 for brick. With the
addition OF two rooms at this school the
overcrowded condition of the Central
school will be relieved to some extent and
II may be that a couple OF the rented
rooms may be abandoned when school
opens in the fall.
Still City Electrician.
Yesterday afternoon Mayor Koutsky APP
J pointed George Curtis a member of the fire
department and the additional duty Of
electrician was Imposed. Curtis called
upon City Electrician Holland and made a
demand for the keys to the storage bat
t%eries, etc. Holland replied that as Cur
tbs had never been confirmed by the eoun-
Gil as city electrician he would not turn
over any of the property OF the city until
directed TO do so by the council.
Work on Fire Hall Resumed.
Yesterday afternoon carpenters resumed
work on the FIRE hall at Thirty-hrst ant
r streets. There was a delay in the Worl
on account OF securing insurance on the
construction work. From the fact thai
work has been resumed II is presumed thai
the difficulty has been overcome. Thii
work is being done under the direct super,
vision Of the city engineer. Last nigh
Engineer Beal said that II would probabl!
take a month OF hard work to eomplet,
the building and place II in condition foi
FIRE company No. 2.
Magic City Gossip.
About thirty bartenders here have or
ganized a local union.
Peter Jacobs left last night for Chicago
tC be gone about ten days.
Mrs. H. w. Reed has gone 10 Lincoln 4
spend the summer with friends.
Large shipments of sheep are expecte,
at this market during the present month
Senator Isaac Noyes Of Waterloo is Il
the city visiting Mr.. and Mrs. A l.. SUIT
ton.