Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-04

CASH BALANCE ON the NIGHT SIDE
ExpeRse Kept Within Income Last
Year ThEoush strict Vigilance,
and Promise Renewed for
Current Year.

figures are most gratifying, for they show
pie made at the beginning OF 1901 At the
close Of 1900 1t was found that a number
q funds were overdrawn and that several
When the levy for 1901 was made the
mayor and council promised the people
that we would do everything in our power
TO see 60 Il that no funds were overdrawn
at the end Of 1901 except the water rent
lighting and health funds. where the fixed
authorized BY the charter. When the year
ended there was q balance of over $4,000
and not a single department had exceeded
its allotment. This result was only ac-
complished by vigilance and economy
other various funds except IN those mem
toned. and in the library fund. The
the library board and the mayor and coun-
overlap. This record is one Of which we
levy Of isos is made % desire % to renew renew the the
pledge of 1901 for 1902 Whatever that levy
may be, II shall be my steadfast purpose
to SO manage the financial AFFAIRS OF the
city that at the close OF 1902 our balance
sheet shall not show an overdrawn fund
or allotment.
City Treasurer.
The record made by the city treasurer
for 1901 was even better than that made
by him In 1900. On December 81 his books
showed that 90 per cent of the 1901 levy for
personal taxes had been collected al
: In 1900 he collected 81 per cent of the
his predecessor collected but g per cent
I'm the corresponding period of 1899 The
result of this activity has been that on
warrant deEt OF the city was $4,000 less
than Il was on January I, 1901. Special
rate rate Of Ia about | $4,000 per s month nor and the the
special warrant debt has been largely re-
duced
basis for only three and one-hah months;
In 1901 four and one-half months, and I'm
1902 this should be increased to five and
one-half months.
Fire and Police board.
At the 1897 session of the legislature of
Nebraska Il was provided that: IN each
city of the metropolitan class there shall
be a board of fire and police commission
ex-officio chairman of the board. and four
electors of the city, who shall be appointed
On June %. 1855, our supreme court, in
It's opinion In the case Of State against
Moores, reported in s5 .Neb, page 4S0, with
reference to this provision of the charter,
said: The act OF thes legislature of 1897,
m SO tar as u assumes e. confer authority
pon the EoyeTner to sIRoins FIRE and po
pplitans class, Is void as being an unlagful
attempt to- deprive. tho people of such
eltles' ef the srlghs iawfui- seif-gUverff'
on dune Z. 1900. in the case cf STATE
against Kennedy, reported IN 90 Feb., page
800. the supreme court said with reference
to the case of State against Moores,
above: That the state, acting through
police commissioners for Omaha: that said
Judgment is conclusive upon the state and
ss a matter OF course. is binding upon the
under him." ~,
In the Redell case the supreme court de-
cided that the present board has the legal
authority and right to try the charges
against RedeI.
court, was confirmed in It's right to hold
said office by the court and later held to
be authorized to try charges filed, with It,
II is therefore the legally authorized. ap-
pointed and acting board and its members
are entitled to the office until their terms
expire or until the legislature shall make
new provision.
Police Department
The report of this department is a most
gratifying one. 1t discloses the fact that
the amount of stolen property reported
last & SeaT enT was b, saSStSss SS IS ~ as ssanSt
amount. stolen I'm 1901 was less than that
reported in 1900 or 1888, yet the percentage
4 of stolen property recovered was larger
than in the previous years, being $l5.525,O7.
During the recent prolonged period of
persons suffering from cold. and hunger
| was appalling. The Associated charities
was discontinued last winter. and so there
these unfortunate persons applied TO the
police department for aid. Had IL not
been for their prompt and efficient action
/ In meeting the emergency. much suffering
and many deaths would have resulted As
mayor Of the city, i appealed through the
daily press to the people of the city asking
| that money, clothing, etc. be sent In at
| once to relieve the distress, and the people
generously responded. Ofncers were detailed
| ance, and supplies were furnished at once
TO all worthy persons. IL has been urged
sphere OF the police department. I admit
| 1t, but this was an unusual emergency.
There was no other. agency to take
| to have the department go beyond the
limits Of its proper sphere for the time
being than to have unfortunate people
However it is hoped the necessity will
nent men Charitable organization, and our our
philanthropic people should provide one
without delay.
Police Judge.
The people. by their ballots, have rem
dered a verdict on the police judge that
The former. police Judge has been a very
sach sss sss us not I%aft so Eh he
Since isg7 our charter has provided for
Judge. but by a legal technicality Judge
Gordon has compelled the city TO pay HIN
year more than the charter provided.
/ congratulate the people in their selec
ton Of a man like Louis Berka for tn,
ofice of police judge. A man OF expert
ence and ability who has demonstrated
in the past his ability to preside over th'
police court / trust all ordinances will
now be enforced. Especially the ordinances
In which the people are 50 much inter
ested such as those prohibiting the sail
| OF adulterated milk and food. short meas
ures and the dumping of garbage within
the city limits.
Fire Department.
The work of this department deserve
great praise. Chief Salter has arouse'
In the members of the force an intens
enthusiasm and loyalty which has sneve
. before existed under previous manage
. | ment He Is a trained ire fighter and ha
the respect and confidence Of his men
During the year there were 465 fires. Th
! fire loss was t253. 1888. OF which sSS.44s wa
on buildings and $685. $50 ON contents. Tn
loss over Insurance was only about so. ~
} Among the large fires OF the year wer
, :. Jan1sry IS IAnlnger a Metcalf irnpIemen
! house, loss 50 800.
FEBRUARY S. Omaha Street Railway com
pany car barn. $55.375,
; October 1s. Western Type Foundry an
D Mays grocery, $3I.l60. .
, October 81 Three-story brick buildinf
Fifteenth and Dodge, $1,000
December !. Omaha Creamery Packag
Company, $4,000.
The department had been asking for
new and. additional apparatus for som
: time, and In December IL was found 10
imperative that S.o0o feet OF hose shoul
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