Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-04
TRIES TO DELIVER HOSPITAL
Contractor Wants to Get Rid Of South
Omaha Pesthouse,
COUNTY BOARD DECLINES TO TAKE IT
woman's club Financial Aid
for Its PIngree Gardens from
Coner of the County
of Douglas.

When the county commissioner met yes
terday with all present but Harte the!
were cordially invited to take a white
elephant off the hands Of Ed J. Brennan.
South Omaha contractor. The waite ele.
plant is the emergency hospital Brennan
built for that city, but which has never
been formally accepted. He arose yesterday
morning and formally rendered 1t to the
board. but the board thrust its official hand
behind 1t and declined to take hold of the
proffered article. The members couldn't see
how the board was interested.
Brennan reminded them that they had
agreed to bear the expense of construction
up to 81 900 and that his bill is only 1870.
He said he had finished the building abou;
the middle OF March and that It had been
at once taken possession of by a superin-
tendent selected by the South Omaha Board
of Health, who had contracted for 1t. but
that the board keeps delaying giving him
an order on the commissioners, and mean
time somebody is breaking out window
glass in the building and there is the posi-
bility Of fire destroying it. To relieve
himself of all responsibility for it he made
this formal legal tender.
Brennan Gets Excited.
81 have been trying and trying to get the
deal all closed up" said Brennan, but
when l went to them today they put me
of again, saying some member Of the health
board is in Kansas City. What do care
whether he is in Kansas City or in Pekin,
Ill? l cant wait around until he gets back,
for I am going away myself for my health.
I've lone all the waiting l am going to,
and 1 hereby turn it over to you"
The commissioner merely smiled and
instructed the clark tn communicate with
the South Omaha Board of Health for fur
Their particulars.
Mrs. George Tilden headed a committee
from the Woman's club and told the COM
mIssioners OF the clubs plan to furnish
deserving families with tracts of ground
and seeds, that they may cultivate gardens
for their own maintenance, under the
supervision of a superintendent already
selected by the club. Connolly moved that
a warrant for $75 be drawn, the club to
use the money in the purchase Of seed
potatoes. and the motion carried.
Commissioner O'Keeffe and County Clerk
Harry c.. Miller had their customary debate
on the requirements OF the clerks office
and as a result the commissioners nosed
through the books yesterday afternoon
to discover if the work to be done in the
tax department requires the extra two men
that the clerk has asked to retain there.
O'Keene Makes Big Talk.
Miller's application was read at the last
meeting and referred to committee of the
whole. Connolly tried to get it back be-
fore the board yesterday and the request
granted, but O'Keeffe blocked this with some
large talk about the duty of the commits
sioners to investigate before they make
concessions.
The attorneys who made the proposition
to collect delinquent taxes Of the county
for 10 per cent were present, but received
no attention, it being the intention to first
confer with them In committee Of the whole.
Representatives Of the Douglas County Ag-
ricultural association were also present,
but the financial report they had been asked
TO submit was referred to committee of the
whole.
At the afternoon meeting 1t was decided
to allow the county clerk the two men
asked for. The members agreed to turn
down the attorneys proposition to collect
delinquent taxes on the per cent basis.