Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-26
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Candidate Koutsky Gaining Ground and
Considered Sure Winner.
WILCOX TALKS OF REPUBLICAN NOMINEE
Representative Says Koutsky's Rec
ord as TreRsurer Assures Good
Business Administration In
Event of His Election.

rallies last night the candidates we're about
| town making friends. AS the date Of cleo
tion comes nearer interest increases and
numerous wagers on the outcome are being
made. So far Koutsky has the best Of the
betting and 1t looks now as II he is a sure
winner, Notwithstanding the fact that Ave
candidates are in the field.
b. e. Wilcox, a we'll known republican
and a staunch supporter OF the ticket. said
last evening: Frank Koutsky's record as
city treasurer shows that he Is an able man
and in my opinion he will make a good
mayor. As for his election, 1t is an as
sured fact, as voters from all parties are
hocking to his standard every day. He is
honest, competent and qualified for the po-
sition and l am satisfied that when elected
he will give the city a business mans sd-
ministration. AS for the balance of the
ticket 1t looks now like a sure winner, al
though of course, public interest Just now
centers in the mayoralty contest"
Sloane, the reform candidate, is still the
laughing stock of the city, as 1t has been
shown more than once that he is mot
worth the money" A democrat who for
years has voted the straight ticket, said
yesterday that he could not see how Sloane
had the nerve to become a candidate at
this time. 1T is a notorious fact" said
this democrat, that during the time Sloane
was mayor Of South Omaha the city was
given the poorest business administration
II ever had. 1t was on account Of Sloane's
management that the debt Of the city is
so large, as he permitted grading and paw
ing contracts to go through at exorbitant
rates, and now the taxpayers are having
to pay for this neglect of Sloane, by being
taxed heavily each year to pay interest on
bonds issued during Sloane's administra-
ton"
A rally of republicans will be held at
Twenty seventh and Y streets tonight. Can
didates and other speakers will be present.
Councilman Miller
Not being satisfied with the action Of
the council Monday night in connection with
the sale of $40, 900 renewal bonds, Mayor
Kelly called a special meeting for noon
yesterday. At the Monday nights meeting
only three members voted In favor OF the
bond sale, but in spite OF this the mayor
declared the sale made. He reconsidered
yesterday forenoon, after Johnston In
formed him that he had hypnotized Mil
Ter. At the special meeting no business
was transacted, excepting the bond matter.
A motion went through to reopen the bond
question and then the bid Of Mr.. Oldfeld
was iVdu anu n resolution was adopted
directing the mayor and council to enter
into a contract with Oldheld for the pur-
chase of the renewal bonds at the premium
offered Monday night. II the sale is per-
mitted to go through the city will be saved
in twenty years $1,000 in interest and the
premium. The new bonds, IL issued. will
run for twenty years straight, the city not
having the privilege of redeeming the issue.
even should It have the funds on hand.
A prominent member OF the Taxpayers
league said last evening that 1t was funny
that Kelly and Johnston took such interest
In renewing these bonds just at the time
when they were going out Of office.
IF Kelly is so interested In the welfare
OF the city, as he pretends to be, why didn't
he ask the council to renew this issue when
he became mayor two years ago, and thus
save the city a portion OF the interest II
has paid, during his term Of Office"
That the bonds are worth more than was
bid was evidenced by the statements made
by buyers who asked for an auction. F. C.
Hoehler, representing the State Bank of
Toledo, asserted that at the present price
OF money the premium should be not less
than $4,000. He was confident that II the
issue was made for 5 per cent bonds that
not less than $1,000 would be paid nv in
y%estors. 1t is now up to the Taxpayers'
league to see what will be done about the
matter.
h"Ater Issues PeremptOry Order.
At noon yesterday Judge Irving F. Bax-
ter issued a ~peremptory order directing
City Clerk S~hrigley to place the names of
republican candidates first on the ticket.
When Clerk Shrigley made up the ticket
AFTER all petitions had been filed he placed
tho daRnn . q ~ n. 49,
pleased the republican city central COM
mittee and so an appeal was made to the
court, as was predicted in The Bee of yes
terday. In compliance with the order Clerk
Shrigley at once changed the form OF the
sample and official ballots and the revised
issue OF sample ballots will be distributed
today.
Carpenters Meet Tonight.
A meeting Of union and nonunion car
penters has been called for tonight at
Central Labor Union hall. At this meeting
1t is proposed to arrange for an increase
in wages. At the present time union car
penters are getting S5 cents an hour aud
as the season promises to be an exceedingly
prosperous one II is proposed to make a
general demand for 40 cents an hour. The
session will be an open one and all car
penters are invited to attend.
Sold City Property.
The city council has sold to w. g. Cook
the poles and wire running from the local
American District telegraph ONCE to the
Poppleton avenue pump station OF the
Omaha Water company. The price paid was
SIS. This line was used for a number OF
years before the laying OF the thirty-inch
main. When an alarm of fire was sounded
the American District Telegraph company
turned the alarm over to the Poppleton
avenue station and the pressure at the hyd-
rants was increased. Since the big main was
laid and the Poppleton avenue pump house
abandoned there has been no use for the
private line. The city used TO pay $3.50 a
year for the maintenance OF this line, but
this expense was cut OF with the laying of
the larger water main. The purchaser is
entitled to the poles and the wire, i~nsulat-
ors, etc.
City Park Board.
An attempt was made Monday night to
hold a meeting of the park commissioners.
but as Mr.. VanDusen was indisposed and
Mr.. Maberry was not feeling we'll there