Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-20
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Taxpayers League Starts Movement for
Change in School Laws.
WANTS BETTER PAY FOR SCHOOL BoAsO
Recommends Less Number of Members
and Compensation Adequate TO the
Time Required for the
Public Service.

At a called meeting Of the Taxpayers
league held on Thursday evening the ques-
tion Of making some important changes in
the school laws applicable to cities Of the
FIRST and second classes was fully discussed,
after which the following resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
Whereas. The public school laws Of Ne
braska pertaining to metropolitan cities IN
their present form and effect have been a
constant source Of trouble. dissatisfaction
and litigation to superintendent, teachers,
employees and taxpayers. And as we firmly
believe the lawmakers and public at large
never intended or expected OF even now
desire to have any person or number Of Its
citizens In large. populous school districts
contribute their valuable time gratuitously
and neglect their personal interests by serv-
ing in the responsible and onerous capacity
of a director without receiving a fair and
Just compensation for his services; there
fore, be Il,
Resolved, as the sentiment Of this league,
That any person elected to perform the
duty OF n school director in this district
should receive a reasonable and fair COM
pensation for services rendered. And that
each member OF the Board Of Education
should be required to furnish a satisfactory
bond to the district for the faithful per-
Torrance Of his duty.
Resolved, also. That we favor a reduc-
ton of the number of the Board of Educa-
tion, as we recognize that a smaller body
OF Just and competent members viii trans
act business more carefully and expedi-
tlously than a more cumbersome body and
with the knowledge of receiving "A salary
will give more thought and attention and
practice more honesty and economy in It's
management Of school affairs than have
been displayed by the present and past
boards OF education under the present
school laws. We also believe that the
enormous overlap s in the school fund that
occur each. year in consequence Of a wilfull
and unlawful misrepresentation of the fumes
could be averted by a change in the law.
Resolved, That a committee of ten citi-
Gems and taxpayers who have the interest
of the DuhlfC schools at heart no gelaptpd
TO meet with like committees from Omaha
and Lincoln for the purpose Of formulating
a revision of the school laws of the state
In conformity with the views expressed in
these resolutions, their recommendations TO
be presented to the coming session of the
legislature with an earnest request that
the school laws governing cities OF the first
and second classes be amended"to conform
with the suggestions herein Indicated.
The following committee was appointed
David Anderson, E. II. Rowland, T. J.
o'Neil, Dana Morrill,, Ed Howe, A. L. Berg
Quist, A. A. Nixon. Ed Johnson, T. ]. Nolan
and Richard o'Keeffe.
The question of a fire and police commits
sion was discussed at some length, but no
action was taken, the matter being referred
to the general committee Of the league for
a report before action is taken.
1t is expected that the members Of this
league will be we'll represented when a
meeting Of the charter revision committee
Is called.
MAXWELL Works Masons.
William Maxwell is in Jail, being held
temporarily on a charge OF being drunk. 1t
Is asserted by NJ. W. Greist that Maxwell
gave him the Masonic sign Of distress and
was given IS. Later on Greist found that
Maxwell WAS having a good time in an N
street saloon and he caused his arrest. The
police say that Maxwell has been borrowing
money from Masons here. putting up vari-
GUS stories. He showed receipts for lodge
dues paid to a lodge at Pikeville, Ky. These
receipts are presumed to be forgeries. Max
we'll will be brought before Judge King to-
day. when he will be given an opportunity
Of squaring matters. mrah
No Particular Change.
The condition Of Clyde Lake, who shot
himself Thursday night in an N street sa-
loon. was about the same last night. Slight
kemhorrages were noted during the day by
the attending physicians, but it is hardly
thought that he Is seriously injured. The
young man is still at the home Of his
mother In the Rowley block. on Twenty
sixth street, and the doctors are giving him
svery attention possible.
Looking After Sewers.
Mayor Koutsky had a couple of men al
work yesterday cleaning catch basins in the
downtown portion of the city. so that when
the rain commenced the sewers were free
and the water ran OF rapidly. At the pres
ent time the street force is kept down tC
one or two men. but some work which
counts is performed every day. as was
shown by the opening of the catch basins
when needed.
Need More Flats.
Real estate dealers say that since there
is a good prospect Of coal being scarce thi.
winter there has been an unusual demand
for apartments in steam-heated fats. TIL