Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-22
FOR BETTER PUBLIC SERVICE
Mayor kOores Suggests Several Changes in
the City Charter.
THINKS INCREASE OF FUNDS NECESSARY
Would Have Fire aud Police Forces
Made Stronger, More Hydrants in
suburbs and better Pay
for OmciRIs.

speaking Of necessary alterations in the
city %charter, Mayor Moores said:
Inc most important Of the amend
ments necessary for the practical opera
ZION otrthe city government refer to an
increase In the charter limitations in
me size OF certain funds. At the pres-
snt time the fire fund is limited to SIPS
wv This amount is not sufficient to oper-
Ate the department and the limitation
snould be Increased to about S165 900. This
noes not mean that amount would be re-
puireo at all times, but it could be wisely
expended some years and 1t should be made
variable. At the present time the force
Is Inadequate for the best results and one
or more companies should be added. The.
SIM now at the disposal Of the city would
40 httle more than pay the wages Of the
me who should be employed. to say moth
ing OF incidental expenses. The city WINS
All but two OF the houses in which the
companies are now located, and these
houses should be reprinted and repaired II
they are to be maintained. The appli-
Rnces OF the department need many re-
pairs which csnnot be made now for lack
OF FUNDS. These expenses might not come
every year, but when they do com there
mould be provision to meet them.
The Limitation on the police fund should
WNiNoaNus Inc FORCE Is not large
enough for the best service and more
men should be added when necessary.
"The lighting fund and the water fund
should both be Increased. There should
be a large number Of additional street
lamps In various parts OF the town, while
there are sections of the city practically
without fire protection. In most instances
the shortage OF fire hydrants is in the
suburbs where the houses are owned by
poor people, people who have their saw
lngs invested in the homes and because
OF insufficient protection are compelled to
pay high rates OF insurance.
New Paving Laws.
Another change which should be made
e in the matter Of paving the streets.
At the present time paving cannot be done
except upon petition Of property owners.
some OF our best known citizens and
heaviest property owners will sign paving
netitions and the work will be hardly COM
oleted before they are attempting to dis
cover some way In which to place the
expense OF the work upon the city at large
and to nullify the special assessments.
Wat we should have is a system whereby
the city council and mayor can order the
Javing Of streets and the property owners
De given thirty days In which to file pro-
- - ~ RAONNe2 ~ " " ohN-
Ssfactory the resolution ordering the paw
"ng could be repealed. There is 80 much
.'roperty owned by non-residents and those
Tho have little interest in the streets
,butting IL that they will not move for
,aving, and the council should be In a
~Scsition to make them act.
Then in the matter Of salaries there
should b. some changes. The police Judge
~hould receive as much salary as a dis
'rkct Judge. The present police judge
-urns into the city through fines and costs
our tlLles as much a. his salary and de-
'"otes as much time to his work as any OF
he Judges of the district bench. Before
shA present charter was enacted he re-
eiyed $500 a year and there Is no 'rea-
ron why he should not get that much now.
IT the police court the city prosecutor
eceives $500 per year. This salary should
'e increased to at least $500, SO a good
.awyer can afford to give the work the at
ention It deserves.
There Is no reason why the city clerk
aud the city comptroller should not re-
,slve as much Compensation as the city
Attorney, the city engineer and a number
of other officers. They devote their en-
tire time to the work and 81, 500 is GER
tainly not too much to pay for the service.
"The fund at the disposal of the Board
Of Health should be increased, as the
health OF the community depends upon
quick and sometimes very expensive work.
The park board should also have the right
to expend more money.
THE railroads should pay higher taxes
than they have been doing and there are
several other changes which might with
advantage be made, but they do not occur
to me just at this line