Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-24
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Brokers Appear at High School to Discount
Teachers Warrants.
SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDS EXHAUSTED
Selling on Local Market at
Very High Price-Christmas Mail
IL Exceedingly Heavy
Magic City Gossip.

Salary warrants for the teachers in the
public schools were issued yesterday aft
ernoon, the schools closing for the usual
holiday vacation. Something unusual was
witnessed at the high school building when
the teachers emerged from the office Of the
secretary, where the warrants for De-
cember were given out. Several investors
were on hand with cash in their clothes for
the purpose OF cashing the teachers war
rants, naturally at a discount. Quite a
number Of the teachers sold their warrants
to the money lenders who lowered outside,
but some walked straight to the city treas
urers office, where they were given face
value for their paper.
1t Is a well known fact that the school
funds are exhausted, and that all warrants
draw interest at the rate Of 7 per cent.
Hence the rush for securities Of this kind.
Some Of the member Of the Board OF
Education are not In favor OF the action
taken by warrant brokers yesterday, and
q stop will doubtless be put to the practice
OF permitting money lenders from fire.
quenting the high school grounds on teach
ers' pay day.
The teachers who cashed their warrants
at the city treasurer's once we're not
charged any discount, as there was enough
money on hand to pay of the few who
called.
Now the school district fund Is entirely
exhausted and from this time on It will
be necessary for the people to pay a high
rate Of interest for all salaries and ex-
penses contracted by the Board OF Educa-
ton. That there will be another big over
lap in the high school funds is evident to
anyone who has looked into the affairs Of
the board.
An advertisement is now running in one
Of the local papers asking for bids for ad-
dltional steam heating apparatus for a
four-room addition to Lowell school. Plans
Of the apparatus desired may be seen at
the office OF the architect Of the board
and all bids must be accompanied by a
certified check for 800. As usual, the
board reserves the right to reject any or
all bids. These bids are to be turned over
to the board not later than 8 p. m. on
Monday, January 8.
The installation Of this heating plant
at this time will only tend to increase the
overlap and thus increase the amount of
interest now being paid on the school debt.
Turkeys Cost Money.
First-class turkeys are scarce and are
selling for from q and 25 cents a pound.
Some frozen stock held over is being sold
at rates less than those mentioned. Hotel
keepers and proprletors Of restaurants are
wondering what to do for Christmas. with
turkey at 25 cents a pound they say that
no money can be made by serving a meal
and many Of the restaurants will provide
the usual weekday menu for guests.
Heavy Christmas Malls.
On account of the heavy mails Postmas-
ter Etter has been compelled to put on ad-
ditional help. This additional help, how
ever, is allowed by the postal department
during the holiday season without a spe-
cial requisition, as II is customary. All Of
the carriers going out from the central
postofice are loaded down these days, and
in many Instances 1t is hard work to COM
plete the delivery in the time allowed, as
two trips over one route are frequently
necessary on account OF the weight to be
carried. With all the extra mail to be
carried few complaints are being made and
the service here is considered excellent.
Does Not Make Bluffs.
An Omaha yellow journal, through its
South Omaha representative, has seen fit
to state in his paper that Joseph Koutsky,
brother of Mayor Koutsky, is making a
blum when he offers a reward OF 500 for
the arrest and conviction OF anyone SELL
ing diseased meat in South Omaha. When
shown the item last evening Mr.. Koutsky
said that he meant exactly VIA he said,
and he again stated that the money was