Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-03
EXPLANATIONS CaEERFULLF MADE.

Will The Bee explain or defend the ex-
penditure OF ever SIS, 900, half for j~anitors.
elevator conductors, ETC., and half being
for supplies, for maintaining the city hall
last year. when other large buildings hav-
ing more occupants and frequented by more
people only e&pend from $500 TO 5000
for the same service and supplies?
Will The Bee explain or defend the en-
ployment of sixteen persons, in addition 10
the city engineer, in the city engineering
department, stating the necessity Of one
chief and four assistant draughtsmen-in
addition to two engineers-and Of the other
ten employees when the city is doing very
little public work, and almost all OF 1t done
in six weeks Of time last year?
Will The Bee explain or defend the
present extrayagant manner in which the
legal and the Board Of Public Works de-
partments are conducted?
Will The Bee defend the city council in
agreeing with the heads Of different city
departments that they must have as much
money out Of the general fund to expend
during the current year as they expended
last year?-WoPld- Herald.
The Bee has never been the defender
or champion Of taxshirkers or ~taxeaters.
1t has always opposed wastefuiness and
extravaganza on the part OF public on
Gals and has never failed to denounce
favoritism and discrimination in the as
sessment Of property. It's dollar and
cent interest In the reduction of the levy
would be almost as large as that of the
World Herald. By a reduction of 1 mill
in the city tax It's owners would save
$20l where the savings OF the owners
OF the World-H Herald would be less than
$40, but The Bee will not stoop to arrant
demagogy to make a point in any dis
cussion.
The Bee makes bold to assert that the
expenditure OF over $4,000 a year for
the maintenance Of the city hall is not
excessive. The $4,000 includes. with
the salaries OF the superintendent OF the
building, janitors, elevator men, en-
gineers and iremen, $4,7O6 for fuel,
lighting. water, gas and ice used in the
city hall building. 1t also includes an
expenditure Of $4,000 for repairs Of ele-
vators, supplies. plumbing and furniture.
That is certainly not too much. The
cost OF the maintenance OF The Bee
building, including fuel and repairs, was
a fraction less than $4,000 for the year
1901.
The expenditures OF the engineer de-
partment and Board of Public Works
are explained fully in our local columns
by the head of that department. Whether
the mayor and city council are justified
In retaining the employees Of those de-
paFtments or whether their prevailing
salaries are excessive is a matter Of dis
cretion. The same is true with regard
to the legal department, which we pro
pose neither to condemn nor defend.
The World-H erald's interrogatOries
have altogether too much political flavor
and seem TO be inspired more by a de
sire to match the cut made In the court
house than a sincere desire for tax re,
duction. The spirit in which these ex,
plantations are asked Is in very marked
contrast with the frenzled effort made
by the World-Herald 10 prevent re
trenchment by the school board, al
though it Is well aware that a material
reduction OF the city tax levy for 100.
is impossible without a material reduc
ton OF the school a