Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-18
FIGHT The WILLARD BILL
CitisSBS Demand lott Passenger AID
TEAMS Rights on Terminal Bridge
MAYOR PROTESTS TO CITY COUNCIL
Resolutions Are Adopted Demanding
Active AntanonIsin on Part of
state RepresentatIves-PIea to
Retain Cat-On.
MAYOR PROTESTS TO CITY COUNCIL

GNaNe 10
Retain Cat-On.
This resolution was adopted at the meet.
ing Of the city council last night:
Whereas, There is pending in the house
Of representatives of the congress OF the
United States a bill authorizing the Omaha
Bridge and Terminal Railway company to
maintain its bridge across the Missouri
river at the present l~ocation, removing,
however. the requirements that provision
Whereas, said Omaha Bridge and Ter
minal Railway company under its present
maintain its present bridge, the Conditions
Of the charter and the plans approved by
the government providing for the accom-
vehicles and pedestrians; and .
wv where's oT 1t vii BE- Of great injury to the
use of a bridge at this point for vehicles
and pedestrians; therefore be Il
Resolved, by. the city council of Council
directed to urge upon Hon. Walter l..
Smith, member Of congress from this dis
trict; the Iowa senators and Iowa repre-
sentatives the necessity of using their best
efforts to oppose the passage Of this bill
without making provision for vehicles and
Mayor jennings objections.
The matter of the Millard bill was
brought before the council at the opening
Of the session by Mayor Jennings with this
statement:
A bill which has been introduced in con-
gress granting the Omaha Bridge and Ter
minal Railway company the right to re.
place the temporary work at the western
the Terminal bridge, with a steel span,
contains provisions affecting the business
interests Of this city to such an extent, and
Is Of such general interest to our citizens,
that It seems to me we shall neglect out
plain duty II we fail to take immediate and
this purpose in view L wish to formally
call your attention to the matter.
The original charter for the erection of
the Terminal bridge provided that it should
be for railroad, motor, wagon and pedes-
trian use. The original plan. was not fully
less, been used not only for railroad traffic,
but until a year or so ago motors were run
across IL. and 1t has at all times been open
to wagons, pedestrians, stock and for other
This has Afforded competition which has
The Terminal bridge has been a great
convenience to officials of the city and
school district in their transactions with
that part of the city lying on the western
side of the river and known as Cut-On.
Before the construction Of this bridge it
go several miles through the city of Omaha,
In another state, whenever they. had bust
lions will again exist II the Willard bill be-
comes a law.
Real Estate Demands Protection.
Real estate dealers and others with prop
erty interests in that section have been
saved the necessity of making Q detour Of
the western part OF the city especially have
acquired interests on the western side Of
the o TlSeF the wh maint eaa se o eoa Fse Tsrm Snly
bridge as a wagon and foot way.
In these and many other particulars, i'm
possible at this time to mention, II is es-
sential to considerable interests in this city
that the Terminal bridge be maintained for
all the purposes for which it was originally
The bill now before congress eliminates
from the charter all requirements for the
foot passengers, and, If passed. will thus
operate to destroy its usefulness in these
tined to develop into a thriving manufac-
turing. commercial and residence district.
am Informed that one argument advanced
! by the owners of the bridge is that, up to
this time, wagon and foot traffic over 1t
has not been profitable; An answer to this
this class of business but, regardless of
any merit or demerit in this contention, l
lying west of the river and tributary to
! this bridge Is sufiicient reason for US 10
an effort to prevent the passage of the
Willard bill, unless II be so amended as to
include wagon and foot traffic among the
purposes for which the bridge Is to be
maintained In the future.
Commercial Committee Protests.
A protest was read against the passage
OF the bill from the commercial commit
tee. signed by Chairman Test. NJ. r. Rohrer,
L. A.. Devine and DR.. Barstow.
A large lumber of interested citizens at
tended the meeting, and the council was
addressed by Attorney Emmett FINLEY
Colonel C.. R. Hannah and NJ. F. Rohrer
urging the city council to protect the eity's
rights over the bridge.
The resolution was introduced by Alder
man Boyer, who spoke at length on the
proposed bill. also on the bill now before
the Iowa legislature for the appointment OF
a boundary commission. Boyer character.
lied both bills as being part Of a scheme
to take Cut-On from Iowa and give 1t tC
Nebraska. In support Of his contention
he read a letter from Speaker Sears Of
the Nebraska legislature.
Condition of Various Funds.
In a communication to the council Cit,
Auditor Evans called attention TO the condl,
tion Of the several funds appropriated fol
the different departments. For the main
~tenance Of the police department S14, O0t
was appropriated, an average Of S1.166.6t
per month, and OF this amount $2,387.6s re,
mains unexpended. For the FIRE depart,
ment SIS. 500 was appropriated. or 81. 29l.6'
a month. OF this appropriation only 50. 25s.S6
or S1,12943 per month. remains unex
pended. which Is &25.57 per month insufn,
cient to cover the pay roll OF the depart.
ment, not to mention other expenses.
The half-yearly bill Of the water work.
company for the rent OF hydrants amounting
TO $iS,075. was ordered paid March 1.
Leonard Everett filed a protest agains
the vacation Of Thirteenth and Fourteenth
avenues in the interest of the Great West
ern railroad,
The report Of the citizens committee o
the Third ward suggesting certain pro
visiona TO be Incorporated in the Grea
Western railroads vacation ordinance wa
Ireceived.
Petition from BrickIayera.
The petition from the Brieklayers' union
Endorsed by the Labor. and Trades assem-
bly,, asking that the counci reconsider It
selection OF concrete for the abutments Q
the new MINISTER street bridge. was receive
and consideration Of 1t deferred until tn
i next meeting.
I, The Great Western vacation ordlnanc
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