Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-27

committee on cities and towns for the pas
sage OF Il bill that would give to them a
fire and police board. which their city lie
without now. They represented the better
element, Only the ~vlciosis classes are OPP
posed to such Legislation.
when this delegation from Douglas
county was nominated the democratic and
republican papers Of Omaha demanded that
we stand ON a home rule platform. defining
that as one that would antagonize the gov
e-rnor-appointed board We refused. Then,
/ say. that II we we're elected on any
platform II was the platform which faYors
the governor appuinted board, such as this
bill provides for. Do we not represent the
sentiments of the people? Here is our
lone fusion member, Mr. Kennedy, who
opposes this bill. He represents that part
Of Omaha's population who want the home
rule doctrine to govern. But he represents
the minority, and we are the majority. l
ask you, then. where do you think Omaha
stands on this proposition"
Shelly of South Omaha then did what
Kennedy said was defaming his home city
In a most fragrant manner Mr.. Shelly por-
trayed a dismal picture of the packing
city. He described It as the modern Sodom.
He declared that the low and vicious classes
dominated. He said:
Conditions at present, without this fire
and police board, are such that no man can
be elected unless he has the support Of the
corrupt element. D~ebauchery reigns. No
mayor is ever elected unless he has the
unqualified backing Of the gamblers and
the rest Of the vicious class. This bill will
remedy these glazing evils and the best
people want It, Our present mayor is in
the saddle. This bill will center power in
no one man. It excludes the mayor from
membership on the Fire and Police board,
differing in this respect only from that
board which Omaha now has"
At this ~Juncture Kennedy gained the floor
and said that he had been urged by labor
representatives from South Omaha to work
against this bill. He said a committee of
three, two of whom were republicans, called
on him.
Goes Shelly One Better.
Ten Eyck then depicted even a darker
picture Of South Omaha than Shelly had
drawn He said:
1.-THE mayor OF South Omaha gets an
annual salary of 1900 and still he gets
rich. How does he do IT.? The mayor did
not sign the petition for the passage Of
this bill. Do you blame Elm? Can you
wonderf He does not want to give up the
graft he has. OF course not"
Morsman also spoke for the bill.
When H. r. 267 was first introduced It
did not contain the provision for a FIRE
n police board. That was provided in
a separate bill by Shelly. But It appeared
that a very large number of people Town
in the packing city, large enough, 1t seems,
to be reckoned with. opposed a provision in
H. R. 267 Tor. a city election this spring.
They were also, evidently. against the FIRE
and police bill being made a part Of the
city charter bill, which the Douglas county
daIaoaffonH opd ahago Fovort,- 49, o-4t
home rule doctrine wanted TO do, so a
compromise was reached by Incorporating
this Shelly bill into the charter bill and
waving the city election this spring. 1t
would seem from this, therefore, that that
element against the FIRE and police board
was stronger than represented in the
speeches today, else no compromise would
have been made with II.
May Wait for Savage.
Since Ezra p. Savage has indicated his
desire TO return to Nebraska as soon as
his business is finished out on the coast,
1t has been suggested that il might be a
good scheme TO have the life OF the BARLEY
cigar box" Investigation committee ex-
tended until the next session of the legls-
lature' The governor may have more busi-
ness west than he nrst thought and there
fore may not get back before this legis-
lature adjourna. go an order to avail itself
Of the valuable knowledge which Savage
indicated he possessed regarding this
mythical receptacle. when he boasted that
he would one day open It.. the committee
might be continued until two years hence.
Certainly, IL Is suggested, Savage coul1
manage tosNwind up his AFFAIRS out west by
that time, and then he could, whenever he
came back. drop in and tell the committee
what he knows.
OF course. the life OF the committee can
not be extended until the next session ex-
certify jotat resolution of the present legls-
lature. and II Is really questionable II
suchsa resolution could be passed, judging
from the obstacles that were thrown in the
way OF the Investigation that was ordered
some weekssago. Yet there are those who
thibk this ought to be done
U~ntyersity Men Active.
Governor Mickey did not send to the
house today his Recommendation for a
change in the present 1 mill levy for uni
Versity building purposes, as he is said TO
have decided On doing yesterday. The
Lincoln politicians. Including the delega-
tion in the lesislature, bore down with fun
~foreeJtO prevent the governor from taking
this step. Chancellor Andrews was active
In his efforts In the same direction. Tho
statute making this provision is section
b22t of chapter lxxxvli. 1t providessa tax
Of / mill annually on the dollar valuation oil
the grand assessment roll. 10 be compul.
sorry. Those who advocate the necessity OF
4 change In view Of the contemplated In
GREASE Ia the assessed valuation of prop
erty by means Of the new revenue Law
maintain that this levy should either b