Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-05
FACTS As TO CITY EXPENSES
City Engineer Rosswa,er Shows Absurdity
Of Anti Moores Statements,
PLAINLY MARKS SOME CAMPAIGN LIES
shows the Real Interest of the Elec.
trio Light Monopoly I'm n Can
didacy of c. G. wright
for city Attorney.

To the Public: For the first time in
many years Of public service l am impelled
in the interest Of truth to present a few
words to the taxpayers and citizens re-
specting the expenditure Of public money
and other facts bearing upon public az
fairs.
Statements are being published in the
World Herald and News and have been for
several years Just before public elections to
the effect that the city payrolls have been
and are padded for fraudulent election
purposes. These statements have sem
blance Of truth, because they emanate from
the city comptroller. They are absolutely
false and without a foundation of truth.
Comptroller westberg made such state
ments three years ago, again two years ago,
last year, and again this year. Every such
payroll up to this date received his en-
dorsement as a memDer of the Board of
Public Works and again the accounts were
placed in the appropriation ordinances and
warrants drawn by him for their payment.
II the payrolls were padded It was his
sworn duty to vote them down as a men,
Der OF the Board OF Public Works and to
refuse issuing warrants for such alleged
fraudulent work as city comptroller. The
fact that he allowed them proves the
charges then as now to be outrageous cleo
ton canards, calculated to destroy public
confidence and to promote the election or
defeat OF special candidates. 1 never have
knowingly made a misstatement to the
public In my life to promote or defeat any
man and condemn such practice as sub
versive Of public interests and the manu-
facture of such statements can only re-
act on the authors.
Men Employed by City.
The total number OF men in the employ
OF the city at any one time this year, in
all departments Of labor, sewers, pave
ments, grades, street sweeping and inEpec-
ton, has not exceeded 237, inclusive OF
teamsters, foremen, etc. In the past week
the total lumber has not exceeded 1873
and this includes the permanent employees
who have served from six to ten years.
II divided equally between democrats and
republicans they would only figure ninety
two each. II all republicans there would
only be ninety-one employees more Of one
party than another who could be charged
up to political party advantage. Does
anyone pretend that ninety-one men or
even the entire 1873 men are a controlling
factor In an election where $4,000 votes
are polled? 1t is simply an insult to com
mon intelligence to make such an imputa-
ton.
Again Mr.. Hitchcock, insinuating gem
eral corruption and mismanagement,
stated Saturday evening that II the entire
democratic ticket were elected the cost of
city government would be reduced SO per
cent. Considering that So per cent of the
city tax is made up of fixed charges and the
balance, Is \per cent, being salaries and
wages Of workingmen and teams, there
could be only is per cent saved II all
men, teams, clerks and public officers would
work for nothing. An honest and careful
consideration would show the impossibility
OF curtailing these expenses beyond 2 per
cent and only to the detriment Of the
public service.
About Electric Monopoly.
The news cited an interview with an off,
eiaI Of the General Electric company OF
Chicago who is alleged to have said tn
corrupt government of Omaha has driven
away capital. Considering that nearly all
the corrupt transactions In Omaha are
those Of the electric company, through
their unscrupulous general manager, Mr..
Nash, such statements come with
poor grace. Even the News which circulates
this kind OF rot has columns In its past
issues to prove what every one knows t.
be the real facts. The fact is IL capital Is
CT has been driven away it is due to the
libels against the city Of this nature cir
tulated by the men who make such chargea
annually for partisan ends and temporary
advantage.
Thus we see circulated with great
promises Of reform the appeal for the
election OF c. c. Wright to the office OF city
attorney. He is cited as clean, etc.
That he is clean shaven Is true, but consi-
dering that he is the attorney put up in the
Interest Of the New Houston
Electric Light company from whom he
'ew pay to defeat the submission Of the
,ly electric franchise which offered to
Hduce taxation and develop cheap power
lis election would only be placing a reward
for corporation suSserviency. He has, tits
true. signed the platform of the democracy
declaring himself in favor OF TIE refer.
endum law and public ownership. He must
mean ownership Of public men by the
iranchised corporations. The proposition
he hired out to Fred Nash TO oppose waa
TO submit the question to the people. Is
was called for by 10 per cent Of the voter
representing over 60 per cont Of the tay-
paying public and unuer the referendum