Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-20
PATCH SOUTH OMAHA CHARTER
Provisions Inserted for Acceptance of
state Board Valuation of
Railroads.
tFrom a star Correspondent

LINCOLN, Feb. 19.-(Special Telegram)-
The house committee on cities and towns
has recommended the South Omaha charter
bill for passage. but with so many vital
amendments that the identity of the orig
inal measure is almost lost. In the first
place the bill provides that for assessing
railroad terminals in South Omaha the fig
ures returned by the State Board Of Equali-
zation shall be taken. This amendment
was slipped in and unanimously adopted by
the committed while the delegation that
had come down from South Omaha to pro-
test against It was asleep. Roberts Of
Dodge submitted the amendment. With the
proviso in the proposed charter South
Omaha would not be allowed to assess the
railroads on a full value basis, as provided
in H. R. $50. the substitute for H. r. III,
which extends the power to all other
municipalities.
In passing It may be Of interest to men
tion the names OF the committeeman who
adopted the resolution: Gilbert, chairman,
and Nelson of Douglas, McClay of Lancas-
ter, Cropsey Of Jefferson, Ferrar of Hall,
Csssell of otoe, Roberts OF Dodge, Sweezy
Of Adams, Becher Of Platte.
The Shelly bill, providing for a governor
made FIRE and police commission, was in
corporated in the charter bill as an amend
ment. This was the result of a compromise
between the advocates and opponents Of
home rule, whereby the latter agreed to
waive as a consideration to the home rule
faction, who represent the city administra-
ton, the election this spring of two coun-
cilmen and the tax commission, allowing
the present incumbents to hold over until
1904. 1t was agreed that the clause COM
Polling The railroads to maintain repairs
on the viaduct, which was conspicuous for
its absence from the charter bill, should be
inserted.
Under the present regulations there is no
school board election this spring and the
charter offers no change in this except to
provide for an election, should one be
necessary. to vote bonds. AN amendment
was adopted reducing the limit OF payment
Of interest on district bonds from ten to one
year, Another amendment vas adopted pro-
hibiting, the payment of any Of. the s75, 900
overlap unit the city has voted the proper
amount of bonds.
There was a good deal Of chuckllng in
railway lobby quarters tonight over the
adoption OF the Roberts amendment, which
is a complete triumph for the corporations
1t is significant, too, in carrying with It the
support Of two Omaha men, who, Il had
been advertised. we're sworn to allegiance
to the Ten Eyck bill to tax railroad ter
minals at their full cash value.
The house judiciary committee tonight
heard arguments for and against H. r. 1874.
reducing the limit of exemption from $500
to $500. and H. r. 1856 doth by Reed of
Johnson), allowing the courts to set aside
So per cent OF an income to satisfy credi-
tors. H.. Fischer OF Omaha, secretary of
the Nebraska Retail Merchants and Gro
GERS association. spoke in favor Of the bill
and John ]. Kirby. representing the Omaha
Central Labor union and Gus L. Hollo, the
State Society Of Labor and Industry, also
of Omaha, opposed It. The committee took
no action on the bill tonight.
The house railroad committee tonight
heard argument on the Ramsey elevator
bill, but fixed tomorrow morning for final
action.