Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-26
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Martin and VanIaHt Hesitate TO Accept
Police Board AppSintmsntI.
FRIENDS DO NOT BELIEVE THEY WILL
Common surmIse al the Exchange IL
that They VIII Turn Down h
GOVERNOR Commissions
Magic City Gossip.

Since the governor has appointed a board
Of Eve men known as FIRE and police COM
missioners 10 superintend the work Of
thirty-one men, interest in the history Of
the members and the duties to be performed
caused a great deal Of street talk Saturday. |
At noon Colonel James O.. Martin stated
In response to an inquiry that he would
not say Just now whether he would accept
the position or not. 81 have the matter
under consideration said Colonel Martin. |
land will let you know in a day or two"
Practically about the same conversation
occurred between a Bee reporter and w. B.
vansant. Neither Of these two republicans
desires at this time to say whether he will
or will not accept the appointment rendered.
At the Exchange, where Colonel Martin
and Vansant are well known, it was re-
ported that neither will accept. They de-
sire, It is stated, to send their designations
to the governor direct before making the
matter public.
In appointing a board Of fire and police
commissioners the governor was not per-
mitted to name any person dealing in
liquors, tobacco or any manager or agent
for a fire insurance company. TIL board
is empowered to employ and discharge
fremen and policemen. No men now on
the force are to be removed for political
TehbOuS. ludL 3 what In6 law says. EdCu
member of the board is to be paid 800 per
year. The payments to be made quarterly
by the city treasurer.
All the present appointees will hold
office until the first Monday In April, 1906,
when a new board will be named by the
governor. On the first Monday in March,
1906, the governor is to appoint five mem
bers to serve three years.
No provision is made in the Shelly bill
for the providing of q secretary of the com
mission. The commission will be largely,
II not entirely, dependent upon the council
for support, and should the council oppose
the methods of the commission the board
may be In a sorry plight. One peculiar
feature OF the bill under authority of which
the board was appointed is the fact that
the members Of the board are not required
to give to the municipality any bond. Law
yers say that this will make no material
difference. All city officials, and even po-
licemen and hremen are compelled to give
bonds, but the fire and police board does
not have to do this. All required of it is
to subscribe to the usual oath and file the
same with the city clerk. At the present
time 1t costs the city of South Omaha
$4,000 a year to run the fire department
and about SIS, 200 a year to keep the police
force going.
Madison school Entertainment.
Thursday evening, April 30, the pupils
Of the Madison school will give an enter
tainmen at the school building. Only
pupils of the school will participate. The
infant class will render three songs and
one concert recitation. Susie and Ozete
Hatcher of the second grade will sing
"sleep, Baby Of Nine" Pupils Of the third
grade are to sing Maggie o'Connor." BY
the fourth grade pupils There, Little Girl,
Don't Cry" will be rendered. Fifth grade
pupils will sing when the Lights Are
Low" Members of the sixth and seventh
grade classes will sing Beautiful River
Following this, a girls chorus will sing
1.-TWO Little, Blue Little Shoes" The girls
will not have all the singing to do, as O
chorus OF boys has been drilling for some
time. The boys will sing 1.-THE Low-Bacb
Car" and other selections. A solo, June
will be sung by Miss Ella Kennedy. VIII
liam Alton and Frederick Meyers will sing
''The Vale of Old Kentucky" There will
be a hoop drill by girls Of the seventh
grade. Miss Laura Rudersdorf will preside
at the piano.
Royal Arcanum Reception.
1t Masonic hall, Friday night, Knoxal
and Case lodges of the Royal Arcanun
gave a reception to Colonel John L. Mar
tin. This reception was given to Mr.. Mar
tin for the reason that he had been instru
mental in building up the two Arcanun
lodges here. Martin secured for Knoxal
council about sixty members, and then wen
to work and organized Case council. Boil
councils are iourishing at the present time
Prior to the close Of the reception Colone
Martin was called forward and p~resenteI
with a fine gold watch, a chain and a Roya
Arcanum charm. A. H. Murdoch Delivers
the presentation speech. Among the prom
inent out-of-town guests were w. N
Guthrie, supreme representative for Ne
braska; G. A. Grimmell, secretary OF tn
grand council, and Harry B. Morrill,. sec
Rotary of Union Pacific lodge. Omaha. Tn
reception concluded with music, card play
ing and refreshments
No Maturieties This Month.
April is the only month in the preseu
year when the city OF South Omaha wi
not be called upon to send money to tn
state fiscal agency in New York City I
take up bonds or coupons due. This
something unusual, as for years past nearl
every month money has had 10 be sent ea'
to take up outstanding obligations. At tn
end Of May, June and July the maturitIe
will not be so very large but later in II
year provision will have TO be made Il
the payment of a large amount of interes
More .Viaduc Talk.
Councilman Mike Smith and others wi
reside in portions Of the city south Of
street are constantly complaining about Il
condition Of the flooring on the Q sire
viaduct. This bridge has been in bad ord
for more than six months. The railrol
companies have promised to make repai
but have not done so. Planks and boar,
are now nailed over & portion Of the FOO
ing to prevent accidents. Monday mig
the council is expected to take some acti'
in the matter. There was some talk
es. closing the bridge unless immediate T
pairs were made.
Curtis Passing Petition ArOund.
George Curtis, acting chief Of the 4
T. department, was busy yesterday passl
a petition around asking the proposed Fl
and Police board to appoint him chief
the FIRE department. For a year past Gu