Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-03
TAX ON RAILROADS
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Continued from First Page.)
in taxing farms and ALI other property and
he believed the law to be unconstitutional
which attempted to discriminate in favor
OF railroad property.
John L. McCague suggested that the same
constitution which makes provision for uni
form taxation of property also provides for
legislation for cities OF the first and second
and other classes, and said that the resolu-
ton was intended as an appeal to the law
making body for the repeal Of an objec-
tionable feature of the charter of cities Of
the first class, which charter had been
enacted by that body.
At the close of this discussion the resolu-
tion was adopted without a dissenting vote.
Health Department short.
The appropriation for the maintenance OF
the health department was the subject OF
much discussion, but no definite action.
DR.. Ralph, health commissioner, when
called upon by Councilman Hascall to state
the, needs of his department, said there, was
urgent need OF additional funds, but he
could not even. state an approximate
amount
Mr.. HascaIl said in this connection that
the council had been obliged to rob the
general and other funds and resort to all
sorts of other expedients to supply the
health department with the money it really
needed for the support Of the emergency
hospital and for other branches of the
work, and Councilman Lobeck said that in
stead Of $40, 900 there should be at least
500, 900 or S25, goo appropriated for the health
department.
Comptroller Westberg suggested that the
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shortage in other funds would be to do
away with the system of special funds for
special departments. The charter, he said,
authorized the appropriation Of 81, 140, 900
in all for the purpose Of maintaining the
city government and in his opinion that
should be in one fund and the apportion-
ment of 1t should devolye upon the mayor
and council. Then there would be no neces-
sity to rob one fund for another.
This plan Andrew Rosewater opposed on
the ground that some OF the departments
would necessarily suffer and the money
would 20 to the departments which we're in
favor with the council.
Nelson Asks for Action.
At this juncture Representative Nelson
called the attention of the meeting to the
fact that nothing definite was being ac-
| cOiQDllSneQ Dy All THIS uibCuSblOu. ht
members OF the delegation, he said, had
come to Omaha from Lincoln at great In
convenience to hear what the citizens OF
Omaha wanted In the way of charter re-
vision and the citizens OF Omaha had not
yet made up their minds as to what they
wanted. South Omaha. he said, had gone
to work in a systematic manner upon Its
charter revision and appointed a commit
tee some time ago. The result was that
there was now a new charter all ready tc
file. He said he believed hat this legisla-
ture presented the best opportunity Omaha
had ever had to get a good city charter, and
he hoped something would be accomplished
toward that end, but 1t must be done with
out any further delay.
A motion by Mr.. McCague that the mayor
be requested to appoint a committee o.
twenty-five to take charge Of the work o
charter revision was, after numerous at
tempts at amendment, made to, read tina
the mayor appoint ten additional member
to act with the present committee OF nv,
from the Real Estate exehangeS I'VE from
the Commercial club and hye citizens IA
large, thereby increasing the number Il
twenty-five and permitting the appointment
OF representatives Of the labor organiza
lions and city officers. In that form 1t wa
adopted.
AT the suggestion of Deputy Tax Com
missioner Lewis It was agreed that an
person should be permitted 20 appear be
fore the committee to present suggestions
An adjournment was taken to next Fri
day night. when II is expected the com
mittee viii have something to report.