Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-12

the state for terms Of four years. expiring
30 as to make the boards continuous. with
the mayor as ex-oflcio member and chair
man. Much Of the time the city has had
two sets Of FIRE and police commissioners
contending for possession OF the ONCE, the
supreme court having several times re-
versed itself in its decisions for and against
municipal home rule, and the right Of the
mayor and council to appoint the commis-
sioners instead Of the governor. Just at
present a governor-appointed board is in
possession, but the litigation is not yet
ended. The police department is organized
with a chief and three captains. The chief
receives 2 1000 a year and the captains $50
per month. One captain has charge OF the
day force, another the night force and the
third of the detective force. Under them
come the sergeants, six In number, at $50
per month; the detectives, eleven In mum
Der, and the patrolmen. sixty-slx in number.
The charter ~contemplates strict civil serv-
ice rules in both fire and police depart
ments. Each member OF the fire and police
board is required to take an oath in which
he swears that: I'm making appointments
or considering promotions or removals he
will not be guided or actuated by political
motives or influences, but will consider only
the interest Of the city and the success and
efficiency OF said department"
The members OF the department are also
guaranteed against arbitrary removal by a
requirement that charges must first be pre-
ferred, and an opportunity for a hearing
given. In the succession OF political changes
in the control of the police board, however,
these civil service regulations have not
counted for much, the loophole being found
In the authority conferred on the board to
reduce the force by dlsmissals without
charges or hearings whenever the funds at
It's disposal will not warrant retention. To
add new favorites and then dismiss old
officers for want of funds is easy. The city
maintains its own Jail and police patrol.
It's police and fire alarm system is operated
through the local telephone company on a
contract.
The fire department is organized along
similar lines, with a fire chief receiving
s., 1000 a year, two deputy chiefs at 81, 800
and 81, 200 per year respectively, captains,
engineers, pipemen and 1remen, making
the whole force number 119 men. There
are thirteen engine houses, most Of them
owned by the city, in which are installed
apparatus, including four fire engines, two
chemical engines. one water tower, four
hooks and ladders and twelve carriages
and hose WAGONS.
Control Of Park System.
The park board has complete control over
the parks and boulevards. The board itself
consists of five members, appointed by the
mayor, although previous to the Tome rule
decision they had been appointed by the
district Judges, who might resume that
authority under more recent court decisions
II so disposed. The board has at its dis
posal in addition to the proceeds Of the
park levy the portion OF the county road
fund which is allotted to the city. One
v,Attar V,naA- IT. naturalization - - -
board deserves passing notice, namely, the
constant effort to have streets declared
boulevards in order that they may be i'm
proved at the general expense rather than
at the cost of the adjacent property own
ers. The difference between a street or
r avenue and a boulevard in Omaha to all
, practical intents and purposes is the differ
| ence between having 1t paved and improved
with the cost assessed back against the
a~butting property and having 1t parked
A and cared for at the expense of all the tax
payers out of the park fund. The city has
4 the right to acquire parks and p~arkways
by eminent domain, and when exercising
e this authority also assesses back the bene-
| Ats to the benefited property. The park
e system includes thirteen different parks,
measuring 617.44 acres, with 9.S miles OF
= boulevards.
e Omaha's public library is subject to the
control of a library board OF nine mem
s bers, serving without pay, appointed three
n at a time for terms of three years by the
n mayor and council. The library is housed
s in a library building, erected in 1898 from
d the proceeds of s100, 900 Of bonds, in which
s one floor is given over to museum and
a art gallery purposes. It's administrator
: is through a librarian and library stat
consisting mainly Of young women will
d salaries ranging from $3.50 to $500 a year
n A bindery is operated in conjunction will
the library with varying employees to tn,
q number Of two or three, but combining
its work to binding incident to the librar!
n requirements.
Health Regulations.
The Health department is under the di
rection of the health commissioner, VIII
has one head assistant and sanitary in
spectors as occasion requires. The in
a s~pection relates chiefly to contagious dis
eases and perishable food products, an,
n the vital statistics Of the city are com
n piled in the health office. Garbage is col
lected by contract subject to regulation
Of the Health department. The origina
garbage contract contemplated the re
moval to outlying farm lands, but muc
of the refuse is dumped into the river
lie The question OF garbage disposal by in
cineration or otherwise must soon be met
H. The city Law department consists OF tn
IN city attorney and one assistant city attor
ney, together with a city prosecutor, VIII
attends to police court business. An alb
~ stracter is also attached to this department
in connection with cases relating to taxa
ton and special assessments and a specis
to agent to whom is delegated the duty G
TX gathering evidence to protect the city 1
damage suits.
In AS already indicated, the public improve
E. ments como under the Board of Publ
en- Works, consisting Of the city engineer
be comptroller and the building inspector
j. The engineering department is in realit
OF the construction department of the cit,
lie The force employed varies with the amour
OF work to be done, although there is
permanent list of employees to keep II
records, inspect the pavements, sidewalk
~ sewers, etc. All work must be let on con
p%etitive bids, for which due notice is give