Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-17
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Threatened Occupation Tax Gives Some
Salconists Nervous Trouble.
WOULD RAISE SIG, 600 FOR THE CITY
Member of the Council Says IL IL the
Only wHy to Relieve a Pinch in
salary Fund-MaRic City
Gossip.

The action taken by the council at it's
meeting Wednesday night In relation to an
occupation tax for saloons rather Jared
on the nerves OF the brewers when they
heard about 1t yesterday. An occupation
tax has not been placed on saloons here
since the regular license was raised from
$500 to 81, 900.
A member of the city council said last
night that the occupation tax surely will
be a go. The city is out Of money, even
the salary fund being exhausted, and the
only way to get money Just now is to levy
an occupation tax" 1t is reported that
this occupation tax ordinance will secure
enough votes in the council to carry It
through. There seems to be no doubt about
the mayor signing the ordinance when 1t
is passed by the council. About SIC, 900
will be raised by this occupation tax, as 1t
is estimated that only about eighty saloons
will be granted licenses this year.
Some Of the liquor dealers who are indie
pendent of the breweries asserted last
evening that they are in favor Of an occu-
patton tax, as the levying OF a tax of this
kind would drive certain cheap saloons out
Of existence. Another dealer said that the
brewers would soon make up the price Of
the occupation tax by raising the price Of
beer to the retailers. In some circles It is
predicted that the brewers and the council
will get together and come to some agree
ment, but members Of the council say that
nothing of the sort will be done. The ordl-
nances pertaining to the sale OF liquors
will be read for the second and third time
at a meeting to be held next Monday night.
Temple work stopped.
All work on the Ancient order Of United
Workmen temple. now being erected al
Twenty-hfth and M streets, has stopped
The strike Of the plasterers has practically
put a stop to all the other work. Wednes'
day night C. W.. Miller, chairman Of the
temple building committee, appeared before
) the local Carpenters union and asserted
! that he was ready and willing to pay unioI
prices for everything. Members Of tn,
s Carpenters union replied that the question
of wages was not under consideration. NIL
1 Ter then said that he was willing to pa.
plasteretrs 81 a day. but even this did no
2 have any eject. The strike in Omaha !
having an effect here and work Is at
standstill all over the city.
4 Omaha contractors have been endeavor
/ ing to secure material in South Omaha. bu
. local dealers in building material refuse I
B sell for delivery outside Of the city limits
When there is a suspicion that buildin
material would be taken to Omaha afte
a delivery in South Omaha. the dealer hap
pens TO be just out.
9. An early adjustment OF the difioulty
desired In South Omaha, as the workme
want to complete the lower floor OF the
temple by May /. and Contractor Wei'
would like TO commence work on n
library building.
Figuring Overlap.
3 City Clerk Shrigley has about complete
IN q statement showing the floating indebtet
Eess Of the city, This statement will |
presented to the city council at q meetin