Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-21
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Charter Bill Fails to Meet with Favor in
the Legislature,
FIGHT ON ANNEXATION MEASURE ALSO
Proposition TO Consolidate Omaha and
south Omaha Not Kindly RE-
ceived by Some Business
Men Of Magic City.

az ItNASlOn OIL winch was drafted
at the instigation of a number OF citizens
and drawn by City Attorney Murdoch. From
advices received from Lincoln the revised
bill does not seem to meet with any favor
among the Douglas county delegation and
1t may be that the amendments will be dis
Carded entirely. What the Douglas county
delegation appears to want is an entirely
new bill. 1t is openly asserted that the
amendments we're juggled with after hav-
ing been approx by a committee Of the
whole. At any rate, the delegation seems
to want some better authority for changing
the charter than the mere handful of citi-
zens who appeared at the council chamber
from time to time and listened to reports
framed by a few.
zone of the important changes needed"
said a member Of the city government yes
terday, rs an Increase in the fire fund. At
the present time the city is limited to 3d.
600 a year for fire purposes. The amended
charter. as it was supposed to be sent to
Lincoln, called for an increase Of $1,000.
This increased sum will hardly pay the
overlap in the fund and will leave nothing
for an additional hose company, which is
badly needed. Chief Etter says that $40, 900
could well DE spent in securing additional
fire apparatus. A truck is needed as we'll
as a hose company. There is also some talk
Of a steamer. This subject has been
brought up before and is really getting
tiresome. Each one Of the packers wants
the steamer, if one is purchased, housed at
his frcnt doors. The city officials do not
want to do this and consequently there is
discord on the subject.
with an income of $4,000 it is thought
that the department as it now exists could
get along without any overlap, but no i'm
provements could be made. An addition is
also asked for in the police department, but
the main object Of the committee which
visited Lincoln yesterday was to Impress
upon the minds Of the members of the
Douglas county delegation the necessity for
giving the fire department more money
The anti-annexationists are also alive and
they propose to fight the Ten Eyck bill,
which pretends to consolidate the city and
county governments, but which, 1t is stated.
by those who have carefully read the bill,
merely means the annexation of South
Omaha to Omaha without a vote Of the
people. South Omaha business men assert
that all they want is to be left alone. The
bonded debt in South Omaha Is not growing,
so 1t is stated. and the district indebted
ness is being decreased gradually by the
payment Of taxes. Those who are fighting
annexation say that what South Omaha
needs is a city nall building, a new high
school and in increase in both the fire and
police departments.
Temple building Association.
The Ancient Order OF United Workmen
Building association met Monday night at
tho office of b. e. Wilcox and elected these
officers: C. w. Miller, president; d. j.
Farrell, vice president; G. II. Brewer. treas
urer; 3. E.. Wilcox, secretary. The new
building Is nicely under way and contracts
for the heating and plumbing were let
to local contractors. Seats to the NUMBER
of over 400 were ordered for the auditorium.
As for the seats in the gallery no arrange
ments were made. Under the contract the
temple was to be completed by March l,
but cold weather has interfered and 30
the committee now thinks that the struc-
ture will be ready for occupancy about the
middle Of April. James A. Hall was en-
ployed by the association as solicitor and
collector.
Hastings Wants Information.
City Clerk shrigley received a letter yes
terday from the clerk of the council at
Hastings asking for about the
Carnegie library to be located here. 1t ap-
pears that Mr.. Carnegie has agreed to
donate SIS, 900 for a library at Hastings and
the officials there want TO know what to
do. Clerk S~hrigley sent to Hastings by
last nights mail a copy Of the ordinance
passed by the city council Of South Omaha
and some records which. have a bearing on
the matter. Council Bluffs officials are also
looking to South Omaha for on
the same subject.
stnI Investigating Maxwell.
N. NJ. Ayres, grand master of Masons in
Nebraska, with headquarters at Beaver
City, was here yesterday. In company with
a number of prominent Masons, Mr.. Ayres
visited the city Jail and interviewed VIII
liam Maxwell Tho confinement is telling
on Maxwell and he is not appearing as
jaunty as he did when first incarcerated.
Mr.. Ayras made arrangements for the re-
moval of Maxwell to Bridgeport, Neb., as
soon as his term in Jail here ends. Max
we'll is a scotchman and he claims to come
of a good family. He refuses 10 divulge
his real name, preferring a term in Jail.
Local Masons who have been deceived by
him seem TO think that after the lesson
him here he will leave the country.
william Fitzgerald Dead.
Word came yesterday by letter to James
Fitzgerald, city tax commissioner, announe-
ing the death on Christmas morning Of his
father at the Idmlly uOme III lIelduu'
OF the children OF the deceased two reside
in South Omaha, James and jeremiah.
Michael and a daughter live at New Haven,
Conn. At the time Of his death Mr.. Fftz-
gerald was Sc years OF age.
Magic City Gossip.
A male quartet will sing at the revival
meeting at the Baptist church tonight.
Mrs. Pierce, wife of Policeman Pierce, is
quite sick at her home, Twentieth and o
streets.
Miss Nettie Harrington is again on duty
at the postofice after an illness lasting a
couple OF weeks.
Miss Eunice Ensor has successfully
Dassed the examination and is now on the
assigned list OF teachers.
Mrs. Kate Weiner has returned TO Chi
cago after a visit with MT. and Mrs. Nj.
Fahey Twentieth and streets,
Councilman Welsh spent yesterday I'm
Lincoln looking after some Of the proposed
amendments TO the city charter.
The Magic City Kings Daughters will
meet on Thursday afternoon with Mrs. Don
Aver, Twenty-hfth and + streets.
Mrs. G. w. Wescott and Miss Kittie Clark