Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-06
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Mayor KOutsky and Finance Committee
Looking Into City Expenses
&fAsURERS STUBS ALL TO Be EXAMINED
City OmcinIs Hope to Keep This
Years Levy Below Eight Mills,
ns Against Nearly Nine
Mills Last Year.

Mayor Koutsky and some OF the mem
bers OF the finance committee commenced
work early Wednesday morning on the
| treasurers books for the purpose OF ascer-
Ining just what was expended in each
md during the fisca. year. The mayor
is devoting all OF his time to this work.
His honor said last evening that he had
not progressed far enough 10 give any idea
OF the total expenditures in each fund
we will continue this work." said the
mayor, 'untfr we find out just what has
been expended, taking the city treasurers
stubs az evidence of the amount paid out.
When we find out what was spent last
year we will commence to figure on the ex-
penses for the fiscal year which commences
August 1, am in hopes to keep the levy
below mills on the valuation returned
by tho tax commissioner, but 1t is possible
that with some added expenses in view we
will be compelled to make a levy of IS mills"
Last year the levy was so mills. Unofficial
figures show that not less than $4,000 will
be needed TO pay municipal expenses for
the coming fiscal year.
There is a demand in almost every de-
partment for additional help. The fire de-
partment needs more men and more appa-
ratus, In the police department there is
call for patrol wagon and more men,
There is also demand for a remodeling of
the entire fire alarm system The present
system is not what It should be and some
of the alarm boxes are way beyond the re-
pair stage From an outsiders standpoint
Il will he hard matter to meet expenses
with an s-mill levy.
Trees Need Cutting.
The city authorities seem to have forgot
ten all about the orders issued some time
ago about cutting low-hanging branches On
trees which overhang the sidewalks. In
only a few instances have property owners
paid any attention to the orders of the
council, and the mayor has not put men to
work trimming trees as was suggested. In
some OF the residence portions the branches
hang so low over the walks that an aver
age sized person cannot walk along with
out having TO dodge the low branches. Com
plants continually being made about
: this matter, but there seems to be nothing
doing in this line as far as the city officials
are concerned.
Must Not Lose Time.
Property owners who are planning to put
in a remonstrance against the repaving of
Twenty fourth street are being notified by
some of those interested not to lose any
time the Twenty-fourth street paving
ordinance is to be called up for its last
reading on Monday night next. There
- btetnS 10 nave Deen so muCn juggling in
TDhis matter that but few of the property
y owners know just where they stand. City
officials are reported to be talking with
those who have signed remonstrance and
endeaVoring to have names now on the pc
tition withdrawn While the pavement in
this street is In many places beyond re-
pair and property owners do not like the
idea of having brick pavement laid, Others
want asphalt or nothing. No one around
the city hall or in the streets seems able
20 predict just how the matter will end
The ordinance now before the council calls
for vtrifled brick pavement from A to @
street.. ,--ry Ga --~-~s r"~.
Swift's switch.
The Rock Island road has run switch
into the south end of the Swift plant, as
was mentioned in The Bee of Monday
There has been all kinds of talk abou
the meaning of this venture, but it ap
pears that there is nothing to this NOV,
except TO give Swift better transportation
facilities. An official of the Swift com
pany stated to a Bee reporter last nigh
that this matter of a switch was taker
up with the Rock Island about six months
ago and that there was nothing under
handed about the matter I'VE can" saiC
this oHhclaI secure much better railroad
facilities by having an additional tract
into the plant than with only one. Th
switch was laid In order to give us bette
service and that is all there is to the mat
ter"
Mrs. Hurley Sent to County Jail.
"a Mrs Hurley. called by the police the ter
~ of Indian hill, was brought before Pc
lice Judge King Wednesday afternoon AM
sent TO the county Jail for the non-pay
Inent of fines amounting to S27. Only re
Gently Mrs. Hurley was tried on three DIFF
ferent charges OF disturbing the peace an
Was fined 50 in each case. She asked 70
little time to secure the funds Ate
being released Mrs Hurley paid no atten
ton to notices sent her to call and settle
Yesterday she was brought in by two pc
county Jail. The woman asked time
rs home ana prepare for the Journey Whe
she returned In the custody of a coupl
Nof officers she had a large basket filled wit
butter, eggs, bread cookies and cake, ais
a change of clothing.
AS she was leaving the court room Mrs
Hurley asked Judge King: "WiH the