Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-20
NEW CARBnC1LAWSFOR CITY
Legislation Will Be Sought This Winter
to Give Cmlha Good System.
HEALTH COMMISSIONER MAKES PLANS
Dr. COnneII is Preparing Draft of
Needed Laws that win Give
Him and the city snIu-
.-r, tRry Powers. t-. .i

Health Commissioner Connen has received
from the health commissioner Of Milwaukea
a list of questions regarding the garbage
situation in Omaha. Owing to the loose
condition of Omaha's garbage system 1t
was DR.. Connells unpleasant duty to inform
the Milwaukee official that he (ConnelD
could not imagine how a city could have
poorer control of its garbage than Omaha
has at present, and has had for sons time.
Health Commissioner Connell is, however,
looking forward to better things for Omaha
in the garbage line. When the present
health commissioner assumed his Office he
I consulted with the city legal department
and soon learned his hands were tied so far
as the garbage system was concerned. The
local garbage system has been in woeful
condition for some time. Next years prom
/ ises a change.
The Milwaukee commissioner asked
whether Omaha owned its garbage plant,
is it let by contract how is garbage dis
posed OF? and few other queries of minor
importance. DR. Connell replied that Omaha
does not own its plant and garbage is
neither gathered by contract or collected by
the city, anyone can under the present
! system collect garbage.
Four Thousand for Dump
Omaha is now paying about 5000 year
/ for maintenance OF the dump at foot of
/ Jones street and for removal OF dead ami
mails. A man is supposed to stay at the
dump during the day and another at night,
but It appears no system is maintained in
the management Of the dump. Only a few
weeks ago complaint was made 10 the city
| that Jones street from Tenth east had BEEN
J strewn during the night with offensive mat
1 ter Under existing conditions # was i'm
| possible for the health commissioner TO
! trace the offender. Proprietors Of the two
| large garbage companies declared they had
no work during the night in question The
man paid>ro stay at the dump during the
night could OFFER no information that would
lead to the identity of the miscreant. who
| evidently was using wagon not tightly
boxed, Numerous other incidents Of n like
nature have been brought to the attention
of the police during the year.
Most Of the garbage moved during the
year was handled by two firms, although
various individuals engaged in the musi-
! ness Citizens living I'm the outer parts OF
| the city have had difficulty IN getting gar
bage removed IN anything like a reasonable
| time, all through a lack OF garbage system
IN Omaha.
City's Rights PrOscribed,
! At present the city has no right to order
garbage removed. The city charter is prac-
| tically a nonenity, so far as giving the
health commissioner control of garbage. II
| the garbage Of one citizen becomes often
/ sive TO another the latter may file a COM
plant against the former charging him
/ with maintaining nuisance, but appears
TO many as, O rather severe relief when
! simple and reasonable legislation would
! meet requirements.
Commissioner Cornell Is hopeful of Sc
| curing legislation this winter and inaugu-
rate new system next May, for, he con-
tends, Omaha is in pressing need of laws