Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-31
WEAVER SAVES SALARY Bill
Olson Refuses to Vote for Ordinance
Making the Increase.
NO QUORUM PRESENT WITHOUT HIS VOTE
Member from the Fourth Reached ny
Telephone and Puts in an
Appearance in Time to
save the Day.

There was nearly a slip 'twiNt the cup and
lip when the city council met last night TO
pass an ordinance providing for the in
creases in the salaries OF the city clerk,
chief of police and members of the police
and fire departments. At the executive
session held before the council meeting,
which lasted an hour Councilman Olson
stated that he would refuse to vote for the
passage OF the ordinance under suspension
of the rules, insisting that the measure was
one which should be finally passed upon by
the incoming city council. Arguments were
in vain, Councilman Olson remained obdur-
ate and declined to go on record as favor
ing the passage of the ordinance. He also
was not at all worried about going on rec
ord as being opposed to its passage.
without Councilman Olson, owing to the
absence of Councilman FINLEY. who Is con-
fined to his home as the result of his re-
cent accident and Councilman Weaver,
quorum would have been lacking and the
ordinance would thus have to go over. After
more or less trouble Councilman Weaver
was reached by telephone and he at once
sgnihed his willingness to save the day
and fill out the needed quorum. When word
came that the councilman from the Fourth
ward would put in an appearance Council
man Olson decided he had important bust
ness elsewhere, donned> his overcoat and
hat and slipped away from the city hall
with the arrival of Councilman Weaver,
just as the clock struck 9, Mayor Macrae
called the council to order and the ordi-
nance raising the salary of the city clerk
from H,OS0 to S1,90 a year, that of the
chief of police from 500 to S1s5 per month";
that of the night captain from so to $50
a month. that of the chief of the fire
department from $50 to Ss5 a month and
the pay of the members of the police and
fire departments from s65 to so a month
was promptly passed under suspension Of
the rules and everything was again Sc
rene.
Want More Pay for Mayor.
Then there was introduced a petition
i signed by the following six ex-mayors, ].
II. Clesver NJ. F.. Rohrer, Dell Morgan
| Thomas Bowman, d. Macrae, ST., and
! George Carson, asking that the salary
OF the mayor be restored to its former
! figure of $500. The salary for a number
of years has been $500. The petition con-
/ tanned the following preamble:
! The increased commercial importance of
S our city demands the time, attention and
him devolves the Inauguration of BUSH
A ness policy that will rebound to the well
: fare or detriment of the city. The salary
as now fixed BY the council is not com
| mensurate with the responsibilities of the
office and we therefore petition your honor
able body to in some way provide for a
compensation not less than $1,000 year.
| Nothing was done to make any pro-
] vision for the requested increase in the
/ ordinance passed last night, but the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Be it Resolved. That the foregoing petit
to the incoming city council the 'J passage
| of an ordinance fixing the salary of the
mayor at $500, and further recommend
that all the expenses OF the incoming
| mayor incident to the Office be paid in addi-
ton to his salary.
An ordinance providing for increasing the
lnumber of men in the police department to
twenty-one in addition to the city marshal
who is ex-offioio chief of police. and one
ceputy marshal, was passed under suspen-
sion Of the rules.
The controversy over the location of the
proposed crossing from the Odd Fellows
temple to the opposite side of Broadway
was settled by the council ordering It laid
to the southeast corner, opposite the Dodge
property, instead of to the southwest cor
ner, as ordered laid by Councilman FINLEY.
chairman of the streets and alleys COM
mittee. Resented brothers, by agreement
of adjoining property owners, was given
permission to extend their show window
seven inches over the sidewalk. The origi.
nal application asked for eighteen inches
and then was reduced to twelve inches. pu
met with opposition on the part of tht
adjoining property owners. City Solicitor
Snyder gave 1t his opinion that th,
council had not the right to grant the per
mission to occupy even seven inches bf {
public sidewalk, but the city council ignI oret
his protest
August Boysen's application for a pei mi
to conduct saloon at 1900 South stxtl
street was referred TO the chief of polide
A number OF routine matters OF nj lo
Importance were disposed Of or referred I,
the incoming council
n Saturday, speeiql. \,