Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-13
PROBLEMS OF GOVERNMENT
Mayor kacrae Makes Candid Talk to the
Pastors Association.
MOST or TROUBLES CONCERN REVENUE
Citizens object to Taxes and Majority
of Expense Money Comes from
ToIeratiOn OF Things Geuer-
ally C1aHssd as Vices.

Mayor Mscrse. in response to an invi.
vitation addressed to the Council Bluffs
Pastors association yesterday morning, on
Some of the Difficulties Of Civic Admins
trsuon,g -prefaced his remarks with the
statement that a municipality must be
run on much the same plan as a private
business The difficulty OF running a city
ne commended. was largely due TO the form
OF government which, he commended wsE
toe cumbersome. In explanation, he said
that while the wards were of different
size and the conditions existing in them
are materially different the control Of
each and ali must be by the joint council
For Instance the wards in which the most
paved streets are 60 be found were clamor-
ing for street sweeper. while the wards
IN the. outlying districts, where the streets
are as yet pnpaved, cared little or npth-
ing for the same. Mayor Macrae gave Il
as his opinion that il the government Of
the city was carried on under what is
known as the Galveston system. conditions
would be much improved
Referring to the difference between the
income }of the city derived from direc:
taxation OF property and the expense of
running the municipality. Mayor Macrae
cited the fact that the city taxes brought
expenses were over $1,000. The deficit, ne
explained. had to be secured in some man
net 70 keep the city's credit good.
Mayor Macrae suggested that conditions
could be improved If both political parties.
instead OF expanding so much money at
each election, would turn this money over
for the use of the city and thereby assist
in maintaining an enlarged police force.
In this connection he said:
% .--,,, Problem of Ward HeeIers.
In many of the wards there are four
or 1--WE ward heeleTs and when there is a
strife between the two political parties
it,is the work of these men 20 secure from
twenty TO thirty votes from each ward.
For this work the ward heller generally
gets about $50
In one ward in this city in a recent
election at least 5000 was spent by both
parties buying votes for which from 81
prised at some of the citizens of the place
who are generally known respectable
men, standing around all day and wait
ing until the last few moments before the
polls are closed to see who would give
them the most money. Sometimes they will
OF blocks and fix him, and it Is impossible
foty the small. police force to handle this
i problem. 1t would be well for a citizen
committee to stay around the polling places
with "a convenient justice OF the peace
and arrest every man on the spot who
could be caught at such work. 1t
Re guarding licensed gambling Mayor Ma
craze explained his position rs follows:
II IL not SO long ago since an investiga-
tlpp Of tho Stumbling interests In Council
Blifrs revealed the fact that % per cent OF
the Rambllng IN. this city IA done by Omaha
aud fnReignatla rlies@. BY another lau thoriky
not oyer 10 per cent of,'the gambling Is
done by residents iof this city. II the resi-
dents of the city would pay their taxes
on fhaiF paetul property. instead of on q
fictitious amount or II thirty or forty citi.
gems would come forward with a guaranty
run without the aid OF, these institutions
which are heid@to be Objectionable II Is
impossible to cut down the fire depart.
nlent or the police department OF expend
less than we do on the different appropria.
Z tons for repairs and n you raise the
taxes. the citizens Immediately set up
howl and Send their lawyers to the cts
council until they get the action rescinded
II may be wrong TO permit the institutions