Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-08
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
ssvsr Injunction Leave, the city in Bad
Middle.
MISSOURI AVENUE PAVING STILL WORSE
Some Talk of Criminal Prosecution
GrOwing out OF Allowance of
Estimates on that
Contract.


tanning the petition for a temporary In
Junction has thrown the officials into con-
sternation. IL is a difficult problem to de-
eide what should be done first. There is q
Likelihood that the injunction may be
made permanent and in that case. OF
course, none of the funds appropriated
for the sewer can be used. In the mean
time the bonds bear a heavy rate OF in
terest. The city treasurer, c. \. Melcher,
stated yesterday that, I'm that emergency,
the only thing to be done would be to
place the money on a time deposit and let
1t draw the usual rate of per cent. This
would offset the interest on the bonds.
This interest would in the other case
amount to s6O,000 before the bonds could
be redeemed.
The city attorney was OF the opinion
that there was no prospect Of winning
any advantage in appealing the case lie
advised that the council cou;d dismiss the
present contractors and readvertise for
bids much sooner than the appeal could
be tried. Few of the men about the city
nall ventured an opinion on the probable
treatment of the sewer tange in the ses-
sion OF the legislature. Some we've doubt
full IL the authority would be given to raise
a larger appropriation That appears to
be the only hope at the present. The
work Of construction is therefore tied up
for the present year with the possible
exception of two contracts. which were not
mentioned in the petition for injunction.
Talk of indictments
Mayor Hector stated yesterday morning
that he had been informed proceedings
were about to be initiated against the
Missouri avenue paving proposition. either
In the nature of an injunction. or an in
dictment before the grand jury. The be-
lief of the mayor appeared to lean toward
the latter proposition The ground Of
the action appears to be that the council
has voted to allow three estimates which
were recommended by the city engineer
amounting to $1,000 or more, and IL is as
serted that the actual work done on the
street has not amounted to more than
$4,000 or $4,000 at best. In addition to
the fact of the payment of the $1,000
it is asserted there has been no reserve
as required by the contracts. Apparently
the mayor and the majority of the coun-
Gil have allowed the contractor to have
his own way, it is said, to the point of
making themselves liable. The mayor ex-
planned the matter. that he was Influenced
to the course by his great desire 10 as
sist the people of Missouri avenue.
1t comes from an unverifed source
though with positive assertion, that the
contractor had proposed to delay the work
in some way or other until his warrants
should reach $4,000 or enough to pay
the actual bottom cost of the material
used i'm the paving. After which, he was
to pave the street, having thus insured
himself from loss Had the council stood
by it's last estimate of s5.225, above
$4,000 would have been paid.
This ~lIouva moo WAS rascipdad haoa,,.o 80
tip from certain belligerent sources that
trouble was brewing. 1t has been known
all along that the mayor and council were
taking a hazard but it was hoped by
those who have been the most urgent for
the improvements in that quarter that no
one would interfere. 1t is said of Mr.
Murphy that he has been in the habit in
all his contracts to work on the plan ex-
hibited in his work for the city i'm this in
stance. When the last or fourth estimate
was rejected by the council after its APP
prevail had been voted. the city engineer
expressed himself that IL WAS only right.
for the property in the nature OF material,
though delivered on the ground, does not
become the property of the city until laid
on the streets.
II an indictment is resorted to 1t will
doubtless include the mayor, the members
voting i'm the affirmative i'm the allowance
OF the engineers estimates and possibly the
engineer. for having submitted the esti-
/ mates. The charge may be malfeasance
In ONCE and may have the effect OF i'm
parchment.
City Hall Another Problem.
The city hall will no doubt furnish a
subject for further legal ~angies The bids
| for construction will be- opened October Is
Here, no doubt, the same question will
arise. because the city hall appropriation
will not cover oy 5000 the cost of the
buildings designed for the site. The city
hall proper falls within the appropriation.
but this bnildlng does not include the Jail
and police court, which were planned 70
occupy another building. The plan was
to boost the police fund allowed by the
levy and apply the money thus secured for
the construction of the Jail. This plan was
worked last year on the new fire hail. The
money was secured from the scavengei
\ collections. Judging from the feeling which
still exists In some quarters since the
purchase of the city hall site last spring
the letting of these contracts will be the
iorerunner OF still another squsll. To say
that there is much indignation in many
quarters is to put the situation mildly
Quite as much is arrayed on the one side
| as upon the other.
Harvest Home Festival
One week from today will be the oc.
casion of the Harvest Home festival TO bt
celebrated by the members of St. Mar.
j tins Episcopal church. As usual. dona
lions OF fruit will be made, On this oc
CASTOR the fruits 50 donated will be giver
10 the Clarkson hospital in Omaha and q
the South Omaha hospital in the city
The fruit will be sent to the hospital in
dicated by the donor. Those who wish 4
make donations OF fruit are referred Il
Mrs. Everett or TO Mrs. Adkins who viii
J see that the donations are cared for.
Big Receipts of sheep.
The sheep receipts the last week hav
been the largest in the history Of tn
: South Omaha yards. During the wee
10000 have been placed on the local mar
ket. The bulk OF these-anImals were sol
again to the stockers and feeders and wi
; again be returned at a later period fat
tened for the slaughter. Thus the shee
business bids fair 10 be good for tn
autumn and early winter at least. IN
sheep have sold fairly well, but the larG
! ahinmenta were resnonaihle for q sli9h