Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-30
COUNCIL ACTS ON THE DOC
Prepares Ordinance Requiring Mayor TO
Call for Protection When Needed
MUST FIRST KNOW OF THE NECESSITY
McGOvern wants Poundmaster MIL
lard Personally 60 spend Thirty
Days Catching Dogs on
the street.

The city council became enthused yester-
day afternoon in committee OF the whole
over the dog situation in Omaha. After
considerable discussion on the subjects OF
rabies, dog catchers and dogs in general
the council voted to recommend for pas
sage, upon final reading this evening, an
ordinance to regulate dogs
This ordinance provides that when the
mayor shall find and determine upon inves-
tigation that there is danger of the ex-
istence or spread OF rabies. or whenever he
shall find and determine upon investigation
that many vicious dogs are running at
large TO the danger Of public safety he
shall Issue a proclamation ordering and
requiring all persons owning or harboring
dogs either to conhne such dogs by tying
or keeping in leash, or, IL the animal be
allowed to run at large, a muzzle may be
placed on the dog
The idea Of the council is that II dog
is allowed OF its owners premises It must
be IN leash or muzzed and must be kept
on the premises in such manner that per
sons having legitimate occasion for enter
Ing the premises will not be endangered.
II Is noted In the ordinance that II shall
be the duty OF police officers to either
Kill or send to the pound all dogs found
on the streets in violation Of the ordinance.
The period of time which 1t Is intended
the mayors proclamation shall cover Is
placed at four months in the ordinance
but II is believed this feature Of the new
ordinance will occasion some debate this
evening when the ordinance is brought up
for final reading and passage
Father williams Approves II.
Rev. John Williams OF the Nebraska
Humane society addressed the council and
said the new ordinance appeared to be
quite acceptable 80 far as he could see He
said most of the members Of his society
believed rabies existed in Omaha and he
was inclined to that belief, although he
was not positive DIR. Miller, he remarked,
did not speak for the Nebraska Humane
society in the contention that rabies did
not exist in Omaha
Councilman Zimman favored the idea that
all dogs taken from premises should be in
leash. Councilman McGovern declared that
the whole present trouble with the dogs
was due to negligence on the part OF the
poundmaster. Mr.. McGovern said he be-
lieved the council should adopt a resolu-
ton directing Poundmaster Willard to get
out himself for thirty days on his wagon
and round up the stray dogs.
Councilman Funkhouser declared he serl-
ously believed the time had arrived for
the council to protect the citizens rather
than the dogs. He said he had investigated
the situation for himself and was assured
something was wrong with Omaha dogs.
Health Commissioner Cornell intimated
that his department had some authority in
the premises. but had held OFF thus far to
give the councilmen time to act.
The new ordinance specifies that the
mayor ''shall' issue the proposed procla-
nation. This time the council will tell the
mayor there is rabies in Omaha, and the
mayor will merely perform his executive
function of issuing the proclamation with
out any delegation Of authority as was held
in the last proclamation incident
McPhersOn Gets Contract.
The council committee decided to grant
T. B. Mcpherson Of South Omaha, through
Guy L. Axtell. a hfteen-year contract for
the removal Of garbage. Under this con-
tract, which is to be drawn up within
day or 30, Mr.. Mcpherson agrees to remove
all animal and vegetable garbage without
cost to city or citizens OF Omaha. Within
the next ninety days Mr.. Mcpherson agrees
to erect a reducing plant. Garbage is to be
removed once a day from the business sec
ton and twice a week from May l to No
vember /, and once a week the rest of the
year, from the residence districts. A 5000
bond is TO be furnished for the faithful per
Torrance Of the contract. The work is to
be under the direction OF the health COM
missioner.
In connection with this new garbage
| contract, Health Commissioner ConneI will
have introduced an ordinance requiring citi-
zens to keep their garbage separated from
rubbish and to provide suitable reoeptacles
| for the purpose. DR.. Connell believes that
when the citizens realize their garbage will
! be removed free there will not be much
kicking on his proposed regulation.
! James Whelan was granted the dead an
! imal contract for three years. This contract
will provide that Mr.. Whelan shall remove
all dead animals without cost to the city.
Licenses for Peddlers.
An ordinance to provide for the licensing
! of persons who sell wares on street corners
! was recommended for passage. A rate OF
81 per day or $40 per week was mentioned
in the ordinance and medicine agents were
prohibited altogether.