Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-07
MAYOR IS TIRED OF DELAY
Presents to the Council an Ordinances Fix
ing Water Ratee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Makes Material Reduction From the
Rates I'm the Ordinance Compiled
by Engineer Kiersted for
the Committee.

Mayor Macrae, evidently despairing Of the
special committee Of which Councilman
Wallace Is chairman, doing anything, sub
mitted at the meeting OF the city council
last night an ordinance containing a sched-
ule Of water rates This ordinance was
drawn at the mayors request by Harl g.
FINLEY, the legal firm specially employed
by the city In the water works matter.
The ordinance, while based to some ex-
tent upon the schedule prepared by Expert
Klersted, provides for a greatly modified
schedule and Il is doubtful n . will be ac-
ceptable to the water works company. Mr..
Kiersted's schedule provided for a minimum
rate OF H.8 for any service under meter
/ rates, a minimum rate Of S1O.5 where closet
\ or bath tub was used, S13B for closet and
/ tub. and S1S3 for closet, bath tub, hose
and general use. Mayor Macraes ordinance
provides for the s7.B minimum, for a s.
minimum. including either bath OF closet,
and for a 80 minimum including bath and
closet. hose and general use for barn and
all other purposes. The reduction In the
highest minimum in the mayors schedule
from that OF Expert Kiersted It will be
seen Is ts25, while in the second highest
the reduction Is S425 The ordinance was
referred to the committee OF the whole,
which will meet tonight to consider It,
Revision of Ordinances.
Two hours of the session were consumed
IN the reading Of a number of revised or
dinances submitted by @. w. Scott who
is recompiling the ordinances. one Of
these ordinances governing the duties, etc
OF the mayor is to conform with the law
as amended by the recent legislature,
which gives the mayor considerably in
creased power II places In the hands OF
| the mayor instead Of the city council the
| appointment and supervision OF street and
sidewalk commissioner, poll tax collector,
| city physician or health officer, superin-
tendent of markets. which was formerly an
| elective ONCE; poundmaster, custodian OF
| city building, city electrician and chief
Of the police department. The only APP
pointment left with the city council is
| that OF city clerk.
The new resolution drafted by City So
! licitor Kimball providing for the exemption
| from taxation of sugar in transit stored
| in Council Bluffs was passed after more
or less discussion. County Attorney Hess
spoke in support OF the adoption Of the
resolution which, he stated would mean
/ the erection OF several warehouses in the
| city. Mayor Macrae, while not opposing
the resolution. said he could not under
stand the need of such a resolution II such
a commodity while In transit was exempt
| by law from taxation.
Residents Of the Second precinct Of the
Sixth ward. known as Cutoff. presented
a complaint that the Omaha Rod and Cur
club had fenced up a street which pre-.
vented the complainants from gaining
access TO the lake, 1t was explained thai
| the club had been granted permission By
| the council TO fence up the street in
question. Councilmen Msloney and Hen
dirk were appointed committee to in
vestigate the complaint and report TO the
| council