Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-04
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Bruce KOCSllsch Makes Come Correction
in Report Of His Address.
REASONS FOR FNoRING ANNEXATION
Senator Gibson Makes Statement RE-
xardIng One of His BiIIs-Baby IL
,nothered TO Death I'm Bed
with It's Mother.

SOUTH OMAHA, March ITO the Editor
of The Omaha Bee-Dear Sir Your Lin
opln correspondent, in his account Of my
,Kparks before the legislature on Friday
on8the question of annexation, uninten-
tionally does me an injustice In saying that
/ attacked or ridiculed' the present city
council of Omaha. I certainly did not do
30, much less could make any sighting
reference to the personal appearance since
/ never saw the present council In session
but once and my recollection is that they
sized up fairly well as compared with
former city councils.
! wish to say further that 1 did not crit
icise the standing or equipment of our city
schools. I am not we'll enough posted on
the matter to do 30 intelligently. Incidently
referred TO the action of the school board
In Diminishing the schools In order that the
teachers might go down to Lincoln to lobby
against annexation and / still question the
propriety as we'll as the legality of that
action. Members Of the Legislature that
talked with, however, generally placed q
proper estimate on that move.
In ali the discussions that I have been
engaged in on this question of annexation
/ have endeavored as far as possible to
avoid personalities and determinations
Reckless attacks on our city officials will
two cities any sooner and IL would also be
we'll for the opponents Of annexation to re-
member that the villifcation and abuse Of
reputable citizens and business men who
favor annexation cannot help their cause
any.
The question IL broad one, and should
be looked at from all points of view. Many.
perhaps most. Of the evils that are COM
planned of here are due to conditions that
cannot be altered 20 long as we remain a
separate municipality. In the large In
dustries that have made this city famous
as a packing center the demand for labor
" II more or less irregular and as conse-
duence we have very large floating popu-
lation. This makes It difficult. and at times
almost impossible. TO elect competent and
qualified officials to office. and this explains
many Of the serious mistakes Of our NUM-
cipal career. Consolidation with Omaha
might not remedy this entirely but 1t un-
doubtedly would minimize the effect of this
floating vote.
The statement that annexation would
bring about an increase in taxes and re-
ductIon in real estate values ! regard as
puerile. In fact, am Of the opinion that
the reverse would be. the case. The two
cities are In effect one at present and no
one who Is not real estate shark can tell
where the big city leaves of aud the
smaller one begins. Annexation at this
time would simply bring about what is sure
to come sooner or later. No matter when
It comes. whether this year or ten years
from now, 1t will have TO come through
legislative enactment The interests and
elements that now oppose annexation will
always be able to prevent It by popular
vote.
firmly believe that consolidation with
Omaha would mean better city govern
N Hiept, better management of our schools,
: IRE extensive and more permanent public
Endorsements. better equipped fire and
police service and better conditions for our
citizens generally. Believing this, I have
worked and talked for annexation. but.
probably would not have written a line
about it had l not felt called upon to COR
rect the impression that might have beef
produced by your correspondents account
of what was said at Lincoln on Friday.
BRUCE MCULLoCH.
senator Gibson Makes Denial.
Senator Gibson reports that all the bills
which he has introduced in the senate
have prospered so far and bid fair 10 be
come laws. In the following uneauivOcs
terms he tells Of the action of the senate
and his own action on the brewery bin
The article appearing in an Oman;
paper under the South Omaha news, 70
fiecting on the attitude Of Senator l.. c
Gibson in behalf of his S. F. 70, known Di
the brewery bill, is false in every paritcu
n lar.
The records win not show that he vote,
against his own bill. Neither was thor
y 10 kill the said bill. Neither was thor
ever q debate in the senate where th
question of killing the bill was considere1
Neither was there ever a tie VOTE OF
such question in which Senator 0fbsoi
voted to kill the said bill. Neither is tn
bill dead and entombed. The facts ar
that the bin was transferred from gen
eral file to the judiciary committee wher
there are ten lawyers to cure pronounce
defects which existed therein and thOs
opposing the bill moved to have Il re-
ported back In Ave days by them to III
senate. This was on Friday and an I'D
~ journment was to be taken to Tucsda,
~ and a majority voted against such quic
II action. as there would not be sufficien
time to rewrite and correct It,
The bill was reported back to the senat
Thursday in legal form and will receiy
the support of the senator referred /
and-wiil without doubt pass that body.
Statement by DR.. BentE.
DR.. William c. BentE one of the republ
can candidates for the Board Of Education
desires to make the following statemeu
of his position and attitude that 1t may b
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