The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-12-09
OMAHA'S MAYOR.
A Grand Jury Critics. Dahlman, The
Cowboy Official and Others.

Omaha. Dec. 9-Omaha's cowboy
mayor, James c. Dahlman, and other
officials in Omaha and South Omaha
received caustic criticism in report
made by grand jury to Judge Sears
of the district court thiss morning.
The mayor and other Omaha officials
are referred to as wholly Disregard
ing their oath OF Office. making only
a feeble attempt or no attempt. to
enforce laws and in reality not hon
estly and earnestly serving the .peo-
pie
we. find men in the employ Of the
city promoting paving and furhing
contracts and accepting pay from pub
lie contractors. for such work." the
report continues. eve find many In
competent and inexperienced, inspect
ors for public work in Omaha, South
Omaha and Douglas county. and we
are convinced that some. Inspectors
protect much more carefully the in
terests Of the contractor than the
municipality, by whom they are en-
ployed."
South Omaha the Worst
Regarding conditions in South Oma-
ha, the jury, IN its report. says: 1--WE
regret to report that we found evil
dence OF graft on the part Of some of
the members of the present council,
one member being indicted for solic-
iting and accepting bribe money One
councilman frankly admitted that a
representative of corporation, now
seeking franchise and contract in
South Omaha, had offered him money
to vote for his franchise and contract,
saying as he did SO that he might as
we'll have some of the money as the
other fellows also that the franchise
would be secured if it cost 1-2 million
dollars. as it could be sold'
Our attention was called to so
many irregularities on the par: Of the
officials that we are forced to The con-
clusion that the taxpayers and citi-
lens q. South Om31a have been dis
honestly dealt with and have been
grossly and unjustly treated and that
through ignorance, incompetency and
dishonesty many thousands Of dollars
were spent by the former admins
tration without getting value received.
We are convinced that through ig-
norance Or incompetency on the part
of the majority of the members Of the
present council, the property owners
of South Omaha are now losing and
will continue to lose while such men
are in Office thousands of dollars an
nually."
Mayor Dahlman's Statement.
Omaha is one Of the best governed
cities in the United States and l have
no apologies to make to any one for
the present administration" said
Mayor Dahlman when he read the re-
port. Some people are very quick to
criticise. but they never come forward
with suggestions as how to make the
city better. II those who are criti-
cising the administration can offer
practical suggestions to eradicate
these evils, invite them to come to
my Office and present them. The ad-
ministration has kept the streets
cleaner, the sidewalks in better repair
and has had less personal injury dam
ages suits than any previous admin
istration. II the grand jury will In
dicate to me the names Of employees
in the. engineering department, who
have been guilty Of promoting paw
ing contracts. or other acts either
criminal or against public policy. I
will promptly Investigate, and IL the
charges are true will see to It that
they are no longer connected with the
department"