Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-06
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
Democratic Councilman Take Advsn-
tage Of Mayors Absence.
SUSTAIN VETO. THEN RAISE LEVY
Acting Mayo signs the
Resolution and Fines Higher
Taxes Upon ms City
Finally.

Due TO the persistence of the democratic
city council and in direct opposition TO the
recommendation Of the mayor. the tax
levy for 1909 remains the same as the pres
ent year-S, 15O, Ooo-from $4,000 to Noo'WO
higher than necessary.
Fearing the city council might change tie
mind for the fifth time on the tax levy LOT
1909. President johnson lost no time In APP
proving the action Of the council Tuesday
evening and approved the measure as
his first official act as acting mayor Wed
nesday morning. The approval OF the higher
levy puts a quietus to the controversy and
the taxpayers OF Omaha will have to raise
from $4,000 to 10000 more next year than
the mayor believes necessary.
The higher levy was fixed upon last
Tuesday night, following the decision OF the
Facilitating council the day previous to
make II $4,000 lower. Mayor Oahlman We
toed the measure on the ground that there
will be no need next year OF large sums
in the general and sinking funds. The
veto was sent to the council Tuesday even
ing and that body promptly sustained It's
chief. Later, however. Councilman Elsasser
thought better of the action and reintro-
duced the same old resolution calling for
the higher levy-&sO0.0oo in the general fund
and $4,000 In the sinking fund-snd II vas
passed.
Molten for Delay Fails.
Councilman Zimman, the republican mem
Der who has strenuously advocated the
lower levy, sought to have the matter re-
ferred TO the committed Of the whole for
consideration. but lost. BY referring IT
for discussion, action would have been de-
ferred for one week and by that time
Mayor Dahlman. who left Monday night
for Texas, would be home.
In the final action Councilman Zlmman,
through a Misunderstanding in a mixup of
amendments, inadvertently voted for the
: adoption of the Elsasser resolution for the
= higher levy. He subsequently made q mo-
ton to reconsider, which will set him right
, on the record, even IL the motion to re-
4 consider was lost. Councilmen Bedford,
( Bridges and Funkhouser stood with coun-
8 Gilman zimman for the lower levy.
: Reasons for Veto
Mayor DahlmRn vetoed the higher tar
II levy for the reeson that II will place In
: the sinking fund $4,000 more than enough
I to pay the $4,000 interest. This year as,
900 has been paid on old judgments, 1000
has been taken out OF the public work.
: fund and $500 has been used in equlppinl
the office of the gas commissioner. tn,
last two items will not be duplicated mex
- sNNht oHN III a opinion OF the CITY at
torney $4,000 will cover all judgments mex
year. This will mean a cut Of 800 from
the general fund. Unpaid taxes will IN
crease the total sum in the sinking fun,
to $4,000 by January /, all of which, Al
N the opinion Of the chief executive, vii
r make an excess OF S16, 900 In the fund
under the higher levy.
lie The city comptroller was instructed to IN
ID clude In the next appropriation ordInanc
the sum of ts,647.6s for the taking up Of
X number OF old warrants which the court
s. have decided the city must pay. The oil
sr warrants were issued ten and fifteen year
re ago for sidewalk and paving construction
lie the city losing out In. collecting the ia
lie from the property. OF the total amour
re p.SSo.S is for interest.
Ia from Water Compaux.
" The Omaha Water company notified tn
council that unless bills for water fu
nished the fire engine houses between N,
vember' 1906. and July, 1905. are paid o,
of the next appropriation ordinance, wat,
viii be turned Off The notice was referrs
TO the water board, though President JohI
a. son tried to get the council to take SON
IL definite action on the ground that n
water board never does anything.
e- Councilman Funkhouser's amendment
iA NcFNNiA AOE the QeQu
ton OF Is per cent of the amount OF Il
gas eompany's bills for every day durir
the month that gas does not come up
the test OF COO British thermal units. pass,
~ the first two readings. This deduction
In addition to the fine OF 500 a day 4
failure to furnish gas up to test.
no Councilman Brucker introduced a new O
or dinance amending the pushcart ard lun,
wagon ordinance to include newspapers al
ng periodicals. The ordinance passed the fir
lat two readings. II it passes and is APPROX,
sw 1t will exclude the sale OF literature fro
10 wagon or stands In the business distri
no OF the city.
~ Statement.
80 According to the financial statement
the city comptroller. there was 81 ,G65. 4Ts
10 In all funds OF the city at the close
-, business on July u. the statement being
a. follows;
res Sesh ia uraWer ..''''"''s'"''.N s.lst
Checks. for deposit .,............ 1851
are Balances In Banks, City Funds
First Nat. bank .......s334,7 I'LL
Merchants Nat. bank. 27, 74l.S2
Nebraska Nat. bank. d. Ill, t6 80
- Omaha Nat. bank ....... S4S, $40. u
I. s. Nat bank........ $40. 760.Ss
KountEe Bros. N. T.. A.s74,54-S1.4 40. 0s2
School Funds
- First Nat. bank........G 5l,O96.l