Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-31
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDISGS
Council Balks on Proposal to Narrow
East End Of Jones Street
GRAND JURY REPORT IS PATENT
No Vote Taken on Fixing
Penalty for swearing over the
TeIephOne-Barber ordi-
nance Repealed.

whether or not the GRIND jury went too
far in throwing the scare into the demo-
cratic city counciimen by investigating
their vacation OF city property Is not
known. but for some reason Thomas Nc
Govern. chairman Of the committee on
street improvements. and Peter Elsasser. a
member OF hat committee, nave expert
enced a wonderful change of heart, and
in the session Of the council last night
baked on the narrowing Of lower Jones
street to make possible the building Of a
large warehouse.
The charter does not give the city the
right to vacate a street outright, but it
does give the to narrow a street
But the two councilmen, who heretofore
have been in favor Of closing the city's
thOroughfares, are now set against even
narrowing a street.
Councilman Zimman introduced an ord,-
nance providing for narrowing Jones street
between Eighth and Ninth streets, from
loo feet to eighty feet. In support of the
measure he stated on the floor that IL the
street was narrowed and more room al
lowed Tor building purposes, w. o. Butts
would erect a fireproof warehouse on the
site TO cost 10000, the warehouse TO he
ASzNI5% teeI, and to be used for the stor-
age OF fruit. The councilman asserted
there is but little traffic on the street ana
mat everything reasonable ought To ba
done to encourage building. He also
showed that many of the city's streets are
narrower than eighty feet.
Ordinance Goes over.
Councilmen McGovern and Elsasser i'm
mediately began to filibuster. the former
stating that he did not believe IN malins
exceptions for any man. Essasser had
visions of securing a slice Of the congress
slonai appropriation for river and harhor
Improvement and pleaded against narrow
ing the street for the reason that the
levee is at the foot Of Jones and that
"hen the river lie made navigable Jones
street VIII De the principal thoroughfare
Of the city.
Inc ordinance was finally mmit
to the committee of the whole for further
discussion.
Councilman Bridges asked for the an
preparation of $1,000 for grading Kavan
street between Thirteenth street and West
erville avenue. but this was referred to
the committee Of the whole at the re-
quest OF Councilman McGSovern. who said
that the expenditure Of 1900 would be
but a drop in the bucket, as approximately
ls,oO yards of earth would be required 10
grade the street. A I'm ,thirty-fiye feet
deep and a block long would be necessary.
he said.
The council appropriated $50 to build a
flight of stone steps at the foot of Ohio
street. leading down to the bottoms. The
wooden stairs there are rotten ana should
accidents happen the city would be liable.
No action was taken towards opening
Nineteenth avenue from st. Mary's avenue
to Jones street, the council being en-
Joined from doing anything by the Milton
Rogers Real Estate company. The hear
ing on the injunction will be January 2.
Time Left to Swear.
The appropriation OF &lesofof the DUR
chase of flushing machines or street
sweeper OF another character was also re-
ferred to the committee Of the whole.
Councilman Sheldon's anti-swearing over
the telephone ordinance came up for final
passage with the unanimous approval of
the committee. but 1t suffered the prevail
ing fate and was sent to the OF
the whole for further discussion.
After having decided a month ago to let
the present barber ordinance stand. the
council turned around last night and re-
pealed the provision requiring the examina-
ton of BARRIERS as to proficiency and
healthfulness. Councilmen Elsasser. Han.
sen, McGovern and Zimman voted against
the repeal. the others voting to repeal.
The Bee Building company was granted,
permission, by ordinance provision, to con-
struct and maintain a subway beneath the
alley between The Bee building and the
boiler house to the north. An indemnity
bond in the sum OF $500 is required.
A new set Of bids for repairing the fire
engine houses was opened. that Of 7. L.
Wright for $500 being the lowest.
Electric arc lights were ordered installed
at the intersection of Capitol avenue and
Central boulevard. and on Harvey lane
between Harvey and Farnam streets. Gas
lamps were ordered installed at the inter
section of Twenty-seventh street and
Dewey avenue, Harvey street and Thi.ty-
fifth avenue, Thirty-first and Davenp lrt
streets. Thirty-second and Cass streets,
Thirty-first and Charles streets, Thirty
third and Charles streets and Thiry-fourth
and Maple streets.
ePOrt On City Funds.
The monthly report OF Comptroller To-
beck showed an available balance Of SsL-
2l2S in all funds at the close of business
on December q The report Is as follows:
TofaI AvaFIa1la