Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-06
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
John Witzgsll Shot in Hand by Police
Captain Peter Powers.
WARM TINE IN CITY COUNCIL
street Railway Occupation Tax and
Extension OF Car Line 60 west
L street is the Moving
Cause.

Captain Peter Powers Aof the South
Omaha police department OF John WITT
gall at s p. m. Monday. The bull
let entered Witzgalls left hand. through
his pocket and broke several Of the bones
and %tendons, the missile lodging in the
fleshy part Of the palm.
Powers was riding one Of the Albright
cars, and for several nights some bricks
have been thrown on this line. A small
mob appeared on the walks as the car
passed and the officer replied to a shower
Of small stones with a shot into the crowd.
Chief Briggs said he had given his men
orders to stop any violence to cars at any
cost. The crowd left off its attack with
the shot. The captain said he did not shoot
at any of the men in the crowd but aimed
at the ground. The bullet, he declared,
glanced off the pavement and struck witz-
gall. This may account for the ragged
wound.
Witzgall said he had done nothing In con-
nection with the mob and was on his way
home at Railroad avenue and jefferson
streets. and had his hand in his pocket.
The hole in his pocket proved his state
ment. Considerable care was taken the
balance Of the evening to watch the AL
bright cars for fear OF further trouble.
Warm Time In City Council.
The meeting of the city council last night
was exciting and much bitter feeling was
expressed against the council members for
the attitude Of that body toward the lay
ing of a street car extension to West L
street. The Union Stock Yards company
submitted an agreement to allow the car
company the use OF the o street viaduct
and to pass through the yards for the ac-
commodetion Of the West Side residents.
This agreement was filed. The occupation
tax ordinance was the point about which
all the trouble and discussion was waged.
The railroad company has declared II the
occupation tax is enforced it will not ex-
tend the line TO West l. street. The coun.
Gil has determined to pass the ordinance
against all the other public service corpor-
atoms at least, and fears to be inconsistent
II 1t fails to pass the one concerning the
street railway company. The West Sid
residents are at the point of desperation
in their struggle for Improvement. The
council m was packed with men
and women and at times they cheered, and
again Kissed and Knocked the councilmen de.
family. The mayor raped for order, but
his effort was vain for a long time.
lt bCSElOH wa COhCluNEu bg nv GUM
Gil agreeing to defer action for a week.
The Highland Improvement club asked
that one Of the new fire halls of the city
be located between jefferson and Jackson
streets near Twenty-fifth.
The garbage ordinance was repassed
granting to John Walweber the contract fol-
hauling city garbage for five years.
The proposition to pay John Gaughan, the
patrolman who resigned, a full months
salary was the cause of much discussion
and was considered as a direct rap at the
Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
who received the resignation. The matter
was referred TO the finance committee.
The necessary ordinance was ordered Ia
Issue SIS. 900 IN bonds for the erection Of
fire halls and for the purchase OF fire
equipment.
The city attorney was instructed to re-
port on the possibility of passing an or
dinance to compel the Ralston line to term
mate at Twenty-fourth and N streets.
The city engineer was instructed to pre-
pare an estimate OF the cost Of paving
Thirteenth street from Clontarf precinct to
Missouri avenue. A number OF sidewalk
and grading ordinances were advanced.
The Offerman Plumbing, Heating and
{ Construction company was low bidder on
the contract to improve and repair the in
tersectlon Of Thirty-third and Q streets.
Board of Education.
The Board of Education met in regular
session last evening and had for its most
important item the proposition TO submit
an issue of 10000 in bonds for purchasing
school sites and for improvements to the
same to a vote of the people at the time
~ the general election in November. The