Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26
PROGRAM THE THING
The Bees Policy Is Commended by
Strong Business Men,
BARLOW SAYS NEED Is EVIDENT
John l., Kennedy ana G. {. Belden
Cordially Endorse h PROPAGATION
a. One of Omaha's Great
est Needs.

LAS The Bee says. omana's immediate
and great need lie a thorough fiscal pro-
gram" said Milton t. Barlow, president
OF tho United states National bank. This
is so true that It Is self-evident and lndis-
putablN The problem will be to secure
three or five Of the best business men
in the city to work out a fiscal program.
City departmental heads will not do, be-
cause each man sees only what ia wanted
for his own work and that condition ex-
lists at present"
Mr. Barlow spoke with regard to an
editorial uttersnce in The Bee of recent
date. which said;
Among other things that the city OF
Omaha should have Just now is q fiscal
program. our city is just entering upon a
new period Of growth and expansion which
will require, within the next few years,
a large expenditure OF public money for
permanent improvements i'm the form OF
public works, municipal buildings, streets,
boulevards and parks. to say nothing OF
the acquisition OF the water works plant
and making It meet the enlarged demands
upon 1t. To finance these various projects
NIL require a lot Of figuring, and the issu-
ing OF bonds from time to time as the
money may be required.
But a city's credit, like that Of a private
corporation or individual, has limits, and
money spent for one thing cannot be avail
able for another. A fiscal program which
would start out with an inventory OF the
financial drafts which are liable to be
made on us In the present and near future,
and an estimate of their relative impor-
lance and urgency so that they may DO
taken up in their order without interfering
With nna anpthor and communicating the
whole situation, is not only desirable, but
almost imperative.
Unfortunately the initiative and respon-
slbility for different classes Of public
improvements are lodged with different
municipal authorities who rave ordinarily
worked entirely Independent OF one another.
II seems to US, however, that the time has
come for some coordination and oo-opera-
ton between these bodies"
Discussing this subject John L. Kennedy
pointed out that Omaha has been living on
old and narrow lines with regard to its
finances and that a broad and comprehen-
sive plan for future municipal finance IL
imperative.
II agree absolutely" said he, there IN
at present An utter lack OF coordination
and cooperation among different municipal
authorities charged with various public
improvements VIC are proceeding AOHH
the same lines as twenty years ago.
Omaha has grown, is growing, and will
grow; but its growth has been in a crude
way, Development has not been organic
and what we need is a broad, ~comprehen-
sive plan which will provide not only for
the present, but the future. 1t is a Ques-
ton of plan first and method later. Even
IL legislative enactment should be neces-
sary to carry out a thorough fiscal prob
lem, what is needed now Is the program
ITSELF"
c. C. Belden, Of Thompson q Belden ex-
pressed himself in cordial sympathy with
the others:
THE need Of such q fiscal program Il
so apparent to thinking men, or men who
think at all, that none can dispute It. The
gravest problem would be the securing Of
a committee or board to work one out
the members Of which would be absolutely
without design except to do the best pos.
sible work for the city. Certainly the
present state of matters, voting bonds fol
this and that, az the editorial suggests
without regard TO all considerations In,
volved. is a 'hand-to-mouth policy"