Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-24

81 the fire and police board at $500 per
annum. as In the old charter, but the
amendment indirectly gives the mayor a
net raise in salary Of 800 a year The
old provision read that appointed mem
bers should receive $500 and was silent ss
regards the mayors pay, but another sec
ton In the old charter provided that the
mayor should receive 500 as chairman OF
the license board. The new provision in
cludes "all" members, the mayor ex-officio,
in the pay of 500 per annum.
Section % gives the mayor the power to
appoint and discharge special policemen
'at his pleasure"
Section Il authorizes the city attorney to
appoint three assistant city attorneys, the
first two to be known as assistants in his
department and the third to be known as
tho city prosecutor.
? Section - starts the assault on the city
engineer. This provides, as did the old
charter, that the engineer shall make all
necessary surveys, plans and specifica-
tons for public work, but adds that these
shall be made subject TO change. moditi-
cation, approval or rejection by the mayor
and city council as they may decide or
direct the amended section intimatlng
that the councilmen know more about the
work than an experienced engineer.
Section IS compels the confirmation by
the council of all office employees named
by the city engineer and also authorizes
the mayor and council. not the engineer
to fix the wages of the department EN-
ployes. restrictions not placed on other
departments.
Third Assault on Engineer.
Section ~ contains the third assault on
the city engineer by compelling him to
change and modify all plans and specifica-
lions for public work when directed by
the mayor and city council" This pro-
vision was in the old charter, but was cut
out by the legislature in 1897, thereby pre-
venting contractors from lobbying in the
council chamber and inducing councilmen
to vote to change the specifications made
by the engineer and compel him to make
other plans more suitable to the contractor
This section also specifies that the mayor
shall sign all contracts for public work.
Section IS provides that the Board Of PARK
Commission shall be appointed by the
mayor with the approval of the council
instead Of by the judges Of the district
court as directed in the old charter.
Section 5S has to do with the famous
home rule" plank Of the democratic party
This provides for an elective fire and police
board of four members by a plurality o
the votes cast al the regular Guy SletlbOi
on the first Tuesday in May, 1909, Within
ten days after the passage of the act tn
governor of the state is directed to appoin
-four persons. citizens Of the city, posses
ing the qualifications for the office" Il
serve until those elected in the spring shall
have qualified.
Section 90 gives power to the mayor an
the city council, instead of to the governor
T to remove fire and police commissioners 70
misconduct. and adds failure to discharg
their duties to causes for removal.
Section 107 gives the mayor and city coun
4, Gil power TO order paving, rcpaving, gutter
I. ing and kindred street Improvement worl
on streets within 1850 feet of the city hal
instead OF the former power to order thi
> kind Of work on streets within 5000 feet Q
, the court house. Recommended by the com
! mittee.
Section l25 authorizes replatting or sui
g dividing for purposes Of replatting by
$ two-thirds vote OF the council, overturnin
g the former charter provision that land ono
G dedicated for streets and alleys could nc
be taken back by the original owner.
Cars or no Tracks
t Section 1876 provides hat upon failure c
the street car company to operate track
with cars for the public use for the perio
4 of twelve months at any time after I'll
| laying Oh buCn lTdGhb Sndll remove sue
tracks from such street or Streets" and tn
a council Is empowered to order the removi
4 of the tracks and the repaving of tn
= streets at the expense Of the street raiiwa
company.
Section 16 mixes up the several funt
= which shall be set aside out of the generi
: fund at the beginning of every year. Sc
eral of the funds are left as they are. tt
u fund for the fire department is raise
\ from $4,000 to s225.OO0, but this is the on
raise. Under the old charter the Pal
y board has a maximum of $4,000 and
minimum of $4,000. but under the ne
n charter its maximum will be but $4,000.
lie For street repairing under the old chart
ID a maximum OF $4,000 or a minimum
he $4,000 could be set aside but under Il
IN new charter the maximum for this d
i'd partment is fixed at $4,000, one-half Il
f. former amount. The public works depar
he ment is left with $4,000 to do the VOL
IN for which it formerly received $65. 900.
90 Section l75 changes the length of sittir
H. OF the Board of Equalization of the count
from two days to one day, and provid
to that the meetings shall be on the fir
or Wednesdays instead of the first Monda
in the month.
-.