Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-24
SUBWAY TAX IS AGREED on
Council Committee of the Whole
Fixes Twenty-Five Mills.
WILL BE ON LAND VALUE ALONE
Councilman McCOvern Gives Notice
of a Resolution 20 Move Fire
Fighters from sixteenth
and lizard.

City council committee Of the whole
agreed on a plan for taxing subwavs under
the streets Of Omaha and bridges across
alleys between any two buildings, at its
meeting Monday afternoon. The ordinance
agreed on to be presented to the Coun-
Gil this evening will provide for a
tax OF q mills on the dollar Of assessed
valuation Of lots abuttinE and owned BY
the builders of such subway or bridge
Where there is more than one bridge all
above the first will be exempt,
Councilman Bridges endeavorcd to have
the tax placed at 20 per cent for a begin
ming. until the next real estate valuation
has been made. Councilman Davis opposed
this, as did Judge Berka, and when the
vote was taken Bridges stood alone. As
originally introduced the ordinance pro.
vided for a 10 mill tax on the assessed vaiu-
alton Of the land and the improvements.
The committee also amended the ordinance
to cut out any possibility OF taxing rail.
road viaducts. at the request Of Attorney
Carl c. Wright.
An ordinance to permit the Union PACT
fc to lay tracks on the east and west side
Of Eleventh street, from the north line Of
Capitol avenue to the north line OF Dodge
street, was laid over pending the filing Of
waivers OF damage by the property owners
in the blocks bordering the street at that
point.
The committee on public property and
buildings, with the building inspector, will
proceed to repair the police patrol barn, at
a cost not to exceed $500. The request Of
the fire and police board for an appropria-
ton to buy new equipment was again de-
ferred without action. 1t will be given con-
sideration at the council meeting Tuesday
evening.
Police Commissioner Heard.
w. ]. Hunter and C. J. Karbach Of the
Fire and Police board were present, and
Mr.. Hunter explained at length what the
board thought ought to be done. They
hoped to have the big automobile that was
destroyed replaced by the insurance money,
but they also desired to purchase a second
machine, a new horse patrol wagon, new
emergency wagon, new horses, harness,
ETC., and felt that, while the full amount
Of $4,000 might not be needed, they should
be given a liberal appropriation to put the
department in first class shape.
When Commissioner Hunter finished his
talk Councilman McGovern gave notice
that he will, at tonight's meeting. offer
a resolution to move the fire companies
at present stationed in the old house at
Sixteenth and lizard to the new house at
Twenty-fourth and Lake. THAT old house
will fall down and kill people one OF these
days" said McGovern, and the men
should be moved at once.
Commissioner Karbach pointed out that
to move the companies from Sixteenth and
lizard would leave a large and valuable
district with little or no fire protection,
and said the house on Tenth street, be-
tween Farnam and Dodge, is in as bad
condition as the Sixteenth street house.
We'll, I'm going 20 give the people a
chance to wake up and think these matters
over seriously" responded McGovern.
1t was decided to an appro-
priation of $50 to ave the rubbish boxes
recently bought by the city painted green,
and to have them lettered with the street
names.