Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-19
AFFAIRS At SOUTH OMAHA
Friends of Jerry Howard Are Asking
Him to Explain.
QUESTION OF DOUBLE SHIFT UP
Representative Indirectly Accused of
shifting His Position on ones
tion-He BIames Charter
Revision Committee.

The friends Of Jerry Howard. who under
his direction, put up a fight in the delibera-
tons of the charter revision committee for
the double shift for the fire department OF
South Omaha, have practically come to the
conclusion that Jerry has shifted the double
shift, after having promised a mass meeting
of belligerents to take up the fight in Lin
coin. The reason they believe this is be-
csdse the representative has introduced his
bill concerning the South Omaha Board of
Fire and Police Commissioners and made
no mention of the double shift. 1t is said
by the hackers of the representative that
this was the place agreed upon to take up
the question OF the double shift. Therefore,
the men are beginning to complain.
Jerry. on his part, has written to South
Omaha claiming that the charter revision
committee has pocketed it's report. 1t is
stated by the friends of the double shift
that the recommendations of the charter
revision committee, in the form Of amend
ments to the city charter, were placed in
the hands of Senator j. NJ. Tanner and
were given to him by S. l.. Winters and
G.. w. Sears. An effort was made to find
Jerry Howard and Philip TKraus by these
. representatives OF the charter revision COM
mittee, but they could not be found. Copies
OF the document for each were left with
Senator Tanner for delivery.
Report Is NoIumInous.
The amendments make quite a volum-
inrus report. The amendments concerning
grading and Improvement districts have
been rewritten to define the steps more
clearly and to outline a way of reassesstng
for improvements in those cases where
technical errors have crept in to invalidate
the assessment.
II Is also provided that in the cases oil
personal injury due to defect OF the streets
or sidewalks the city shall not be held
liable unless a written notice of such defect
shall have been filed with the city clerl
at least five days previous to the injury
This provision will relieve the city OF htiga
ton in damage claims amounting to nearly
$4,000 annually. The average judgment
actually secured from this mass of claims
has usually been about 5000 to $4,000
The charter revision bill also contemplate
the issuing Of $4,000 for the increase o
equipment of the fire department and $500
for the Improvement of the city parks
The funds are all increased. especially il
the fire and police fund.
The city attorney also added what HI
STYLED a corrective or curative amendment
the entire proposition of the Nebraska
Power company, namely, a provision grant
Ing the right TO the city to enter into
contract in accord with the proposed
scheme.
. The bill of amendments also include
the proposed revision to abolish the offic,
of tax commissioner, and provides that thi
work shall fan on the city clerk and hi
deputies and that the said clerk shall ais
he city auditor OF sll-the financial affair
OF the city.
Printed copies OF the amendments in fuI
will be out within a few weeks.
VI. Carl smith Goes to Colorado.
NJ. Carl Smith, for many years a residen
Of South Omaha, having been connecte
with the South Omaha National bank 70
the greater part OF his residence has RI
signed his position with the bank. an
with his family will shortly take up hi
residence in Colorado near Fort Collin
Mr.. Smith feels that HIS health demand
the change, lie has many friends in sout
Omaha. He was an elder in the First PREF
byterisn church for a number of years. d
RI. wheeler made a special reference I
the earnest work OF MIR. Smith and h