Omaha daily bee., 1911-09-09
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
City Officials Greatly Concerned Over
Bonds Turned Up in New York.
DECIDE THEY NEED NOT BE PAID
Records show They Were Refunded
ana should Have Been Taken UP
statute Of Limitations
Has run.


Not a little anxietv is felt In city hall
circles over the 100 bonds which were
recently refused redemption At the New
York fiscal agency
The mayor. city attorney and finance
committee were in conference practically
all day yesterday and In the afternoon the
treAsurers office was invited 10 Join the
meeting.
At the conclusion Of the meeting II Ia
understood the committee arrived at the
conclusion the citv is not liable for the
payment OF the bonds which are now
barred by the statute Of limitations
The books Of the CITY show that the
bonds have been called In and refunded.
but there still remains the question OF
how the original funding bonds could re-
main out after they had been refunded In
new issue.
According to one Of the ordinances per-
tanning 70 the matter. is appears that the
originals were called In and funded. Later,
IN 1896 they were recalled and refunded
IN the ordinance authorizing the refund
Ing Il Is expressly stated that the funded
originals shall be returned TO the hands
OF the treasurer before the refunded issue
h floated.
PussIe why Bonds Are ont.
Here appears to be the question that
none Of the committee can explain. All
agree that the bonds have been paid, but
why they should still be in the market
when the council had years ago called
them in IL a problem that the members
Of the committee declare to be a puzzle
70 them.
One OF the city officials in commenting
|
a solution. The bonds now presented for
payment in New York may be the originals
that were never recovered through some
lnadvertanoe on the part OF the holders
or they may be spurious issue, or finally
a plain counterfeit.
| Not a little Importance attaches TO the
| fact that the bonds were not presented
for payment until approximately sixteen
years after this issuance and years after
their recall. Some OF the observers OF the
situation make comment also on the stand
taken by the present holders OF the paper
who have refused under all circumstances
to allow the city to inspect the original
bonds held by them. It was suggested that
they deposit the paper in the hands OF
Kountze brothers banking house In Omaha
where they might be safely Inspected by
all parties concerned. This the holders re-
| fused to do, and declared they would make
formal demand for principal and Interest
unless the bonds were redeemed by the
city without delay. A later wire from
Kountse brothers New York fiscal agency
reported that they had absolutely refused
TO redeem the bonds on demand.
1--WE stand on the defensive" said one
member Of the committee, and since the
money has been paid. Il remains TO be seer
what steps the holders Of the paper win
now take.
Lay plane for stock show.
] II the Booster club can arrange 1t, South
Omaha will have a stock show during AK
ear- Ben week. This was determined at a
meeting held In the mayors office ysster-
day afternoon. II was also determined to
have a committee composed OF business
men and Boosters wait on the officials OF
the packing houses and stock yards for
the purpose Of having them declare pol
Icy against the employment Of foreign
labor.
other matters discussed were: Dinner
at the exchange and a new scheme OF
street lighting.
A committee composed OF Mayor Trainor
P. G. Caldwell, John Kennedy, Sol Gold.
srom and c. C. Mayer we appointed 10
confer with Everett Buckingham OF the
Union Stock yards in regard to the pro-
posed stock show to be held Ak-Sar Ber
week. The meeting adjourned until next
Thursday night at o'clock. A committed
meeting will be held in the mayors office
Saturday morning.
Smoke from School Board,
President w. A. Schneider OF the schoo
board Is beset on the one hand by som,
irate examiners and on the other by dis
gruntled oonfreres, including the superin
tendent of schools. At the last meeting
OF the school board some Of the member
complained about the grade OF teachers I'M
posed on them The superintendent o
schools insisted that the BOARD had APP
pointed the teacher in question and other
over his recommendation. He refused Il
be held accountable. Then President schnei
der said that II the board and the superln
tendent were guiltless In the matter tn
blame must rest on the teachers examiners
, Now. Il is asserted. the examiners ar
after Mr.. Schneider because he cast reflec
lions on their ability. President Schneide
wishes TO say that the examiners are Al
right and that all those who passed tn
examinations under them are credits to tn
schools OF South Omaha. He says moreover
the superintendent is not always guide
by merit In giving Appointments. He claim
, that Mr.. Graham turned down some OF tn
most competent that were presented.
}. w. Casey Dead.
Joseph w. Casey. one OF the hest know
J men in South Omaha, died at his home thi
e morning after an illness extending over
year. Mr., Casey was 50 years of age at tn
time OF his death and had been residen