Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-11-17
CITY DADS TALK GOOD ROADS
Iowa Man Advocates Graduated Tax
System. by Which More Pay.
DoNAHUE ADDRESSES LEAGUE
Tells the Convention the Adoption
of the DcrtiIIon system in Me-
brasLa Towns would lie
Mig Help,

The second day Of the convention Of
the Nebraska League Of municipalities
began with an address by Frank c.
Pierce. secretary of the Iowa League of
Municipalities, Marshalltown, Ia, on Co
Operation I'm Road Building" lie advo-
Gated a graduated tax system by which
the state the county, the township the
village and the farmers most directly
benefited by the construction Of road
join in paying the expense Of building
and maintaining it. J. c. Pentzer OF
Lincoln led a general discussion, which
followed the Iowa mans address.
Chief of Police Donahue described the
use OF the Bertillon system of detecting
and Identifying criminals and pointed out
that it was Of service not only in Identify
ing criminals, but also saved innocent
men from suffering from tho crimes OF
others. Illustrating this point Chief Dona-
hue said
"A short time ago a man was arrested
in Grand Island answering almost ex-
actly the description OF man giving the
same name and initials who was wauted
by the sheriff of Dallas, Tex. The sheriff
was convinced that he was the man
wanted. However he wired me- asking
that l send our Bertillon man to Grand
Island to take his measurements. 1
Immediately did so. lie had the Bertilon
measurements OF the man wanted, and
after we had taken the measurements of
the man arrested we wired them to hin.
When no compared them they did not
correspond, and the man was released.
Omaha Has only system.
Omaha is the only city in the state
of Nebraska which has the Bertillon
system. I would advise that other cities
throughout the state place in their police
departments this system. l would advise
that all cities with population of 5000
or more adopt it as they would find
It of great advantage I'm helping them to
identify criminals arrested by the police
department. 1 feel safe In saying that
it can be placed for about $500, includ-
ing the tools for the measurements and
cabinets for pictures and all the other
paraphernala.
What Has Been Done.
The Bertillon bureau has been a
great help to police authorities through
out the United States and has been es-
peclally valuable to our police force.
Nearly 10000 new descriptions have been
added here during the last year. 7lg
criminals have been identified. nearly
1900 letters were written. aside from
the corresponding of the resident gov
ernor and treasurer, and about 600 LET
tiers were sent to subscriber, describ-
ing criminals.
There is also coming addition to this
system which is installed in most ot
the eastern cities and is known as the
flnger-print, which is a very good ad.
dition and has proved successful. II
has been in use in foreign countries for
years and within the last five years il
has been placed in most of the police
departments of the large cities. We
haven't that addition yet in Omaha. hui
j hope in the near future to have tina
added to our, Bertillon. system, which
believe will almost perfect the system
OF Identification.
inspection of Boilers
In brief address on the necessity OF
inspecting boilers Robert u. Wolfe. boiler
inspector of Omaha closed the forenoon
program. Showing that the steam boiler
drives three-fourths of the wheels of com.
merce and that it generates the power
which moves the elevators, the lifts and 8
thousand other things used daily By d
busy people. Mr.. Wolfe concluding his
plea for more careful inspection Of boiler.
said:
The most rigid inspection at reason
able intervals bY men well versed il
boiler and tank construction and the bes
care attainable is absolutely necessary FOL
the safety to life and property, and tn,
officials responsible to the people for tn,
safeguarding Of their lives and property
should give this subject their serious con
sheraton"