Omaha daily bee., 1914-01-04
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Police Fund is Depleted and Over
draft Already Exists.
MAY CUT DOWN THE FORCE
Former Police Captain EIsfelder
Feels the Change I'm the wheel
OF Fortune-Lunches for
StudentA


Steadily the South Omaha police fund !
is growing shorter and shorter, and un- |
less something is done In the way OF cur
falling expenses in the department the
fund will be so depreted that the force
will have to be cut before the end OF the
year. Year after year the promise has
been made that the police fund and the
fire fund would not be depleted before the
end Of the year. This year the legislature
provided an Increased appropriation for
the double shift on the fire department.
The police fund, however, was not in
creased. 1t was hoped that City Treas
vrer P. j. Martin could be forced to al
low the back tax money to go into the
different funds as of old. thus increasing
each fund over and above the amount
appropriated by the city council. Martin
backed up by the city attorneys office.
Insisted that the money should go as the
charter indicated. into the interest and
sinking fund in order to reduce the city's
debt and thus reduce the taxes on the
people. Mayor Hoctor wanted the money
to go into the different funds. court
battle was threatened. Both City Attor-
iey Murphy and City Treasurer Martin
faid they would welcome a court decree
in the matter. but that the money spent
on such a suit must not be taken out of
the city treasury. Matters have been in
that state for some time. Now 1t is
understood that the police fund is at least
a month and half overdrawn This
means that the police must be laid Off
and the citizens deprived of protection
at the end of the year IL something is not
done. Both City Attorney Murphy and
City Treasurer Martin are anxious to pro-
tect the men and they warned the police
board ct the beginning of the year.
Jackman Some Dancer.
Police Conductor John Jackman is re-
euperating at his home, Thirty-ninth and
s streets. after his terpsichorean efforts
at the coppers ball New Years night.
Conductor Jackman admits he is the best
tangoist on the South Omaha police force,
EIsfeIder's Plight.
Former Police Captain Hank Elsfelder
who for many years served on the South
Omaha police force and who had earned
q reputation as a fearless officer. now
knows what the turn of a political wheel
in South Omaha may mean. year ago
Elsfelder was a police captain and acting
chief at times. This morning he stands
before Police Magistrate James Callahan,
n
prosecutor The cause of his arrest was
insignificant. But he was thrown into
Jail and kept there until the arresting Of
ficer who formerly served under Elsfelder
called I'D the police judge who released
Elsfelder on his own recognizanee. When
Elsfelder was reduced from the captaincy
TO make room for some one else, he lost
his temper and refused TO serve as q
FNa "a fo-
sioners quickly availed itself OF the
veterans refusal and took his star
Eisfeider has been unable TO secure work
since HIS wife has been i'll for six
months and III luck has pursued him. His
worth as q police officer was admitted
here and in Omaha. However. in Soutt
Omaha there are different standards oi
merit when It comes to the police inne1
tircle, It IL said.
Lunch for Students.
N. M. Graham, superintendent o
schools, expects that within few week.
the different classes Of the domestic
science classes will place the operation
OF the new department on q paying basil
by supplying lunch to the high schoo
pupils 1t IL the plan of the superin
tendent and the instructor in domestic
science to have the girls Of the new de
partment cook such edibles as may b.
useful for lunches. These lunches will
be prepared in dainty packages ant
served hot to the many students who ar
expected to take advantage of the nev
departure.
In the early spring the agriculture
fasses will begin active field work ou
on Q street The five acres now held b
the school district will be subdivided int
iots and these will be devoted to raisin
grain, foodstuffs and vegetables. Tn