Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-11-14
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Annexation Talk Brings Lighting
Contracts to the Front.
TWO COMPANIES IN THE NIX
War Tax Upon Pool Halls, bowling
Alleys and saloons IL Keeping
Government Agents Busy
In Magic city.

Annexation discussion has brought
about public consideration OF the pro-
posed new lighting ccnttact now in the
hands of the judiciary committee OF the
city council. The matter was brought
formally before the city council last Mon
day evening and it was thought at the
time that there would be no opposition
to it. Some taxpayers and property
holders in favor OF annexation arc
against tying the city up to a new five
year contract when in all probability the
city will become part of Greater Omaha
at the meeting of The legislature this
winter.
The new contract proposes a change In
the lighting system IF the business dis
trlct of South Omaha and already the
new standards are being placed in posi-
tion near the city hall. The contract
will not affect any change insofar as ex-
pense to the city goaS although the
Electric Light company asserts that the
new system will give better light than
under tho present order. The total eX-
pense, however. will run Just about the
same. At present the light appropriation
is 1850. just short of $780, 900. Moreover,
the light company pays a royalty which
amounted last year to 5000. In the new
contract there will be no mention OF a
royalty, It is said This last. however,
ia said to be mandatory in the city
charter and according TO a high city Off
cisl such contract as Is proposed would
not amount to anything without provi-
sion for the payment of a royalty Here
tofore the royalty has always been con-
sumed for lighting purposes.
new angle to the affair Is the pro-
posal to await the action of the legis-
lature on the annexation bill which will
surely come UP this time. Another propo-
sition is that the Omaha Gas company
be given a chance in South Omaha TO
bid on the street lighting of the business
district leaving the outlying district to
the Eelectrio Light company. Said one
official; The Gas company might well
be given the contract for lighting the
business district and the rest be given to
the Electric Light company"
In any case 1t appears that there is to
be a merry little war over the award of
the lighting contract with the electric
people. The contract expired about DC
tober %.
War Tax on Pool Halls.
+. S. Critchfield, deputy collector OF
the United States revenue service, was in
South Omaha yesterday making up his
| lists of pool halls, billiard rooms. bowl
ing alleys and saloons. which will come
! under the new war tax. Every bowling
alley will be taxed IS an alley and each
billiard and pool table will also be taxed
S. Wine and such things will be taxed
also, as will the stocks and assets of the
| banks.
| In South Omaha the revenue Officers
will find that it Is not easy to collect
the taxes due on pool halls and such
places Treasurer p. ]. Martin has made
strenuous effort and Chief of Police
John Briggs and his special assistant
Michael Gillin. have also tried to collect
the taxes from pool halls and like places
/ There are many which hold out against
will show the pool hall keepers who have
\ been derelict
\ United States Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitch
cock will address a laboring mems meet
1 ing Sunday afternoon at S:45 at Nc
| Grams hall, South Omaha. The senator
4 will discuss the Industrial Unrest" ac
cording to Representative-elect Jerry
/ Howard. who is seeking to obtain such
\ national legislation as will provide the
idle men with work and reasonable
1 wages
There are q great many idle men II
L South Omaha. Congressman Lobeck Z
week ago addressed about 1900 idle men
in South Omaha. Lobeck advised the idl,
men to ''go back to the farm"
II you don't, you should demand salts