Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-19
HAPPENINGS IN
THE MAGIC CITY
School JanitOrs Are Worried over
Way Board Of Education is
Treating Them,
LAW PLAIN, BUT ORDERS NOT

when the matter Of consolidation Was
before the Nebraska legislature last VIM
ter five men went down TO make doubly
sure that all employees Of the South
Omaha schools would be protected in
their positions under the new consolida-
ton law. The law was passed and Is
now in effect on the statute books. But
there IL growing fear and dissatisfac-
ton among some OF the school employees
on the South side over orders purporting
70 emanate from the Board OF Education.
Particularly Is this true Of the janitors,
of whom there are twenty-five In South
Omaha. A few days ago a list was sent
down. 80 Il is said. This list bore the
names OF nine men who were ordered 20
return 70 work. The other janitors were
left to await further orders. All Of tho
janitors have families and work for small
salaries. In the larger buildings there
are two and It takes them all day TO do
their work.
Now comes the intimution that here
after there VIII be only one janitor TO
the building and he will be given enough
money to pay his own help. This system
was formerly In vogue in South Omaha
and was discontinued because OF the
abuses that orept in. The question among
the janltors and other school employees Is
this: Where do the orders emanate
FRONT
who is furnishing the economical adj
vice TO the board and who makes the Sc
lection OF the men who are 20 stay and
those who are 20 got
At least these were the questions asked
yesterday by school employees generally,
Above and beyond all. however. there
Is this to remember. that under senate
file S4l, being the bill consolidating the
two school systems, South side janitors
are protected by civil service and also
by the consolidation bill. Il Is under
stood that the board members. especially
Chairman l. w Carpenter of the build
ings and grounds committee. are inclined
to take care of all the South Side janitors
IL Is also confidently stated that the
school board members will not be guided
or influenced by mderiings seeking IA
help run things under the curse OF
economy" Anyway, the Commercial club
of Omaha, speaking through It's proai-
dent, John L. McCague, assured the local
school employees last spring that they
would be protected in ell their rights and
positions.
The civil service department Of the city
government. such as the fire and police
departments OF South Omaha, have been
protected 20 the letter. The janitors and
other school employees may get less pay
but they are also under the protection OF
the consolidation law, It is said The To-
cal school employees say they believe tina,
the School board will look with suspicion
upon programs OF economy based on cur
failing the salaries OF men protected in
their positions under the law and advised
by economists with selfish ideas.
New Fire Alarm system.
Omaha is to have n modern fire alarm
sygtem as soon as the estimates have
been made and the contracts let Chief
of the Fire Department Charles Salter.
In company with Assistant Fire Chief
Dineen and John McKale. battalion chief
of the First district, were on the South
Side IN the Third district yesterday. es-
timating the needs of the district In the
new fire alarm system According to
Chief 5slter the new system when in
stalled will cost approximately 100000,
and will be most complete in detail.
Speaking Of the South Side, Chief Salter
announced that he had reduced all Omaha
companies. from five TO four-men shifts
and raised the South Side companies from
three-men TO four-men shifts. thus equal
izing all companies throughout Greater
Omaha. At the headquarters of the
Third battalion. five new men have beer
detailed TO man the steamer which has
never been in active service heretofore