Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-28
Ouu,o, Re~a~A
omd gn41noIaAss
~ vroron RoRuwArER.

IN HE death Of Martin Durham freshens memories OF
i early days when he active in the community
and 20 recalls especially his part in my first
initiation into public life-f service page in the
Omaha city council ia the early sos can be properly
termed public life. The Dunhams lived block west
or us on Farnam street-iust about where Lee Hurts
auto place is locaed-only It stood a terrace
even then high above the street. ! remember my
father broaching the subject when about IL
years old, that a boy might we'll learn something
practical during some Of his play time.
1T wouldn't hurt you at all to attend the council
meeting once week and see how they transact bust
ness there" Is about the way he put IT, You could
be designated page and make yourself useful at
the same time"
The prospect Of novelty brought my ready
quiescence and presented myself duly in the council
chamber directed it happened that resolution
was offered by councilman from the Fourth ward
Mr. Durham. appointing me page for that angus, body
to serve without pay, and far know for an in
definite term. And the resolution by Durham" could
doubtless he found spread upon the records II
cared enough to hunt IL up
continued the page job for a year My
onerous duties consisted chiefly Of gathering in the
papers and documents and carrying them from the
councimen's desks TO that Of the clerk and running
short errands in and Of the building principally to
procure chewing tobacco. The meetings were held in
the City Hail. ramshacke two-story frame prevl-
ously known Redick's Opera House located at the
corner Of Sixteenth and Farnam. exactly where the
beautiful new United states bank building has been
erected. The other Fourth ward councilman. Homer
Hull the presiding officer Of the council, for
which J. j. l.. c. Jewett CShrt Collar Jewett because
At that time Champion s. Chase mayor of Omaha,
the police force under Marshal II. e. Guthrie AMI
the fire department headed by Chief John II. Butler.
Mr. Durham was probably the most Influential MEM
her OF the then council whose roll call included.
others. Charles Kaufman l. s. Hsscall c. c. Thrane
ID. i. McGuckin and Tom Daley.
1t was at the funeral OF Harry p Deuel. who was
another of the neghbors of the days | recalling
that last saw Mr.. Durham and his face beamed
with satisfaction, as quite number up TO greet
him and to tell him We glad he able to be out
While in New York 7 dropped in for half an hour
on tho investigation the Public Service commission
which was being conducted by Win Hayward
sci Tor the legislative committee having the work in
charge. IL looked as IL Colonel Hayward, every
body calls him now, practically the whole thing
The sittings Of the committee held in the
chamber in the city hall spacious room
with seats for probably 20 to 300 and every
with interested spectators The proceedings are much
more formal than with our various investigations. A
member Of the Public Service commission was under
fire the witness stand trying parry the questions
poured in on him by Hayward who doomed big In the
foreground surrounded by assistants who fed in the
ammunition called for Occasionally one of the
legislative committee would nterpose query but for
the most part they observed attitude of keen curl
osity Hayward had put the Public Scrce commission
ers IN an awkward hole by showing that their inquiry
into the sensational subway accident last month had
missed the real of the trouble 1t was the gen
era opinion that the incompeency ineffciency Of
the commissioners had been so conclusvey proved
that they were all due to be ousted by the
and supplanted with appontees and also that
Hayward would have of the places for himself
The job carries comfortable little salary of SIS 100
ana lasts for six years, II disturbed 1t
should be explained that there these COM
missions In New York state with Jurisdiction over
the public utility corporations I'm New York City and
the other over the public service corporations
The latter has not been under legislative criticism and
scrutiny BY coincidence another Nebraskan our one
time district judge and later supreme court commits.
soner Frank Irvine is a member OF the up state COM
missonso there Is possibility that Nebraska may he
dominating factor of both Of these important admin
istratiVe boards of the great Empire state.
suffrage novelty is proposed for Pennsylvania
where votes-for-women campaign is about 20 start
The suffragists have scheme to emphasize their
color emblem by planting yellow flowers everywhere
AID thus to make the whole state look like one big
yellow BLOSSOM spreading the feminine fragrance that
Is expected TO unbend the share the ballot box
noticed one OF the big stores in Baltimore con-
Quoting what 1t denominaed IAN exposition OF manu-
tactures by installing In the various departments
i've exhibit or the actual work Of making the article
or garment on sale II was presumably arranged bv
cooperation OF the different manufacturers from,
whom the regular supply comes the machinery ana
operators being loaned for the occasion and special
pains taken 10 explain IT all by pacards and
directions While such an exposition could of course
be much more easily assembled and conducted in a
center OF largely variegated products yet II struck me
as quite feasible on smaller scale for Omaha as a
change from the made-n-Omaha show, with which we
have from time TO time been entertained and IN