The Commoner
MAJRCH, 1916
Mayor Bryan's Campaign Pledges
- Fulfilled ' :-?'
It will come somewhat as a surprise to those who have read the misrepresentations in a
corporation-controlled newspaper published in Lincoln that Mayor Charles "W. Bryan was not car
rying put his campaign pledges as the chief executive of the city, and not working in harmony
with the other members of the city council, to read a summary of the progress that has been
made during the first ten months of Mayor Bryan's administration. The following roport was
submitted to the city council of Lincoln on March 13, and was officially approved by the unani
mous vote of the council.
Mayor Bryan entered the contest for mayor after he had failed to find another candidate who
was willing to undertake a contest to shake the domination of the Lincoln Gas Company and other
public service corporations from the throats of tho taxpayers of his home city. Mayor Bryan also
favored legislation in the interest of the wage-earners of the city, and believed that tho adoption
of the constructive program which he had outlined was necessary to bring to tho capital city the
growth and development to which it was entitled. Among the specific things that Mr. Bryan de
clared for in his campaign for mayor were the following:
Require the Gas Company to give the city one dollar gas or the city would put in a municipal
gas plant.
Push the gas suit in the courts to, recover the money illegally collected from the peo
ple amounting to about $450,000.
The public to vote $50,000 park bonds to bring the city park to the central thoroughfare of
the city so as to be in walking distance for the wage-workers.
The public to vote $50,000 for garbage disposal plant to improve sanitary conditions in tho
section of the city where Its laborers reside.
To establish a free legal aid department' so as to assist in making collections, settling dis
putes, etc., for persons unable to employ an attorney.
To establish free municipal employment bureau.
To arrange the public work at time of year so as to use labor during the dull season.
To protect tho people against short weights In coal and other commodities.
To glvd Lincoln investors an opportunity to buy the municipal securities of their own city.
Tc merge offices of health officer and city physcian so as to fix responsibility and insure
prompt medical attention to all charity cases.
By reference to the report published below, enumerating the work already accomplished in the
city during the past ten months, it will readily be seen" that every one of the specific promises
enumerated above Tiave already been carried into effect, not only saving to the people of Lincoln
thousahtls -6rJclollars annually, but giving . to . the middle classes and laboring classes of Lincoln
legislation,, protection, conveniences and comforts that the people of but few, if any other cities,
enjoy.
Mayor Bryan has not only carried out in the first ten months of his two years' term practically
all of his campaign program, but there has been carried out under his leadership or upon his
recommendation numerous other consolidations, re-organlzatlons and new legislation In tho Inter
est of efficiency and economy in handling tho business affairs of the city of Lincoln.
Tho report below, which has been officially approved by the unanimous vote of the city council,
will no doubt be of interest to other cities that are operating under the commission form of
government as it prevails in the city of Lincoln. Tho report is as follows:
REPORT TO COUNCIL
To the Members of the City Council of Lin
coln, Nebraska.
Gentlemen: in response to numerous inquiries
for a statement as to what progress bas been
made in the way of legislation and departmental
work during tho past year by the city council
and commissioners, I submit below a summary
of progress made by the city authorities from
May 1, 1915, to March 1, 1916, a period of ten
months.
Reduction of the price of gas from $1.20 to
$1.00 per thousand, saving to the people of Lin
coln $56,000 per year.
Suit won in Eederal district court to compel
gas company to return to gas consumers about
$450,000,00 Illegally collected by gas company
in overcharges. Case now appealed by Gas Com
pany to United States Supreme court with every
prospect of final decision in favor of tho city.
People voted $50,000.00 of park bonds and
extension of Antelope park from J street to O
street, purchase of needed property partly com
pleted. People voted garbage disposal bonds to the
amount of $50,000.00 and now plans under way
for establishing a garbage plant to improve san
itary conditions in tho city.
Established free Legal Aid department in in
terest of those unable to employ attorjievs. 139
cases settled from September 1, 1915, to March
1, 1916.
Established free municipal employment bu
reau to assist the unemployed in finding work.
Arrangement of city work so as to give em
ployment to labor at a time of year when there
was tho least demand for labor by private em
ployers. '
Enforcement of -weights and measures ordin
ances as a protection to the public against short
weights in coal and all other commodities.
Giving Lincoln people an opportunity to pur
chase as an investment, over the city treasurer's
counter, paving bonds issued by this municipal
ity. Consolidation of the offices of health officer
and city physician under one head, so as to in
sure prompt medical attention to people finan
cially unable to employ a physician.
.Extension by express companies of free de
livery zone to include practically the entire city.
Successfully resisted a raise in street car fares
to school children, thereby saving about three
thousand dollars annually to street car patrons.
Vested pardon power in hands of the mayor
to prevent abuse of pardon power.
Sidewalk inspector placed under supervision
of city engineer to promote efficiency.
Payment by city of premium on city treas
urer's bond during time city treasurer draws no
salary.
Employment of visiting nurse by city for ben
efit of needy.
Purchase of additional automobile for police
department to enable it to answer two emer
gency calls at one time.
Reorganization of police department and
bringing police of city and county Into harmony
so as to give better protection to the public.
City budget made up after an exchange of es
timates between commissioners and After discus
sion and consideration of the relative merits of
the items in each commissioner's estimate.
Enforcement of the milk ordinance to protect
public heaith.
Put into effect double fife shift and added
13 new men to the fire department.
Require appointments of firemen to be con
firmed by council, and also require a physical
examination of new flromon whon employed, to
protect city's interest in firemen's pensldn fund.
Took fire department out of politics. .
Built offices in old council chamber at 10th
and Q streets for health department, to give de
partment more room, to segregate the three pub
lic safety departments, to protect the public and
to promoto efficiency of department.
Built now jail kitchen to Improve sanitary
conditions of city jail.
Built now woman's ward In city Jail as a hu
manitarian necessity.
Addition of 250 now customers of municipal
light plant. ' '.',
Addition of 91 now street lights at street In
tersections in residenco districts.
Connected 395 water meters with municipal
water system. n
Amount of paving laid, season 1915, 4.58
miles.
Total cost of pavemont, Including grading,
curbing, relaying sidewalks, etc., $200,897.87.
Sanitary sowers constructed, 6.78 miles at a
cost of $22,949.50. '
Sidewalks built, total length 11.31 miles, cost
ing $32,859.00.
Total number building permits 567, and esti
mate cost of theso buildings $1,706,049,00. .
Tho system of purchasing material by the dif
ferent departments has been perfected so that a
record of each order is kept in the auditor's
offico.
Arrangements have been made so that labor
ers In the employ of the city aro paid at their
work, instead of losing time to come to the offico
after their pay.
In submitting the above summary of work
accomplished and progress made by the com
missioners and through their various depart
ments, it is fitting to add that this splendid rec
ord of achievement has been accomplished by
complete co-operation on the part of the mem
bers of tho council and working in the utmost
harmony for tho progress and development of
tho city of Lincoln.
CHAS. W. BRYAN, Mayor.
Officially approved by Lincoln City Council
March 13, 1916. . '
MAYOR BRYAN'S REPORT APPROVED , ,
The city council yesterday afternoon approved
Mayor Bryan's report of tho activities of the
commission in tho last ton months since tho shift
in administration. As a result, tho five-page ac
count of actual and legislative improvements
made in the city will be spread on tho minutes
of the council. It is said that the departmental
reports of activities will supplement the mayor's
statement.
Every movement connected with tho city's
growth and development in the past ten months
since the mayor was elected to office has been
carefully recorded, The number of miles of
paved streets and the building permits were in
cluded with the reduction in the price of gas
and the many changes in the public safety de
partments. Whatever tho mayor's intentions may be, the
material filed yesterday will mako excellent cam
paign stuff for tho mayor to use before the pri
maries, and possibly afterward if the fates re
main with him. Tho fact that the report may
be found on tho city records Is worth while re-,
ferring to. Few will bo able to deny that the
mayor played an important part in many of the
improvements which were actually made.
Very little was said about the report in coun
cil meeting. The commissioners had already
given their approval, and on a motion from Mr.
Dayton it was formally approved, It is thought
that the report will be printed in pamphlet form
later on for distribution. Nebraska State Jour
nal, (Rep.) March 14, 1916.
Admiral Badger is certain to be grilled by the
magazine and editorial column generals and ad
mirals. He said the other day that the only
trouble with the American fleet is that It is not
big enough for all possibilities, but that "It is a
good fleet, well drilled, well equipped and well
organized." As the writing admirals had put
it in the scrap heap some time ago, this is a
direct challenge of their knowledge that they
. can not ignore.
The claim of tho liquor manufacturers that
prohibition does not prohibit is not buttressed
by the figures of tho internal revenue depart
ment which accurately reflect the condition of
the liquor market. There was a falling off in
revenue for the last fiscal year of 25 million, dol
lars. a ?
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