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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1903)
y THE OMAHA DAILY HEEt SUNDAY, APHIL 12, 1003. 1f A I in HOW OMAHA GOVERNS ITSELF Concilia Betiew of Ralien. Ffaturti ths City Charter. of SJRONG AND WEAK POINTS SHOWN Article Contributed by Victor Rose, mtrr to Dwiwr Peat's Series os Charter History ! Prlaei pal Anfrina Cities Fratorra of Omaha's Charter. 1. Separate municipal elections. 2. Ward eoiinrllmen elected at large. S No franchlaea except voted bjr .nple. 4. Iepartment heads appointed by mayor. 6. Iepoltory plan for city fundi. 6. Separate tax commissioner ayitetn. 7. Advisory board to the mayor. H Street Improvements by special asaess tnnt. :). Hallways mint build viaducts, in. Absolute limit on tax levy. 11. Oovernor-appolnted fire and police board. 12. Three-year terms for elective officers. The present form of government for Omaha Is one of concentrated authority. Only six officers are elected In addition to charter changing this table la one fixing both the minimum and maximum rates of one or two funds. The theory baa been advanced by E. J. Cornish, chairman of the Park board, that a maximum limit should be llxed, where the money Is to be spent by the body determining Ita amount, while only the minimum limit should be llxed where the money la to be spent by a body which has no. control over the tax levy. In support of his contention be argues that the tendency Is Irresistible on the part of the city council In arder to make a ahowlng of economy to hold down the appropria tions for all departments not directly un der Its control and to swell the funds which It Itsetf expends, thus making the former Buffer for the benefit of the latter. For the bonded debt, the llmlta are more elastic. The limit for funding floating In- the I debtedness Is fixed at $'.00,000, and the total limit at an acsrresate of $3,r00.000, but cer tain exemptions are made which Include almost all the purposes for which bonds would naturally be Issued, auch as district paving bonds, public library building bonds, renewal bonds, funding bonds, bonds for the erection of city hall, fire engine houses, for the construction of bridges, aubwaya and conduits, for park purposes or for the purchase or ap propriatton of gas works or electric light ing plants. The proviso Is further added that no bonds In excess of $200,000 shall be Issued In any one year except these n the the members of the city council, and the j, ,,reaoy ,pMlfled. The Intersectfo -,.u.u.., --r. - exception 01 paving bonds are also limited not to ex- r' na v"c' P"raenie. centere In the cee(, $I00 m ,n ,ny one rear. mayor, subject to confirmation by the coun- I ell. The terma of all these officers are for a-eatloai ef Bevenae three years, except the police Judge, who I At the time the present charter was holda for two years, although they are all I framed the question of revenue presented removable for cause or Impeachment. The the most Intricate problem. The city had elective officers are the mayor, treasurer. tax commissioner, comptroller, clerk and polloe judge. The mayor appoints the city attorney, city engineer, health commis sioner, building Inspector, plumbing In spector, city electrician and city prose cutor, and together with the members of certain administrative boards. The city engineer Is by virtue of his office chairman of the Board of Public Works, whose asso- previously been compelled to take as the basla of assessment for Its tax levy the valuation fixed upon property within the city limits by the precinct assessors of the county and in the competition between the varloua counties In the state to evade their quotas and to get off lighter In the qppor tlonment of the state taxes the assessments had been brought down to ridiculously low figures. The lower the assessment, of clatea are the comptroller and the building I course, the higher the tax rate until the Inspector. , An advisory board, consisting of the nay or, city engineer, comptroller. building. Inspector, chief of police, chief of the fKe department and health Inspector, Is vrted with certain functions of control and, supervision. The advisory board was ejected to serve aa a sort of cabinet to the rjayor, but In this It has failed completely. nominal tax rate became bo formidable as to frighten prospective Investors, whose ap prehensions could not be allayed by any amount of explaining that the assessment represented only 16 per cent of the true value. For 18D7 the city tax rate had reached the alarming figure of 54 mills. To relieve this serious situation an lndepend the state for terms of four years, expiring so as to make the boards continuous, with the mayor as ex -officio member and chair man. Much of the time the city has had two sets of fire end police commissioners contending for possession of the office, the supreme court having several times re versed Itself In Its decisions for and against municipal home rule, and the right of the mayor and council to appoint the commis sioners Instead of the governor. Just at present a governor-appointed board Is In possession, but the litigation Is not yet ended. The police department la organised with a chief and three captains. The chief receives $2,000 a year and the captains $90 per month. One captain has charge of the day force, another the night force and the third of the detective force. Under them come the sergeants, six In number, at $85 per month; the detectives, eleven In num ber, and the patrolmen, ctxty-stx In number. The charter contemplates strict civil serv ice rules In both fire and police depart ments. Each member of the fire and police board la required to take an oath In which he awears that: "In making appointments or considering promotions or removals he will not be guided or actuated by political motives or Influences, but will consider only the Interest of the city and the success and efficiency of said department." The members of the department are also guaranteed against arbitrary removal by a requirement that charges must first be pre ferred, snd an opportunity for a hearing given. In the succession of political changes in the control of the police board, however, these civil service regulations hsve not counted for much, the loophole being found In the authority conferred on the board to reduce the force by dismissals without charges or hearings whenever the funds at Its disposal will not warrant retention. To add new favorites and then dismiss old officers for want of funds is easy. The city maintains its own Jail and police patrol. Its police and fire alarm system Is operated through the local telephone company on a contract. The fire department Is organised along similar lines, with a fire chief receiving $3,000 a year, two deputy chiefs at $1,800 and $1,200 per year respectively, captains, engineers, plpemen and firemen, making the whole force number 119 men. There' burners are in use. The franchise contract are thirteen engine houses, most of them also Includes a stipulated sliding scale of owned by the city, In which sre Installed prices for private consumption varying with ffhe deputies and minor employes of the cnt tax commissioner system waa impro- varloua city officers sre appointed by their vised whereby a separate assessment of chiefs, In some few instances subject to property was to be made, for municipal confirmation by the council, but In reality taxation only, under the direction of a tax subject to the control of the council commissioner responsible for the work of through Its power over the appropriations his deputies and assistants. The aggre- for their salaries. The charter as framed gate assessment under the new system provided for a police judge with a term of jumped at once from $17,415,948 to $33,049,- three years, the same as that of other city 603, the latter figures purporting to repre- offlcere, but it was found that in this It Bent 83 1-3 per cent of fair cash value. This ran counter to a constitutional provision percentage was raised again to 40 per cent, limiting all Judicial officers to two-year and last year to 100 per cent, ao terms and so a later amendment placed the I that the aggregate assessed valuation of police magistracy In a category by itself. I property subject to municipal taxation for the coming year la now considerably in excess of $100,000,000. Railroad Tax Evasion. Along with this change In the method of assessment, however, haa come another complication of vital importance. Before the railroads' interests, which were all powerful In the legislature, notwithstand ing ita overwhelming fusion majorities would consent to the establishment of a The table of salaries is as I separate assessing jurisdiction as a part Financial Bafeitaarda. In its safeguards for the city's finances and In Its restrictions upon the budget Omaha's charter is not only explicit, but carried into the most minute detail. The salaries bf all the principal officers, for example, are fixed at stated figures, which can be neither raised nor lowered except by charter amendment, and the amount of the official bond 1b likewise designated to correspond, follows: Balary Per Officer Annum. "Mayor $2,600 t'lty treasurer 4,0u0 City comptroller 1,800 City police judge 1.200 Cltv clerk l.H) Chief of police J.OOO t.lty attorney 8,WK Aralstant city attorney.... 1,8: Cltv prosecutor B. City engineer l.50 Assistant city engineer ....1.809 Hulkllng lnnpictor 1.50 Health commissioner 2.000 Tax commits oner 2,500 Commissioner of fire and pol.ee. each 4f Kich eouncl'man 0 City electrician 1.W0 Vumblng inspector 1,200 Boiler Inspector 1.200 Each policeman and fireman shall re ceive a sum not exceeding seventy-five ($75) dollars per month, and not less than sixty live dollars per month, and each officer of police and tire department or engineer of fire engines, under the rank of chief or assistant chief, shall receive a sum not exceeding ninety (JH0) dollars per month, to be fixed by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. Llmlta on Appropriations. (In the matter of appropriations the city authorities sre similarly tied down. Each department must look tor maintenance to particular fund and the amount of money that can be raised for each fund by taxation 1b limited not to a percentage on the aa cessment roll, but to an absolute sum. The aggregate maximum of the levy for city purposes, exclusive ot schools which sre administered by aepsrsts school board, Is $1,040,000. divided as follows: General purposes $265,000 i Curbing and guttering 30,0u0 V Btreet cloanlng 40,ftiO r6fwer maintenance 2.0uQ ' Fire department....'. 12S.0HO Police department 116.000 Street lighting 70,000 Water rental ino.Ooo Interest and sinking fund SuO.utiO Library ,0uO Bond to Be Given. $ 25,00) 200,00) 6,00) 2.60) 6.00) 6.00) . 6.00) 8,000 1.00) 10,00.) 2.00) 2.00) 20,00) 6,00) 6,001 8,00) 1.00) 1.00) of the new charter they Insisted upon an exemption clause requiring the tax com mlasloner to take aa the assessment of the railway terminals within the municipal boundaries the mileage figures fixed by the State Board of Transportation. The mile age figures of the etate board were pre sumably arrived at without reference to the valuable franchlaea of the railroads and with the pretense that all terminal values were distributed over, the entire line In proportion to the number of miles of main track In each county, city and village. As a result the Immense terminal facilities snd depot grounds, depots, trackage and bridges ot the great trunk lines entering Omaha were returned for assessment for city taxa tion at merely nominal sums, while all other property assessed locally waa raised to 83 per cent, then to 40 per cent and then to 100 per cent of its full value. This In crease of the city assessment roll while the railroad assessment remained sta tionary worked to decrease the proportion of taxes psid by the railroads and to trans fer the burdens thus evaded upon the shoul ders of the Individual taxpayers. This dls crepancy called attention to the further fact that the pretended distribution of terminal facilities by the state board waa a sham and a farce. Property which rail road experts had themselves testified In other connections to be worth more than $25,000,000 was being taxed on an assess ment of less than $200,000, and that in the face .of the constitutional provision that taxes should be uniform on all property within the jurisdiction Imposing the same. To bring the matter squarely to an Issue the tat commissioner and the board of re view. In revising the last assessment roll, upon legal advice undertook to make an original assessment of the railroad prop erty and to Include it on the city tax rolls In place of the figures certified down by the state board. Aa was expected the rail- be chosen by election, while vacancies are to be filled by the other members. The law provides for a secretary of the board, who will also be the water commissioner nl set ss general manager ot the plant when It Is finally acquired. The water commis sioner Is Insured a good-behavior tenure with a salary that cannot be diminished during his Incumbency, though subject to Incresse st any time by vote of the water board. The new law repealed the provision authorlxlng the Imposition of a tax for water rental for the current year, which accounts In a small part for the reduced tax levy for 1903. Street Llffbtlns; References. The only specific references to street lighting corporations in the charter are those which give the council authority to regulate the use of, the streets for excava tions by gas and electric lighting ot the streets and public places. Another section gives the major and council power to regu late and provide for the lighting of tho streets, laying down gas, water and other pipes, and the erection of lamp poata, elec tric towers, or other apparatus and to regu late the came, and the use of gas and elec tric lights, and fix and determine the price of gas, the charge of electric lights and power, and the rents of gas meters within the city and regulate the Inspection thereof, and regulate telephone service and the use ot teiepbonea within the city and to fix and determine the charges for telephones and telephone service connections, as well as to ttquire the removal and placing under ground of any or all telegraph, telephone or electric wires. The city Is served with both electricity and gas for lighting. The elec tric lighting company has a term agreement to furnish street lamps at $94 .50 per year, nominal 2,000 candle power and burning all of every night. A condition of this contract requires It to pay Into the city treasury aa a franchise royalty 3 per cent of Its gross receipts from commescial lighting within the city llmlta. The royalty paid for the laet year waa $5,683.90. The gas company Ib op erating under a twenty-five-year franchlso, which contains within it an obligation to bid for street lighting at a price not ex ceeding $25 per year per lamp, but au addi tional $5 has been added where Wclsbach apparatus. Including four fire engines, two chemical engines, one water tower, four hooka and ladders and twelve carriages and hose weions. Control of Park System. VISITORS ALWAYS WELCOriE. Orchard & Wilheim FURNITURE Not price alone but quality A price make our values. Our new spring stock la lien? nnl our furniture floors nre nglow with the choicest and Intest designs of all kinds of furniture, in nil woods and lluishes. Here is shown the cabinet makers' handiwork, the bringing out of every small detail as laid out by the designer. Here.you will find just what you want in furniture, the right article at the right price for we carry the most complete stock. "From the cheapest that' good, to the best that's made. " We want you to come here for your furniture needs. Go.eaRTS The new line is here a the aggregate number of cubic feet con eumed tho preceding year. The price of gas Is now $1.35 for Illuminating purposes and i $1 for heating per 1,000 cubic feet, with a royalty to the city of 6 cents per 1,000 cubio font This rnvaltv for last vear amounted The park board has complete control over tl 264.17. The city Is paying for 44 the parks and boulevarda. The board Itself eiectrlo street lamps, 1.053 gaa lamps anil consists of five members, appointed by the 393 gasoline street lamps. Aside from the mayor, although previous to the home rule prlre .cheduled In the gas franchise con decision they had been appointed by the tract the council haa never undertaken to district judges, who might resume that regulate the price for private patrons of authority under more recent court decisions cither gas, electric lighting or telephone If so disposed. The board has at Ita dls- companies. posal In addition to the proceeds of the . ' park levy the portion of the county road Powers of Conncll. fund which is allotted to the city. One The city council Is vested with all the matter under the jurisdiction of the park usual powers of regulation and minor legis- board deserves passing notice, namely, the latlon that pertains to such bodies. It must constant effort to have streets declared act by ordinance passed through the regular boulevards In order that they may be Im- forms. The ordinances must be read three proved at the general expense rather than times at separate meetings of the council, at the cost of the adjacent property own- The council meets once a week In general era. The difference between a street or I committee and again In formal session, avenue and a boulevard In Omaha to all I With nine members, five affirmative votes practical Intents and purposes Is the differ- are required to pass an ordinance and six ence between having It paved and Improved to override the mayor's veto. The Incentive with the cost assessed back against the and facility for combines therefore could abutting property and having It parked scarcely be greater. No bonds, excepting and cared for at the expenae of all the tax- renewal bonds, may be issued without ratl- payers out of the park fund. The city has fixation by the vote of the people. The the right to acquire parks and parkwaya same applies to all ordinances modifying or by eminent domain, and when exorcising extending franchises Involving the use of this authority also assesses back the bene- the public streets. Claims against the city fits to the benefited property. The park must be sworn to and approved by the system Includes thirteen different parks, officer under whom the work Is performed measuring 617.44 acres, with 9.8 miles ot or to whom the supplies are furnished. On boulevards. the disallowance of any claim It throws Omaha's public library Is subject to the tho claim Into court, while another pro- control of a library board of nine mem- vision prohibits the mayor and council from bers, serving without pay, appointed three allowing any bill for labor or material ex- at a time tor terms ot three years by the cept through the order of a court after mayor and council. The library Is housed such bill has been adversely reported on in a library building, erected In 1893 from and rejected by the administration under the proceeds of $100,000 of bonds. In which which it nab been Incurred, or has been one floor is given over to museum and I presented within eighteen months after it 1 art gallery purposes. its administration waa Incurred and became payable. Is through a librarian and library staff The Omaha charter is very pointed In its consisting mainly of young women with I prohibitions designed to prevent official salaries ranging rrom 1330 to xi.ooo a year, corruption. That these provisions nave naa different go-cart in many ways from previous season's styles. We invite you to see them. The new combination go-cart, combines both in one. The latest The New English Carriages ece them. Go-carts special at $3.00, 4.35. f4.90, 0.90, 17.00, $7.75, $10.50, $12.00 $13.75 and un. Combination go-cart carriage with cush ion and parasol, special at $11.75, $14.00, $10.75, $19.00. REFRIGERATORS The Ilerrick, a different refrigerator from the old fashionetj kind, one built upon scientific priuoiple and one that is absolutely sani tary and has DRY COLD A1H circulation. Over eleven hundred in- use in Omaha and not a dissatis fied customer. What better endorsement do you want. We have the Ilerricks in spruce lined, white enamel and Opalite tile, $14.00, $16.00, $19.50, $21.00, $22.00, $24.00 and $25.00. A bindery is operated in conjunction with the library with varying employes to .the number of two or three, but confining Its work to binding Incident to the library requirements. Health Resjalat tons. The Health department la under the di rection ot the health commissioner, who has one head assistant and sanitary In spectors as occasion requires. The in spection relates chiefly to contagious dis eases and perishable food products, and the effect aimed at Is, however, open to serious question. Separate City Elections. The change In the length of the official term from two ' years to three years was accompanied by a change ot the time ot the municipal election, giving us our city elections In the spring, . while state and countv elections came in the fall. This system ot separate municipal elections while it baa not eliminated politics from the city campaign has yet proved of un !?;j?.AU ""vantage -aklng the Issue Parks Judgment IO.O00 Health department 10.0U0 Among pending amendments to the o.otiO roads aought the Intervention of tho fed- LlJ li piled in the health office. Garbage la col lected by contract subject to regulations of the Health department. The original garbage contract contemplated the re moval to outlying farm lands, but much of the refuse Is dumped Into the river. The question ot garbage disposal by in cineration or otherwise must soon be met. The city law department consists of the city attorney and one assistant city attor ney, together with a city prosecutor, who attends to police court business. An ab. clear cut and distinct from general po lltlcal considerations. The contests tor the city offices have been waged between the regular political parties, but the fact that while the city Is strongly republican the democratic candidates for one ot the exj ecutlve offices and for several places in the council were successful shows that lnde pendent voting can be made more effective than It would be If the city election were only Incidental to the line-up for general 1 1 A'e Gloomy thoughts be come habitual to the dys peptic. He looks on the dark side of things and every mole hill becomes a mountain. His condition aflects his business judg ment and mars his home relations. Dr. Pierce's Golden Med ical Discovery cures dys pepsia and other diseases of the organs of digestion and utiition. It gives buovsncv of mind aa well as health of body because it removes the physlcial cause of mental depression. It enables the perfect digestion and assimilation of food, and the body ia strengthened by nutrition which is the only source of physical strength. I was afflicted with what the doctors called nerruva indigestion. Took medicine from my fcmilv tihniriiii Im mo avail . wnua Mr. The. G. Lever, of Lever. Richlaad Co.. S. C At night would have cold or hot fcrt and hands, alternate!. 1 waa rrttinr verv nerroue aad suffered a great deal mentally, thinking that I death would soon claim m. Always expected aomethiug nnmaoal to take ptaca; was trnubta and itupatieat, and greatly redaced ia flh, II cuuld aiarcely aal any Ibiug that aonid not pro-,' din a bad feeling ia my atomach. After aom hcaiutioa. I decided to try a tew bottiea of It.' rierce'a Goidea Medical ttbeovery aad ' relleta.' After tafciag aeveral bottiea at each, toaad I was ire proving. I continued for eta BMOtha er moreJ off sad on. I have to be careful vet, at timca. of what I eat. in order that I may met good and atrong. 1 fully believe if aay one Buffering wth fl n , 1 1 af i, m itr inmlH 1 1 mr chraate eo!4 would I take Dr. r'terce's Culdea Medical Uacuvery audi fleaaaat relleta and obaerve a new aimplc ay- lenic rules, they would man be greatly bene ted. aad with a Utile posa edema would be iiireiy curea. BiUooaaeas Is cured by the uas l Dr. aHarcsys Pkaeasi Pellets. eral courts with injunction proceedings to prevent the council from Imposing the tax levy upon their property so assesaed, and this case is still pending in the court. In the meanwhile, without waiting for the de cision, the citizens ot Omaha have been pressing the legislature to eliminate the objectionable clause from the charter, al though, It must be admitted, In the face ot the powerful railroad lobby that gives little encouragement for immediate success, oarers of Income. Ths city baa other revenues besides the proceeds of taxation, but they are of com paratlve Insignificance because the Income I from licenses, fines and penalties must, to conform to constitutional mandate, be turned over entirely to the school board for the school fund. For street Improvements an elaborate system ot taxation by special assessment has been devised, largely aa an outgrowth of past experience, by which abutting prop erty enjoying the benefits Is assessed for the cost. These assessments are imposed by ordinance after certain jurisdictional preliminaries are observed and equalised by the council as a board of equalisation. The property owner has the privilege either ot paying the entire amount at once or of de ferring payments for ten annual Install I tnents bearing Interest, In which case the money Is raised by the sale of district Im provement bonds, against which the special assessments are carried aa a sinking fund until the entire lssus is tsken up, Tbe ex hibit of receipts by the city treasurer for 1902 Is as follows: City. Bchcol Kl.Ti2.7 t2.'5,8S1.2; 2t5.t'5.3 4,171.80 J.243.50 tm ft v sttinrBUmaVO stracter Is also attached to this depsrtment ' ph.rt,T ..t.bllshes the denosltorv In connection with cases relating to taxa- ,an for clty fundi- H requlre. a) the tlon snd special assessments and a special ,ncrement rom pUDil0 moneys to be turned LflCE eURTfllN SJILE Our April curtain sale continues throughout the entire month and the exceptional values we offer will be an inducement for you to make your purchases during this sale. We show herewith some of the special prices. $3.no nifllod Swiss nud Net Curtains with insertion nnd lace edne. full length and width, special price $1.60 $t75 nnd ?7.50 Hope Port 'ores, oil colors, special entire month $5.00 pair. ftl.7." nn.l $7.."0 Portieres with borders, all colors, entire month. $5.00 pair. $l.(s nnd $1.2." door panels, very special, entire month, 75 cents each. Cretonnes nnd Curtnln Sw ss, this Is the season when everyone buys Swiss for the bed rooms. Our stork Is complete a new shipment of colored Swiss, stripes and fluures at 20c per yard. SHIRT WAIST BOXES We make them to order In our drapery department, colors to match rooms. Window shinies, special mid ones, all colors. M cents each. ig (Earpet and Rug Sale For Monday only, bargains that are genuine and a selection from the most com plete assortment of floor coverings to be seen in the west. 9x12 Wilton Rugs, regulsr price $37.60, Monday $30.00 8-3x10-6 Wilton Rugs, .regular price $34.50, Monday $24.50 Pxl2 best 6-frnme Body Brussels, regular price $28.60, Monday $21.60 8-3x10-6 best 8 frame Pody Brussels, regular price $26.60, Monday $1.50 P12 best Imperlnl Smyrna, regular price $37.60, Monday $26.60 30 Smyrna Rurh, regular price $1.35 Monday, each 95o SPECIAL, CARi ETS $1.60 Wilton Velvet, Monday, sewed, per yard, for $1.25 SPECIAL. CARrETS $1.35 Wilton Velvet, Monday, sewed, per yard, for $1.00 SPECIAL CARPETS $1.10 Wilton Velvet, Monday, aewed, per yard, for Ito These goods will be placed on sale for Monday only. Orchard & Wilheim Carpet Qo 1414i6'13'20 Douglas Street. Omaha. Neb. reconstruct and keep in repair any viaduct or viaducta over or under its tracks for the safety and protection of the public. The damages entailed by the erection of such viaducts are assessed the same way as those for grading a street. While the plana and specifications must be as re quired by the. city engineer and approved by the mayor and city council, the cost of the entire construction must be borne by the railroads. Where there are two or more railroad companies operating tracks crossed by such viaducts the proportion of tbe cost is borne by esch as determined by the mayor and council A provision of this kind in a former charter waa fought by the railroads as unconstitutional and carried clear up to the United States supreme court, but tho railroads lost and have been required to submit to Its requirements. As a result, although the terminals of ths railroads in Omaha cut through the center of the city, trafllc Is facilitated by a via duct system, which has no equal In any other city of its site in the country. The city treasurer Is the ex-ofllclo treas urer for the school board, but this Is the only Instance where an officer serves more than one municipal corporation, there being separate county officers In all departments, notwithstanding tbe fact that the city is inclusive In the county. Tbe question of merger of city and county governments in whole or In part has been repeatedly agitated, but nothing has come of It as yet, owing to obstacles interposed by bene ficiaries of tbe present system. mm agent to whom is delegated tbe duty ot gathering evidence to protect the city In damage suits, As already Indicated, the public Improve ments come under the Board of Public Works, consisting ot the city engineer, comptroller and the building Inspector, The engineering department Is In reality the construction department of the city. into the public treasury. Banks of sub stantial capital may become city depos itories by bidding not less than 2 per cent Interest on current balances snd filing bonds to safeguard the city against loss. It Is needless to say that hone of ths banks have ever paid more than the required 2 per cent. Tbe mayor and council have the au- From taxes From licenses From fines and costs. From special aaeesa- ments From bond sales From ether sources... 161.131 48 l2,c .! au.saa.34 63.17114 Totals $1,M1.SM.61 $b27,.'619 Folic Beard CewtcwtloBS. Next to the question ot revenue and tax ation. If not ahead of It, the feature bf the Omaha charter which has attracted most attention la that relating to the govern ment of, the fire and police departments, The charter provides for a board ot Ore and police commissioners, consisting ot four members, appointed, not more than two from eae political party, bjr tits governor of The force employed variea with the amount thorUy t0 reqmre .ny railroad company to ui wura 10 ue uuue, auuuuga mere is a permanent list ot employes to keep the records, Inspect the pavements, sidewalks. sewers, etc. All work must be let on com petitive bids, for which due notice is given by advertising, and no scandala arising out of the public Improvements have arisen since the adoption of the present charter. The city haa guaranty contracts covering most of Its newly laid pavements, requir ing the contractor to keep It In repair a certain number of years, usually Ave, and It has another separate contract tor the repair ot asphalt pavements on which the guaranty haa expired. Omaha's Water Sapply, Up to the present Omsha has been sup plied with water by a private corporation operating under a contract with the city, by which It furnishes hydrant service for fire protection at specified rates. The num ber of bydranta now In use Is 1.48$, and the annual rental, $92,080. Under the contract wun toe water, company tne city has a right to purchase without allowance for ths unexpired franchise st the end ot a twenty- five-year period, which terminates la Sep tember next. It bss also ths right to ac quire the plsnt by eminent domsln. ia which esse the appraisement would have to take into account tbe unexpired con tract. The acquisition of the plaat has beea eonstsntly agitated and In anticipa tion of the purchase bonds to the amount of $3,000,000 were voted at ths laat city election. To put this purchase plan into effect a charter amendment baa Just been enacted creating a water board separate and distinct from the other branches of the city government, consisting of six members. three from each ot the opposing political parties, appointed originally by the gover nor for terms, expiring alternate biennials. with a view to making a continuous board with six-year terms. The successors of ths goverBer-appoiBted commissioners are to I This Is the paper on Omaha's charter his tory contributed by Victor Rosewater of The Bee to a series of articles reviewing the municipal governments of the principal American cities, now being printed In the Denver Post. The figures incorporated have reference to the charter aa previous to recent amendment by the legislature. IE M GASH Turn your old books into money. Telephone B 2367 and our represen tative will call. "Ye Old Booke Shop," 1410 FAHHAM ST. ...TO SSI City Ticket OtTloo, , 1324 Farnam Street. Tclaphona J 14V. The Bee Want Ads Produco Results lsXita!bi4hBE IRRt6UlARITY ClAo6rRATK1 SUPPIKSSIOM.SM. SAMMffMli m MIS re CrUrtAnoOAA.TErtli Price One Dolls Wine of Csrdui regulates menstruation, cures bearing-down pains, nervousness, Irritation of tl. membranous Uningt snd sll manner of female weakness. This pure Wine takes the yovng girl safely through the perils of yoang womanhood by giving her correct menstrual habits. It corrects barrenness, aad is ths stay of the young mother during pregnancy and at childbirth, assisting her to recover quickly from ths ordeal. Wine of Csrdui relieves women of aches and pains in the head, back aad abdomen, and is necessary st the menstrual periods, especially when there are symptoms of irregularity or suppression. At ths changs of life Wine of Cardui gives a woman strength to resist the shock which generally attends the passage of this important period. Wine of Cardui will keep any woman healthy by shielding her from ths dangers which Us in wait for her sex. THE GREAT FAMILY MEDICINES Thedford's Blsck-Draught is the original liver regulator. Ita results are as far-reaching and important ss the influence of the liver on the human body. Thedford's Black-Draught Invigorates digestion, curing dvspepsis. It regulates the bowels, curing constipation, diarrhoss and dysentery. By regulating ths liver It cares biliousness and colds, and by strengthening the action of the kidneys it relieves ths blood of poisons which causa rheumatism and countless pains. Thedford Black-Draught Is the companion remedy of Wins of Cardui. These two preparations work to gether perfectly, snd are generally sold together. During the past seventy-five years they have cured millions of persons in the privacy of the home, without doctors' offensive private examinations or expensive treatment. Wine of Cardui and Thedford's Black-Draught always do ths same thing, snd health is invariably ths result. Your druggist has $1.00 bottles of Wine of Cardui snd 25-cent packages of Thedford's Black-Draught. TMEMMDS MMWIT Brandon, Ala., March 9, 1902. I have beea using Wine of Cardui and Thedford's Black-Draught as yon advised me to, and my pains hsve left me. X sleep well. My appetite is good. I am not constipated and my stomach is sot sore. The pahis in my side snd stomach axe gone. Ths numbness Is sll gone sad I feel better la every wsy. Mrs. J. A. McCURDY. If you think you need sdvice, address, giving symptoms, "The Ladies' Advisory Department' Ths Chattanooga Medicine Company, Chattanooga, Tnn. OmciNALTA i i in i ui 1 1 u aLuvnnv mj v his Son in Law j.MTHfttfwo in ism. and recommerbded for oil ait,nii of ths AMUMC1MNO SVTMf HfMiriinrHTmrr tuccittoas roi IlJThedford&Co. CnATTAKOOQA , TENN.