The Omaha Sunday Bee.
jk ALL THjl tW5 IHE
OMAHA BEE
IN THE WEJT
siN(iLK i'opy hvk cents.
VOL. XXXIX-XO. 45.
OMAHA. SUNDAY MoKNINU. AP'.tIL -i. V.iVk
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PAia on to rora.
M en liosen al Late Election
-P. A P B IT . fl I T
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THO MAS "WT3X.r
XAVXD CITY"
C.vll,coTrocrGHY
r.O.SHABKAR WEST POINT
an 1
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"J1 gards in the march of pub
lic improvements, on tne
contrary, they are well up
in the race for civic beauty
municipal betterment,
few years ago the man would
have been regarded with suspicion who
proposed to pave the streets of a Ne
braska city of the ordinary class.
Sewers were unknown, sidewalks were
dilapidated, oil lamps were used to
make a bluff at lighting the public
thoroughfares; and to hold things
level and avoid debt was the great
desideratum that made city officials
popular.
Today this Is all changed. Many
years of continuing prosperity, greatly
Increased land values, the influx of
settlers to ths country and of ambi
tions people to tho towns the all
round demand for tho best of every
thing has stirred to action a spirit
that did but Ua dormant during the lean years when inspired states
men were setting the country by the ears over the rainbow-like
promises of panaceas that did not pan.
Having come into their own In the practical advantages of life,
the people of Nebraska shortly became of one mind in the determi
nation to make their municipalities more pleasant places in which to
live. The larger cities set the example, the next in size followed suit ;
and today even the larger villages are bursting Into the line of prog
ress with, a pride and a vim that is forcing the scales from the eyes
of the old fogies, very few in number, who may be, here and there,
seeking to eurb advancement.
The desire for more satisfactory living has spread far into the
country, until In the older counties It has become the usual thins
for pretentious names to be given to fine farm homes; and their
owners are making the surroundings justify the poetical, fanciful or
old world appellations they have attached to their farmsteads.
Today it la not the fashion for the rulers of Nebraska cities to
preach a pinching economy, so much as a wise expenditure of all the
money necessary to make their municipalities blossom forth in mod
ern panoply of up-to-date conveniences, trimmed with some of the
luxuries. Better buildings, for one thing, needed more appropriate
settings, whether they were ownd by the public or the citizens Indi
vidually. To provide this appropriate setting involved improved
streets. That town which became most attractive to farmers and
transients went ahead In material things. Neighboring towns discov
ered this patent fact without much delay, and they in turn sent to
le front as municipal officials those men who proved themselves to
vs capacity and a grasp of modern forward movements.
A majority of the Nebraska cities of the second clss3 have mu
nicipally owned water works or lighting plants, or both. In nearly
every instance the ulants are managed with ability and faithfulness,
and with profit to tho city treasury, at the same time satisfactory
service is furnished the patrons. Some of these municipal plan's are
quite pretentious, and in nearly every instance tile plans have been
ho drawn that extensions may be made from time to time, as the
demand increases.
On January 2S last a good pusii ahead was given the movement
for improved city conditions when the League of Nebraska Munici
palities was organized at Lincoln. The initial convention was at
tended by nearly one hundred delegates from various cities and
towns in the state. The delegates represented not only the cities' as
such, but a good man; commercial clubs sent delegates to learn what
Is being done by their neighbors. A permanent organization was
formed and standing committees appointed to give attention to vari
ous features of city government, from accounting to street cleaning.
Among th matters to which the committees will give some study
before the next meeting are;
Legislation, C. J. Miles. Hastings, chairman.
Street paving. George L. Campea, Omaha, chairman.
Street lighting, James Nicholson, jr.. Grand Island, chairman.
Sewerage and sanitation, Adna R. Oodson. Lincoln, chairmaa.
Water works. John Mam, Seward, chairman.
Taxation and assessment. W. L. Klrkpatrick. York, chairman.
Municipal franchises, A. G. Edlund. Axtell. chairman.
Municipal accounting, Henry Schuff. Grand Island, chairman.
Parks and playgrounds, W C Hardy. Lincoln, chairman.
Public health. Dr. George P. Shldler, York, chairman.
Membership, Robert P. Starr, Loup City, chairman.
Public safety. Mayor Dahlman. Omaha, chairman.
Judicial opinions, E. J. Clements, Ord, chairman.
During the sessions of the first gathering of representatives of
Nebraska municipalities the discussions were lively and covered th
whole range of civic government, from direct legislation to woman
suffrage. It waa learned through Frank G. Pierce secretary of the
League of Iowa Municipalities, that the Hawkeye organixarion is
the largest of its kind in the country confined t one state, with
California second. Mr. Pierce pointed out the great benefit that
havo accrued to the towns of his state through the league, which
last year had an incomo of $1,2 04 from memberships. Individuals
are not admitted as members, nor will they be taken as members in
Nebraska. Only municipalities ran join, and the fees range from $50
a 5ar for uVkh and $40 for Lincoln, down to ti for the smaller
places. The membership is $5 for all alike.
The officers of the Nebraska league are: President. Don Love,
OSCE.OTJJL
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G.E.SCfiUXES." CENTHAL-CITT V W:LJ2QWLTNG -TiATmfivJ
York, Sewara,
fcoth cf efficiency and economy and
also In the very essential element of
material betterment. Our municipal of
ficers are. as a rule, fnir reprewmta
tives of the business for - e in the'r com
mu!iifi'8, and wirii lsts mie t-nce by
the legislature on local affairs will
com the opportunity to make ail tho
towns of Nebrsska as beautiful and as
desirable fur residence as any in tho
country. The start has been mado
everywhere and all we have to do now
Is to stir a spirit of emulation that wtS
demand the best."
Tbemen who were recently elected
to be the executive officers of their
respective towns in Nebraska aro
chosen becauae of their energy and
ability, and because tbtr fellow towns
men expect them to make good. It lM
to be another year of growth in Ne
braska; the people of the state art)
prosperous.
Freedom of the City of London
THE honorable freedom of the city, which is to be conferred
on ex President Roosevelt shortly, is the highest gift that
the city of London has in its power to bestow. It waa re
cently bestowed on Miss Florence Nightingale, the only;
woman who has ever received it.
The wall of the anteroom of the council chamber is lined with,
the busts of those whom the city has honored in this way. :
In conferring the honorary freedoms the sncient forms are still
preserved. Six citizens will vouch for Mr. Roosevelt's worthinesa IA
the following terms:
"That Theodore Roosevelt is a man of good name and fame; that
h does not desire the freedom of the city whereby to defraud tho
king or this city of any of their rights, customs or advantages; but
that he will pay his scot and bear his lot; and so they all say." These,
six citizens are called "the compurgators."
The city chamberlain addresses the distinguished visitor, enlarg
ing on the deetls that make him worthy of the honor that la beinj
bestowed. Mr. Roosevelt will then reply.
The city chamberlain then offers him the rjht hand of fellow
ship and presents him with a gold box, hernldically decorated, con-
;Corfolk, Be- talning an illuminated copy of the cote of the Common Council, by
Lincoln; vice president. C. J. PMsatsnHoni
Miles, Hastings; secretary- T7 " """"" " " '"VVlf atrice, Plattdmouth, Ne- which It was resolved that he should be presented with tho freedom,
treasurer, R. C. Ozman, Lin- , , 'M Ijpr Al braska City, Falls City, In the case of a soldier a sword is sometimes given instead of a box.
coin; trustees. Ed Lemkuhl Vf ' 1 .. . N- 'Jlf . . ? Crete, Kearney, Alliance, The box usually costs a hundred guineas.
of Wahoo, John H. Morgan .T l icit "s,w-; - Aurora, Columbus, Holdrego If Mr. Roosevelt were British he would then have to sign the fol-
of Chadron, C. O. Lobeck of ?. ' 7 v' V and other progressive towns, lowing declaration:
Omaha. "'' f .' ! J in greater or leaser degree. "i (jo solemnly decide that I will be good and true to our sover-
Laws to be sought by the . " Where no paving Is yet done, jgn lord the king; that I will, be obedient to the mayor of this city;
league, through the legist- ' 1 St ''"svyV " it is largely because the that I will maintain th franchises and customs 'thereof and will koop
ture, will be decided on at a ' - , ' j i ' ' ' sewer systems have not yet this city harmless in that which in me is; that I will also keen tno
meeting to b. held some 4 j ' r been complete:!. Somt are king's peace in my own person; that 1 will know no conspiracies mads)
time the coming fall. They , 1 finished, some have been against the king's peace, but I will warn the mayor thereof, or hia
will relate, probably, to a SN. ".. . I I t I starteu and others are jr it to my power; and that ail thse points and articles I will well
greater extension of the ' f I , . '"' ' planed for. Paving follows, and truly keep, according to the laws and customs of this city, to my;
power of municipalities in . . 1 J " ' T whether it be macadam or power."
the first place, uch as the f ", 1 x ' ' brick, and every year sees But not being a subject of the king, be will, of course, not be
privilege of making their v v,sN-' - I t ssv; . the area of improvement ex- asked to sign this declaration. So jealously, Indeed, does the city
own charters, uniform sys- S- I i tended. prize its rights of presenting the freedom that, though it has several
fern of accounting anr mat- Brick is the pavement so times been presented to distinguished foreigners, the gift in suck
ters of that kind. f J N ' ; 1 ' - far tried in the cities of Ne- cases is only nominal.
The formation of this A ' "Jfjv ' jj braska outsidt-of Omaha and Garibaldi, the great Italian cold.er, and De Lesseps. who madi
state league is but another 7ivVSw. l Js Lincoln. In some towns, lik the Sues can.-tV, have both been voted the freedom. But in each caaa.
impetus to a policy of ad- sC'---'-""---- Jt P"'" - f- Beatrice, for instance, native SIranKe as It. mv sVm, they did not gt it: The document received
v.ncement already well un- 1--mmm4J VXNSaii----Mi- ) DriCk has been put. down, jn such cases is o.X a copy of the vote of the Common Council, not
der way in Nebraska. Not a 3 STOCKS?-. TTFCyTT "P TFAnT"B SQ.O'MA'HA "with cnsitlerbl, satlsfac- an attual resoluu-(nonferring the freedom. And in the chamber
town of 2,300 people or tion where carefully Uid. iajU's books it is vt recorded that they did receive the freedom,
more but has been putting on a better dress in public affairs, while But as a rule Purington block is the material used. , So tnat y:. Rr..fcelt will be only nominally a freeman. No reo
the cities of 3,000 or better have installed not only electric light and A gentleman from another state, who recently made a trT orj 0f tjje i-ecepcica Mf the freedom will be found in the chamber
water plants, but have also gone in for concrete walks and paving, tivough western Nebraska, expressed his surprise at finding the Jain's book.i. 1
Fences have been abolished on the main residence streets, and where towns so well improved. He mentioned particularly the little city of
pavements are not laid ia the business sections macadam has been Scott's Bluff. "They have out there," he aid, "as fine sidewalks and
put down. Wide gutters are also placed along the main streets, thas crosswalks of concrete as one can find anywhere. In Alliance and
abolishing the sinkholes in which filth and flies were wont to actum- Chadron and oth?r towns we saw the same spirit of progress, but
There are 'vra. other ways by which an Englishman may obtain
the freedom. 1'tu may get it by patrimony, by servitude or by re
demption, '.. t , ; ou may be admitted as a freeman because your
fa;ir tiu v freeman, or because you have served your term as ao-
uiate while the farmers' teams stood knee-deep in mud, even in dry Scott's Bluff appealed to me because it is so recent In construction, pnuuca to a freeman, or you may buy it for cnah down.
weather.
Fremont U a typical city, favored with good officers and pushing
ahead at all times. Mayor Fred Burreil is a civil engineer, superin
tendent of bridges for the Northwesrern road, who brings to bis
civic duties the same faithfulness and attention to detail in his own
business. Equipped with water works, electric light plant and
sewers, Fremont Is now turning its attention to more paving, and
shortly will present as fine a front in this rpect as any city of sim
ilar size in the country.
Grand Island put in 40.000 yards of new paving last year, and
will lay a great desl more the present season. Hastings is also la
the paving business just now. to kef p pace with the better buildings
going up every year. Not only the main stre-f3 where the stores are
located are beiug paved in cities like these, but every year ih paved
area la spreading out to comprise the principal residence streets.
as a town, and in what we used to consider the desert country. No ia Mch of these ca s you pay a guinea lee, which goes to' tho
finer homes or more presentable streets will be found In any eastern Feeman's Orphan school. If you are neither a ratepayer of the city
or coast town in the country. And in the other places mentioned we
saw stretches of residence streets that were a delight to the eye. It
was amazing to a visitor seeing your newer towns for the first time."
Harking hack now to the League of Nebraska Municipalities and
what Is expects to accomplish. City Comptroller Lobeck says rhere
is really no limit to its field of usefulness. "The lows and California fi,tr
leag"es have been on the ordi-r of college extension in the education address.
nor have a Parliamentary vote here, however, you pay 2 6s 3d.
Many posts in the city can only be held by freemen, especially,
those in the gift of the great guilds and livery companies.
Foreign sovereigns do not get even the nominal freedom when
the city wishes to honor them. They receive only a complimentary
Queen Victoria on her accession only got a complimentary
i she was only entitled to the freedom by patrimony.
01 municipal oiuciais. saiu Mr. u0De.1t. our omciaia rotate In King Edward Is similarly a freeman by patrimony, or because his
offica mors than in any other country, and necessarily it follows father was a freeman. When Mr. Gladstone was prime minister It
that anything which makes all the citizenship alert to the best, was found impossible to vote him the freedom, as he was already a
acquainted with most, recent developments, is s good thing for the freeman by redemption.
city or town. By extending the league and making its Influence co- Between the freedom by patrimony, servitude or redemption and
extensive wun me lines or me state, wa nope to arouse an interest the honorary freedom there is. of course, a wide gulf. Pearson's
What is true of Fremont. Grand Inland and liosun.sa is also trua that will result La better municipal government, from the standpoint Weekly.