Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 11, 1903, Page 5

4D 4 n Sessments; aleo the provision requiring o similar majority petition as a jurisdictional NAYOR'S ANNUAL MESSAGE| s o oo e | be_ordered. Thé trouble with these provisions is that they make it mandatory upon the city to order the improvements upon the filing of such petitions, and yet the sufficlency of the petitions may be attacked in the courts even after the {mprovements have been made in good faith and thousands of do! | lars expended by the city in thelr comple- | tion { The courts have sustained the validity of most of the taxes levied under the new Oondition of the Dity's Business and Record of the Year, SUGGESTIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL Steps to Purchase Water Plant Urged charter, which took effect in 1587, 1 belleve and Additional Fdnds to Proe a curative act should be passed by the leg- Islature - curing all ects in assessments vide Soe Fublie Neede 1a levied under (his charter, Many If not Several Directions. | most of the old assessments levied priof to 1897 are irregular, but A large part of them can be ‘relevied without a curative act. If we could know that assessments from 1597 on were valid and incontestible it would | be a_great ald to the future prosperity of the city. Mayor Moores submitted his annunl mes- sage to the city council last night. Its text follows: To the Honorable City Council of the City of Omaha—Gentlemen: The long de- lay In securing the annual reports from the heada of some of the departments has post- poned the presentation of the mayor's an- nual message, which according to custom was due early in January. [he year just closed has not presented any pecullarly new or remarkable pro pecial Tax Litigation. The success of the legal department in 1901 in the handling of special tax ltiga- | tion was more than duplicated in 192 In | compromise settiement of invalld taxes through decrees of court this department collected for the city $36,212.10. In all com- promises the owners of property were re- Quired to pay up all regular taxes and all lems, but the conduct of city aftaira dur- | other special assessments in full except the ing that period has been creditably con. | invalld taxes affected by the compromise servative and on the whole satisfactory. | These were paid to the treasurer direct by the parties and are not included in the R O S amount above mentioned. The regular taxes probably amounted to as much as the total of the specials compromised, and the othet spectals paid and not included in such compromises probably to as much more. The settiements were mainly on properties heavily encumbered with taxes and the ef- fect of the settiements has beem to make No subject i municipal affairs fs deserv- ing of more careful consideration than that of taxation. payment of 4 reasonable and proporijonate tax upon his property i duty which every property owner owes to the publle, but inequalities fn taxation are the worat form of oppression. & l-rla,yn: ince the chartér of 1597 went me rr‘-nmln live taxpaying properties for nto effect, ‘ingrensing efforts have been put | the future. s or t| “Estoppels were eétablished by decree o !n;hv‘.'iufi'» # fafe cauaiiantion of proy dismisedl to the extent of $11342.96. In tAx tion xcvill of th - tor was an o soamingly dasurmoun. | cases now ing estoppels, Nive beap able. The M in (n DASE a8 follows: | pleaded to the extent of BUITELET, whic) “Provi that the o foner shall -hfl‘u|ld btls\u‘ flr;aam\n'g'-‘vfl.u(!,flhunr;::ltB\e take the valuati s, ! | parties voluntarily 1ORE TRoperte welthi ARt of FRil. | Dreference to having judgments of estoppel the returns 'iade’ by . the’ State Board of ualigations 1o the oqunty, slerk. " very one is laf with the fact that the figures for raflfoad property valuation in Omaha as returned by the State Board of Equalization, do not equal the fiftieth, and In many cases not the two-hundredeth part of ‘the actual valuation. Accordingly, n ordér towinimige as far as possible this injustice, equalization has heretofore been made of from 2 to 40 per cent of real valies, In the fall 3 1002 1t wak determined to i nore this special provision of section xevill of lh*thlrlar on the ground that it is un- constftutional a8 being tontrary to the con- stitution requiring taxes to be uniform and roportionate. tax commissioner, the joard of Review and the Board of Equall- entered against them. In addition to %rl regular work the ab- stractor -of this department furnished ab- tracts and opinions for the city which it made by outside abstractors, as was form- erly dl)h‘&) wou'd have cost the city more tha 1,000, ey important decisions were obtained during the year in the supreme court in favor of the city in speclal tax cases. In the cases of Orr et al against Omaha, Hicks et al against Omaha and Gsanter against Omaha, the previous decisions of the dis- trict court were reversed and the Jurisdic- tion of the eity to order practically all of the old curbing wi established. The case of Portsmouth Bavings bank et al against Omaha invulyed nearly all the new questions raised again: eclal assess- zation ‘all took this view of the case and | ments levied since March, and these have worked in harmony to secure & fair | were decided in favor of the city. s is the snd Impartial appraisement at actual cash | only case in which the wapremo court has values. The tax commissioner n his in- | had an opportunity to pass Hpon STRCL teresting annual report sums up the prom. | ments levied wince the Reecil fSRTiat n asses: effe . Tollowe; o 10 the assessment for 1 aa | WAL 0L 6" Valaity of practically all “First—The ‘assessment of all property, real and personal, at a fain cash value m- stead of a percentage of fair cash value as heretofore. ‘‘BSecond-—-An increased assessment of the capital stock of incorporated companies of about 3,000,000, the Pacific Express company bout $,000,000 and another advance on corporations ot over $2,000,000. ird—The assessment of rallroad prop- erty locally at fair cash value like all other property In place of taking the fig- ures of the State Board of Equalization, be!levlnr that y provision for the assess- ent of any tlu- of property otherwise than in conformit: to the constRution would not be valid.” Last year's assessed valuation on rail- roads within the city of Omaha, as fixed by the State Board of Equalization was 31320,246.40. The valuation this year, as finally fixed b&llla City Board of Equaliza- tion, was $26,832,400, or an increase of $25,- 702,153.60 over last jear, The total as: valuation last year of all property within the city on a 4 x:‘r cent basis was approximately $37,616, equivalent to an actual valuation of $M. 000. The asscssed value of real estate this year was fixed at.§71.808,3%, while that of rsonal property was placed at $57,- | tion for the year 1 “.&b making a total assessed valuation As the result of the assessment just com- of $129,498.606. It will be seen, therefore, leted the city is in a tuation for the that the increase over last year was $36,- | hrst time to issue bonds for the acquisl- 03,905 This Increase was entirely on per- | tion of the water works. gonalty and fs accounted for in large part | The right of acquiring the water works by the raise on rallroad valuations. by purc as provided in the contract e effect of this equalization will be & | with the water company will accrue to the very material n in the annual taxes | city September 4, It therefore be+ to paid by b al property own comes necessary at this time to consider o the most, effective and certain plan of pro- cedure for acquiring the water works; whether by enforcing the right of purchase, which will scorue September 4 1003, of proceeding under the power and right. of eminent domain as authorized by, the char- ul'!'ndfir the right of eminent domain the these assessments, and is of great value to the city. Municipal Ownership of Waterworks. Iways been and am now in favor of the’ mmanicipal ownership of public utill- ties, and especially of water works, but up to this time prevailing conditions made any step in that direction mgxr‘;?‘l’l:.?g:‘ ou 9 he total amount of anding long. ime indebtedness of the city, the figures of the comptrolier, le the sum of $3,618,000. The assessed . valuation of roperty in Omaha under tne 40 per cent Bk’ for 1902 was $87,616,165, As will be observed from these figures the outstanding long-time indebtedness of the city under the 1%2 assessment 'n\' only $143,000 short of the constitutional 10 cent limit of indebtedness, While this col dition existed it would have been impos- sible to issue water works bonds In the sum required and keep within the consti- tutional 10 per cent limit. This difficulty {s now removed by the valuation made ac- cording_to the standard of real estate as required by law for the purpose of mu- nicipal taxation for the year 903. The as- sessed vnluhlllun of pr?"}'\‘\fmcfi“uofi? s purpose o . made for the purpo “'m‘?” Tax Collections, The record made by . 1902 was even more the previous year. came delinquent Ji was the work of col on December 31 84.1 ity treasurer in an that of ty taxes be- ‘80 vigorously rosecuted that of the current oens ) ar'a taxes Had.| ity has the right to select seven apprais- U personait R ht | ers and ‘the appraisemenc made, before of realty was 8168 . becoming final and binding on the city, s . _During the $162,131.48 of speclal taxes | subject to approval by the mayor and ware collected. A number of Improvements | council and also by a Vote of the people. were made -for which ments This gives to the city protection much fo levied and bonds and special warrants [s- | be desired with reference to the amount sued a ¥ hé Balances show a et de. | of the appraisement. crease of $63,%0 {A our Special assessment | Whatever course may be decided upon. debt as With one T AKO. The following statement rfimllhed me by the city treasurer: $37,616,165 2 we_should proceed, as we have done, with saficlent caution and understanding of the situation as to adopt the plan which will be safest and best, 80 that the water works may be secured for the city at a fair and Assessed valuation for 190, Mill levy ... 5 reasonable cost, g A e AR | Nt Sangy oun e, et s, e s o 1l Y - VATTTEE WS By collected, M1, - e Whi"soon afrive, 1'recommend that an ordinance be pasred declaring the ne- REALTY. ssity of acquiring the water works plant Assessed valuation A providing. for the appointment of ap- M lovy .. Draisers to determine the value of the Tax produced 866,680 50 | same. With this in view, I would urge 1902 tax collected {1ty that this communication be referred to the Percentage of appropriatg committee, and that the ques- R kst (he " moat desirable method of rocedure for acquiring the water works Pe’ Considered without delay by the councll in general committee, and with reference roper determination of this ques- pleased to confer with your honorable body. Electric Light 31 8 | LA very important work of the year was the extension of the contract of the New 226,162 08 | Ghaha Thomson-Houston Electric Light Percentage of 12 tax coliected, 92.4. $ 1,128,484 95 f 1908 lovy ... s Of il regular iaxes Coir Collections of the year 1% exceed the levy | company for electric street lighting for & for the year by A7, & fact which never thi ears from gccem r 81, occurted DHIoF 1o the year 1900 182" The former contract was entered into s ember 1, 189, extending an existing 4 Syenths Tepatie contract which was not to expire until De- W:M-ICM charter amendments are | cember 31, 1887. This old contfact was in relation to the making of special | rushed through and signed at midnight the Yimprovements and the levying of assess- [ same day of its without giving ments for. - For many years the char- | the people an opportunity to be heard or ter provisions upon this sul t have been | to protect their interests. It provided that apparently framed to enable property own: | the city should pay at the rate of S48 ers bepefited by them to -VJ- payment of ear for ea light. The new con- v Assousments foF pUIIC improvements on the | tract entered into lact March Teduces the maat trivial of technical ebjeations to which | fate to 3845 per light, the rate taking ef- courts have been all too ready to lis- | fect January 1, 1902, one year before the ten. . The cunditions surrounding special | expiration of the former contract, and taxation in Omaha are unbearable and un- | alo requires the company to pay {fo the consclonable. It is an outrageous situation | city at the first of each year a royally of when property owners can defeat speclal | 3 per cent on the gross sales of the previ- {isesaments 4 decade or mare after thelr | ous year. This saving of $20 per year on evy without y Proot of inequalicy in the | each urc ight has enabled the city to put taxes, but solely on some hair-splitting |In over 100 new lamps, which has greatly technicallty, when & large proportion or | imgroved the lighting eystem of the clty, possibly all of the other owners of property | and the additional royalty will provide for assessed for, the improvement have pald | still further extensions. Their asbessrments 1 Full. The gasoline street 1 have not proved 1 think it may be lald down A gen- tisfactory, and during the year 160 ral principle that taxes and assessments have been disconthued, and the Shotld be Absolutely certain and equal in | smount of money so saved has been put their operation. If ome person escapes all should escape: if one pays, all ghould pay. There is one provision in relation to cer- tain classes publlg improvement -that has occasioned the greater part of this in- Justice and uncertalnty. and has cost the ity at large hundreds of thousands of dol- lars. Ttis the provision requiring as a J!}l’llfllcdonll prerequisite to the ordering of repaving,’'s petition signed by persons gwning w fajority o the taxable front feet of the property within the district; also the provision requiring & similar three- fourths “petition for street grading where {5to additiopal gas lamps, wnich give much betier service at oaly & smail increase in price. At the beginning of last year the light- ing facilities of the cily consisted of 3% arc lights, 953 gas llmrl and 560 gasolfne lamps. A{ the close of the year we had 446 arc ilights, 1,088 gas,lamps and 400 gas- gline lamps.. A great improvemient has been made in bur street lghting during the year, but an increased number of lights are still needed. Co the entire cost {8 to be pald by special as- In March an ordinance was passed re- guiring all electric and other wires when used for electric light, heat, power, and other commerclal purposes excepting those used for Jroveliing strest cars and tele: NURSING MOTHERS graph and telephone wires, to be placed under und M that portion of the city A mother’ health i e ‘st by Eshtassth strest oo ‘ae souch o wes centh street, on the sou mother’s poor health is bad by Howard etreet” and on ine porth by tol avenue. enough for the mother but 5.";:." en'é‘(ffi'é‘; llght and telephone com- 2 . anies are raj y plying with thiz re- worse still for the nursing |Gulrement. “The ‘applarance of the down- town streets will cert proved by having these poles and wires removed, and the work of fire fighting in the business district will be simplified, and the possibility of such terrible accidents as have oceurred to firemen 10 recent years by coming in centact with lve electric wires will be prevented Market House. During the latter part of the year just closed the council, over my veto, passed an_ordinance providing for the erecion of & market house in Capitol avenue, east of Fourteenth, and later let a contract for the partial construction of the same, and wark has already commenced on the found- ations. The portion now under contract is to cost about $200 and it Is estl- mated that it will ‘cost about as much more to complete the structure accord- ing 1o plans from Fourteenth to Thir- teenth streets. I have consistently vetged every step in ghe proceedings in refation to the loea tion ‘and coustruction of this market. I ve belleved and still beileve that & sic to|the market wite would convinoe any unprejudiced person of ita unsu NS &5 & The ly be greatly im- baby. - Mothers find Scott's Emul- sion a nourishing-and strengthening food. If the breast milk is scanty or thin Scott’s Emulsion will make it rich and more abundant. When mothers take Scott’s Emulsion the babies share in the benefits. Thin babies grow fat. Weak babies get strong. We'llsend you a lisle t try, 11 you Mke. BCOTT & BOWNE, vy Foacl sios, New otk ress of evection i but A temporary make- shift and will not be a credit to the city. 1 believe the city needs a market, but it whould be erected in a suitable and fec- cessible location and it should be a build- ing of permanent character and of ade- quate size and construction. Meclth Department. The work of this department during the year Wwas most effective. The duties were very largely increased by smallpox, which reached the epidemic stage during tho first_part of the year. In the first three months of the year, there were bi cases under the care of the department. A total of 83 cases were attended to during the run of the disease. been stamped out by vigorous attention and roper care and we now have but four ight cases of the disease in the city. As 18 well known, the charter allowance for thle depatment 18 oniy sI000 and but er cent of this can be drawn against, This amount is practically taken to meet galaries and fixed charges, and it was impossible last year to make provision in The epidemic hi the levy for the health fumd for the large increase in expenwe Which It was kqown would occur on account of the gmalipox epidemie. This increase had to e be taken care of out of the general fund, therefore, instead of out of the healfh fund, from which it should properly be drawn. The extra expenses attending the epidemic of smallpox amounted to $12,406.04, Of this amount #,63.64 was furniture and emergency hospital buildings, which have permanent value. The remaining $7,562.3) was expended for help, nurses, transporta- tion of patlents to hospitai, groceries, drugs, fuel, milk and telephone at the emergency hospital. The charity limitations of the fund should be raised to at least 520,000, for just such emergencles, Fire Department. The record of successful service in this department continued during 1X2. The number of fires was nearly 100 less than in 1901 and the fire loss was smaller by more than $100,000. This record is phenomenal, is as much due (o g skiliful fire fighting, Although no depart- ment In the country of the same numerical strength excels our own. But our fire- fighting facilities' are inadequate and our force too smail. (Of course there are parts of the clty which have splendid, protection, but thore are'others where nothing short of a miracle could save life and-property in case of fire. To afford this protection, the city should bulld a number ‘of depar ment houses and furnish them with men and “appliances. An engine house should be bullt in the wholesale district _on the_lot purchased last year at Eleventh and Jackson streets, Vast property interests are jeopardized by any fire in this locality. A large confla- fration there might paralyze the jobbing nterests of the city. A double house for a hook and ladder and a hose company should be constructed in_the vicinity of Twentleth and Lake streets. Kountse Place and the north part of the city has very little protection. The nearest companies are at least a mile away. A “double house should be erected at Twenty-seventh and Jones street ou the lot now owned by the city, so that a hose company could be put 'l alongside the hook and ladder company. The pres- ent bullding is an old barn remodeled and is 80 cold and unsanitary as to be nnfit for living quarters for the men. There is a large territory.in this locality without adequate protection. By some pecullar mismanagement, the hose company for the protection of Hanscom Park dis<rict was placed at the southeast corner of the park n the hollow, 80 that in order to reach the residonco district a long "run must be made uphtll, and when the top of the hill {8 reached ‘the teams are exhausted. A hose company located at Twenty-seventh and Jones streets would afford greater protection to most of the Hanscom Park section than can the company at Twenty- ninth and Shirley, as the run from Twen- ty-sixth and Jones streets is practically on the level and over well paved streets, A single house for a hose company shoul be lacated in the vieinity of Twenty-second and Davenport. streets. This locallty has many valuable bufldings, and they are dif- ficult of access owing to the long hill that must be climbed by the companies from thelr present locations. In addition to these houses the clty should purchase gites and erect houses in the viclnity of Blghteenth and Harney streets and Fourteenth and Howard streets where we now have companies in rented bulldings for which we pay & yearly rental of $3,400. These bulldings are not suited for our purposes and yet half the amount we pay as annual rental for them would BaY, interest on enough bonds to erect now utidings thoroughly up to date and sulted to_the needs of the department. The necessary sites for all these bufld- ings could be ‘secured and suitable build- rected for approximately $10,000. I belleve o bend progosition thould be sub: mitted to the. people for this purpose.’ Of course I am aware that the o of maintaining companies in these additional butidings would be consideruble, buf ‘the money saved by, the rduction in insurance rates by these improvements would nay the rmfnten ce expenses geveral times Street Markers. A much needed improvement was begun, last fall in the matter of placing' .J.".r markers on sireet corner: for a number of years past 1 have cailed attention to the ‘imperative need for such markers and Dbéve urged the makng of an appropriation for that purpose. A few months ago §,00 was set aside for this object and 'this amount has been expdnded as follows: Four hundred and' elghty-six signposts with two street signs each, and 688 and yet it d luck as it is to signs placed on corner bufldings, making a t Of 1,600 signs. Additional money should b :Fr;‘r:p.rlt:e:g to ‘ext;dnfl llhl.l system, as the y placed only cover the llflckly Ppopulated parts :! the city. e The Garbage Problem. Tnder the present laws and relating o the d1sposition of Farbage 1t 1s required that it be eithcr dls of at the Jones street dump, controlied by one contractor, or be hauléd many miles into Figed i hauliny garbase. will nelther vay n hauling e nef ‘or Ithe privilege of using the dump or hnl.llyl their loads out of the city, but deposit je, ashes, nightsoll and manure on t lots, outlying streets or in any ac ceasible Klu ‘where they think they can empty their loads and get away withont discovery and arrest. of refuse and foul-smeiling flith are frequently dum at night in Streets and vacant lots TigRE In the midst of thickly populated districts, This is a serious condition, and the worst feature of it ls that with our small police force it is impossible to remedy it. 1 wowd recommend that a garl creamatory be erected by the efty for abatement of this nuisance. This’ could done gt a small expense and would be an improvement welcomed alike by property ogners and teamsters. It would materially lessen the danger from contagious dis- eases and would Improve the health and ::P'l:;nc'l 3! (lh':a clll}‘- )l‘:nly l;lhur clties ve adopte s plan and it has pr entirely satistactory. gt Engineer and Board of Public Works. The annual report of the city engineer gives some figures which will be of inter- €8t to all cltizens, The engineer states that exclusive of the wooden blocks, we now have in Omaha street pavements cov- ering in round numbers 5% miles of as- phalt, 21 miles of stone, 13 miles of brick and 1% miles of macadam. In addition to this there are 41-7 miles of paved alleys. Our sewer mileage bas reached a total of 18616 miles. Treated as an asset, the in- vestment in Omaha public improvements is as follows: Grading of streets $1,604, 704 1,640,041 "N HELPING HAND” Is Gladly Extended By an Omaha Citizen. There are many enthusiastic citizens in Omaha prepared to tell their experience for the public good. Testimony from such a solrce is the best of evidence and will prove a' “helping hand” to scores of readers. Read the following statement: Mre. Fred Horn of 2002 Cuming street, says:—“In the winter of 1898 I could not eep on account of pain in my back. It so bothered me during the day and I of- ten had eharp cuting pains in the kidneys when stooping or causing any straln on my back. At the time I commenced using Doan's Kidney Pills I was very bad. The: were procured at Kuhn & Co's. drug store and the first box relieved me. I continued the treatment uotil I had taken thr boxes, whed there was no longer any peed to take more. I know Doan’'s Kidney Pills do the work that it is claimed they do.” For sale by all dealers. Price 60 cents. Foster-Milburn Co. Buffalo, N. Y., seole agents for the United States. Remember the name Doan's and take no substitute, [ | Davenport streets. s, Total .40 $5,805,995 If the mmount inyested in park grounds and park Improvements were added, the total would be considerably over $10,000,000. Against this there js a total debt for dis- trict sewers, payements, sewer bonds and paving bonds of about half that amount. eaving the net assets of the city at this date about $,000,000, exclusive of Achool Droperty, city hal, engine houses and real estate owned by the city, Probably the most important work com- pleted during the last year under the pervision of this depaitment was the col struction of the Twenty-fourth street via duct by the Unlon Pacific and Burlington rafilway companfes. These companies are under agreement to construct a viaduct or subway on Bancroft street and have fur- ther practically agreed to construct a via- duct over their tracks near Eighth and The preliminary steps have been taken to acquire the t-of-way for the Saddle creek main_sewer, which has long been needed to afford !l"?l’l\?e facilities to the west and northwest portions of the city. It is proposed to construct a driveway n connection with the sewer o%ver the prop- erty to be condemned. Charter Amendments, There are a numbar of charter amend. ments which I trust may be secured at this sesslon of the legislature. Among them I would suggest the following: First—The clause requiring the tax com- missioner to take the valuation fixed by the Btate Board of Fqualization in assess- ing railroad property should be stricken from the charter, as being unjust and op- preselve, If not unconstitutional. Recond—The charter limitation upon the levy for the fire, police, health, water rent and sinking funds should 'be in- creased. The apparatus and_appilance of the fire department need renewing. 1f the other houses herein reccmmended are erected the additional expinse of mainte- nance must be provided for. The police fund 1s not sufficlent to support the pres- ent force, and during the last three or four months of the year it will be neces- sary to discharge half of the patrolmen to prevent an overtp. The health fund must receive a large allowance If the city is to be protected against contaglous dis- eases when they become epldemic. There are parts of town where additional hy- drants are absolutely n!cé!lflr{, but not another one can be placed wncil the pre ent levy can be increased, The sinking fund limitation must be Yalsed, as the amount authorized for the past few years has not been sufficient to meet the city's Interest charges it_has been neces- sary to take thousands of dollars annually out of the general fund to pay the balance in order to save the clty from defaulting upon its bonded indebtedness and ruining the clty's credit for many years to come. The annual levy for each of these funds has been the maximum amount allowed by the charter and in order to meet the requirements of the city these limitations should be raised as follows: From To $125,000 $160,000 115,000 130,000 . 10,00 20,000 Binking fund. 200,000 800,000 These changes would not necessaril crease the total levy to &ny material tent, but would permit the payment of expenses out of the proper funds instead of out of the general fund. Third—An amendment should be made raising the lmit of our bonded indebted- ness, or else the city should be authorized to issure funding bonds to take up out- standing special bonds and warrants where no taxes remain for the payment of the same. These bonds and warrants now bear ‘from § to 7 per cent interest and could be refunded at 4 pe cent or less, thereby saving the city many thousands of_doliars annually in interest. Fourth—The provision of the charter in relation to jurisdictional petitions for spe- clal improvements. should be modified in the light of experience and common sense, 80 that no property owner conld defeat assessment on the ground of defective pe- titions when the improvements have been made by the oty at large expense, relying in good faith on the title records to prove {he, remularity of such patitions, partion. arly when no clalm of fraud, injustice or pe .7 - Y uohggded —A curative act should be validating all special assessments levied since the new charter went Into eftect in Sixth—The city of Omaha should the right of home rule m: m‘::l-:r‘v:; m;‘dulhmn ln'n_ilcon!rol of its fire and opartments. The r - Doint the Board of Fire and Foflcs Corm: in- ex- missioners for the city should not vested in the governor, but the boln should be appointed by the mayor and Confirmed by the city Gounel SBOMId Do aleotive, O Tiiecs OF else 1t Publication of Annphj Reports. ‘The council during the last five years has adopled & very shopi-sighted poitey in ication of the an- the maf of the publ nual reports of the }lflo\ll depertme of tl In each of my annual messages alled attention to this matter and urged the necessity for their publication, but a mistaken idea of economy has In- duced the council to overrule my desires in the matter. In the recent investigations made bf the Real Estate exchange it wi found almost impossible to\secure in avail- able form comparative higures on city ex- penditures and receipts for the last five years. I would again urge the necessily for printing these reports, and I belleve busi- ness men generally who are interested in municipal affajrs would endorse this recom- mendation. If not deemed feasible to pub- lish the reports in full, I would advise that at least an abstract of them for 1898, 1899, 1900 and 190 be issued. This could be ab- breviated into one volume, if thought neces- sary. 1 would further advise that the an- nual reports foF 1308 be printed in full All of this printing could be done for from $1,500 to §2,000, and the city, its officers and taxpayers would then be In a ion, by gomparison ‘of expenditures, to check ‘any tendency to extravagance and to trace the disposition of cf nds. The taxpayers of the city want this information in brief, concrete form, and the only way It can beé furnished s By the publication of the an nual reports of the city. Every other oty in the country the size of Omaha publishes such Teports, and a comparison of our reports with those of other cities would be of great value. The Omaha annual reports were published reg- ularly from 1867 to 1897, inclusive, but were then discontinued for reason of economy. Compilation of Ordinances. No compilation of the ordinances of ti elty. hlf been made since 180, In the twelve intervening years more than 3,00 om-lrnm'hnv. n ) --edf‘ lmcndlrl’& 3 re-ame or repealing former ordi- nances. Hardly a section of the complla- tion of 18% remalins unchanged, therefore that volume 1§ now worse than useless. It is practically impossible to ascertain what the present proviilons of the ordinances of the city are upon some subjects, for certain parts of the compiled ordinances of 1890 have been altered by amendatory or partially repealing ordinances as many as wenty time: 1 have called attention to thi several previous annual subject in messages and 1 desire to state again that I deem it to be of the high portance that a new com- pilation of the ordinances be made. This shoula be done mot only for the reason given above, bt for the additional res. son that many of our ordinances have be drawn carelessly and by incompetent pe sons; and large number have already been declared invalid by the courts. Many others would not bear scruliny if they had 10 be relied upon by the city in any Htiga- lon This compilation should be made at once and by lawyers familiar with municipal affalrs and munielpal law. No layman, be he ever so industrious or well Intentioned, should be intrusted with this lmronln( matter. Then, when a new compilation has ‘been thoroughly prepared, printed and adopted and former ordinances repealed, no amendments of any character should be permitied, except In extreme cases of ab- solute nec: ty. Nine-tenths of the amend- atory ordinances of the past twelve years were unnecessary, and were passed simiy to gratify some perso whim and not from any public necessit Concluston. 1 desire to express my appreciation of the courtesy and considerstion shown me Py the members of the council and by the ‘heads of the respective departmentu. 1 trust that this review of the last year's municipal record and the suggestions made in the message may be of benefit in assist. ing ve in the work before us in the year 1363 Respecttully, FRANK E. MOORES, Mayor, FIRE STARTS ON BATTLESHIP SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10.—Wire broke out last night on the battieship New York, which is lying in the stream under orders to sall for Honduras. The fire was in the cabin of Paymaster Ball and is believed to have origluated from a lighted cigarette dropped into & basket of paper. Considerable damage was done to the cabin, but the salling of the fleet today will not be delayed. ’ Crackers With A Kerosene Flavor They are known as the common bulk soda cracker. Al grocers don't have them in this flavor—some of them do. It's no fault of the grocerman. He sells bulk soda crackers because a few customers still buy them as a matter of habit. He also sells kerosene. Between measuring out kerosene and putting bulk biscuit in a bag things will get mixed. If you do not fancy the kind with the kerosene flavor ask for Uneeda Biscuit in the In-er-seal Package with red and white seal. Made with the utmost care; clean bakeries, clean bakers, best material. Packed in an air tight, dust proof package that does all that it was made to do— keeps the biscuit fresh, clean and dry. They reach you in perfect condition—just as they left the oven. NATIONAL BISCUIT COMPANY BRITISH OFFICERS BRUTAL| English Admiral Exposes Alleged Barbar- ous Oustom in Royal Guards SUBALTERNS FLOGGED WITHOUT MERCY Small Social and Military Offences 1d to Be Pun d by Hach Comrade Whipping Offe: er's Bare Feet. LONDON, Feb. 10.—Rear Admiral Basil Cochrane, retired, in a letter published in the Times today, makes astounding state- ments regarding a “‘barbarous system"” al- ged to prevall among the guards regi- menta for the punishment of subalterns gullty of social or military offens According to Rear Admirgl Cochrane, the eodlonel of one battalion has been in the babit of handing over offenders to the senior subaltern, who summons & court martial at which the attendance of all the subalterns is exacted. The sentence is almost invariably flog- ging. This is administered on the bare back, and from six to forty blows are given with such severity as to draw blood. All the officers present, even the most inti- mate friends of the victim, are compelled to administer their share of blows. The admiral cites the instance of a young officer who faluted after’ recelving forty strokes, and also refers to the case of his own nephew, Captain Leveson-Gower, who, for an unintentiopal military fault, was tried and flogged. Subsequently, according to Admiral Coch- rane, his nephew was punished with great severity by Major General Oliphant, for- merly commander of the Grenadier guards, for a peity fault, and whé in consequence of continued il tréatment resigned his commlssion ‘last Week. 4 0} ‘When Lord Roberts, the commander in chief, was informed of these occurrences through relatives he severely reprimanded Colonel Ricardo, commander of the Grena- dler guards, and placed Lieutenant Colonel Kinlock of the same regiment on halt Ppay. pastaiion COALING STATIONS IN CUBA People Have No Objection to Carry ing Out Promise with the United States, I HAVANA, Feb. 10.—Although a fairly definite understanding has been reached with the United Sta representatives with regard to the coaling station on this island, President Palma is inclined to fur- ther feel the public pulse before commit- ting his government to the agreement. Accordingly, he held a conference with the leading senators and representatives at the palace today and the matter wat Aiscussed, with the result that no opposi- tion to the agreement developed, except on minor points. It is understood Jere that the naval coaling station agreement {8 not dependent in any degree on the confirmation of the reciprocity treaty, since the coaling sta. tion arrangement is expresaly provided for by the Platt amendment. RHEUMATISM Tortures, Cripples and Deforms. Rheumatism does not treat all alike. Some suffer torture from the very begin- ning, the attack being so sudden, sharp aud disastrous that they are made helpless cripples in a few days, while others feel ong' occasional twitches of pain in the knees, ankles, elbows and wrists, or the muscles of the legs, arms, back or meck ; but this treacherous disease is only travel- ing, by slower stages. The acid poisons are all the while accumulating in the blood, and muscles and joints ere filling with corroding, acrid matter, and when the dis- i "H and strikes with %u force, no constitution is strong enough to withstand its fearful AND are crippied snd de. SYSTEM wora ot by”constant RULED 1 in, eumatism fauseavy Uricacidor BY ACID. some other irritating riety and form of this dread dis- blood, consequently do no lasting good. 8. 8. S, goes directly into the circulation and attacks the disease itself. The acid poisons that cause the inflammation, sore- blood purified and cleansed of all irritat culation to produce other attacks. 8. 8. 8. being a vegetable rem- edy does mot impair eral health like alkali and potash remedies, but builds up and invigorates the entire system, and at the samy time makes a thorough and perma. ‘White for our free book on Rheumatism, THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., Atlants, Ga, | euative Bromo Cures a Cold in One Day, 2 Days case tightens its THE BLOOD blows, and its victims formed, or are literally poison in the blood, and this is the cause of ev: un.“‘xurn-l remedies 'do not reach the ness and swelling are neutralized and the ing matter, and nothing is left in the cir- the digestion or gen- nent cure of Rheumatism. (A %J bou, 2% + K70V box. 35 The chair car is one of the modern conveniences of travel that furnishes old-fashioned comfort without any extra charge. The chairs can be adjusted at night so that you can recline at full length. Then, with a pil- low from the porter, you can sleep as soundly as in a bed. ‘These cars are distinotly a Burlington feature, and thro' trains all carry them, ‘Thro' trains leave dally as follows: To Denver and West, 4:35 P. M. To Kansas City and Bouth, 35 A. M. and 10:30 P. M. To Bt. Louls and Southeast, 5:10 P, M. To Chicago and East, 7 A. M., 4 P. M. and 8:06 P, M. Montana and Northwest 11:10 P, M. TICKETS: 1502 Farnam St. J. B. Reynolds, City Ticket Agent. UNION PACIFIC Oy =7 |Ji vl | 1903, the Union One-Way Colo- Pacific will sell nist Tickets at rates: 8 313 E—————1 AN $20.00 to Ogden and Salt Lake City. $20.00 to Butte, Anaconda and Helena. $22,50 to Spokane and Wanatchee, Wash. $26.00 to Everett, Fairhaven and New Whatcom, via Huntington and Spokane, $26.00 to Portland, Tacoma and Seattle. $26.00 to Ashland, Roseburg, Eugene, Albany and Salem, via Portland. $26.00 to San Francisco, Los Ageles and many other California points. CITY TIOKNT U¥Fiuvl 11 Bt. "Phone 318, Union Staticn, 10th and Marey: 1 me 629. $25.00 to California That is the Rock Island’s rate from Omaha. In effect dally from February 15 to April 30. Tickets ~are good in tourist sleeping cars which the Rock Island runs every day in the week, Chicago and Kansas City to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Cholce of routes—“Southern” or “Secenle.” Folder giving full information mailed on request. mu ly::lu ‘I‘l‘l‘ ing to Call {nrn; & will cost you near ly more than at present. m(e- to Montana, Utah, 1d aho, Washington .npd Ore- §on, Doints are proportionate Iy as low as to Calitornia. Tite or call. GO NOW. After Rock Island C. A. Rutherford, D.P. A. System 1323 Farnam St., Omaha, N I you have suft Jornts or a la baclr,oct re by usin ] Liniment ( 23%“a Bortle