Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-14
INSULTS THE GERMANS OF OMAHA.
HoweIrs Reason for Not Appointing
Man TO Place.


Mnn to Place.
The Polish Republican club held a well
attended meeting at Twenty-sixth and Wal
nut streets last night. The meeting was
presided over by John Kowalewski, and
speeches were made by p. w. Birkhauser
and f. w. Koetter.
Mr.. Birkhauser confined himself mostly
to discussion Of the new city charter,
analyzing its provisions and showing that
under the system provided by that docu-
ment the expenses of the city government
would be largely increased instead of dimin-
ished He charged that the charter con-
ferred the most arbitrary power upon the
mayor and council, and asserted that it
would be most dangerous piece Of legis-
lation in the hands of the INSCRIPTIONS man
at the head of the fusion ticket
The speaker discussed Howells record
while a member of the city council and
showed that he had been opposed to the
interests of the public. He referred to the
garbage contract which Howell had been
largely instrumental in passing, and charged
that he had Systematically opposed meas
ures in the interest of the workingman,
Mr.. Birkhauser said that if Howell had
been disposed to do something for the in
terest of the people he could have passed
a bill through the Legislature providing for
paying the clerk of the district court a
salary, instead Of fees. He said this could
have been slipped through the legislature
as easily as Howell pushed the gambling
bill through the senate, and the county
would have been saved about $4,000 per
year. The speaker charged that Howell
had neglected the interests OF the city and
of all his constituents by pushing bills in
which he had aFpersonal interest and neg
lecting the exposition bill and other bills
affecting the people of this county.
COULDN'T SWALLOW EVERYTHING.
F.. w. Koetter said he had been a populist
since there hads haen populist party, but
he said he could 'inot swallow every yellow
dog that was put before him, He told the
audience how Howell had insulted a delega-
tion OF Germans sent down to Lincoln from
Omaha. Mr. Koetter said he was member
OF that delegs9opN 1t had been appointed
by meeting Rltepresentatiye Germans of
this city to go to Lincoln and see what could
be done toward securing an appointment for
a we'll qualified German OF Omaha who WAS
an applicant for 1. position under the legis-
Iature. The committee found Senator Howell
at his hotel and Howells first remark was,
"Well, what In HI do you want?"
The committset stated It's business and
Howell at oncetthned away and entered the
eS%G eom%aee OF s ~Sn1f @nutes s iaS for
him, more for the purpose OF seeing how
long he would keep away than with any hope
OF accomplishing 1anylnlns' Az the emu OF
that time he came back and the matter
which took the committee to Lincoln was
discussed,
Howell promised the committee that he
would appoint the man in question to'a GER
tain position the next day, saying the posi-
tion had been held open and was at his dis
posal. The next day. another man was ap-
pointed. When the man in whose interest
the committee had waited upon Howell
called to see why he had been shelved. How
ell said, "If you hadn't been so familiar with
the Dutch steering committee you would
have had the place" Mr.. Koetter said this
was deliberate insult TO the whole German
population of Omaha.
The speaker continued to dissect the OFF,
cial record of the fusion candidate for mayor
and told several more instances of his dupli-
city and double dealing His speech was
short and to the point. aud was listened to
with the closest attention.