Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-09
DEMOCRATS WORK POLITICS
Lobsok and withnsll Try to Make Political
Maohins Of Public Work.
CHAIRMAN ROsEwATER MAKES OBJECTION
Majority Members Vote TO Dismiss All
the Boards EmPioyes and send
Nevv List Of Appointments
60 Council.

The democratic majority of the Board
of Public Works yesterday dismissed
every one OF the IS employees of the de-
partment. A new list Of employees con-
tanning SsS names was then adopted and
will be submitted to the council tonight
for confirmation. All OF the former labor
ers and teamsters are retained. but the
foremenships ana skilled occupations are
taken out Of the hands Of expert and ex-
pertenced worknen and given to demo-
Gratis who were promised Jobs during the
last campaign. In addition TO these changes
about 100 laborers and teamsters favorable
to the democrats were placed on. Chair
man Rosewater protested vigorously
against relieving the old foremen.
Some OF. these men have been in the
service sixteen years. he declared. They
are all experienced experts in their differ
I ent lines of work and men upon whom
can rely. They have been treated as civil
service employees would have been treated
and never gave a second thought to their
/ politics. BY taking them of you perpe-
trate a calamity in the public work
ASIDE from that, by your action you
have left the city for day and two nights
and perhaps longer, without a single la
borer. Should a water pipe burst OF an
! accident happen to the sewers the public
] NDThH department cuulu nut EaAA unA . AAAdAA
to make repairs and thousands of dollars
damage may be done. You have acted
contrary to the best interests OF the city
for political reasons and renounce all
| responsibility for what may result"
Whether the council will confirm the new
list is question. Although republican, the
fight over mayoralty appointments has
| crept into the Board of Public Works mat
ter, and there may be enough insurgents
! in the council chamber to either force the
! mayor to grant their desires or confirm the
employees appointed by the democratic
board. In any event they must be approved
by the mayor before they can go to work.
Majority weakens at First.
II required two meetings of the board
yesterday to produce the changes. At the
morning session Comptroller Lobeck and
Building Inspector Withnell weakened at
the vigorous opposition made by Chairman
Rosewater They did not have their new
list ready for presentation, so an adjourn
meiit was taken to the afternoon. when the
designs were carried out.
The permanent jobs were distributed as
follows: General street foreman. George
W. Smith, 800 per month; general sewer
foreman. John F. Daley, 800 per month;
assistant general sewer foreman, Mark
and connections. Charles W. Johnson and
Samuel Spratlen. SIS per month; inspector
and superintendent Frank Fixa, SS5 PEI
month: inspectors of sidewalks for such
time as may be required at g and SIS
per day, c. ]. Canan. A. w. Tfdd. Carl r
Palm, George Jewett 8. B. Smith and
John Dennison. Two score other tempo
; rary foremen and skilled laborers. watch
, men also were removed. and the name Oi
, George E. Warner submitted as clerk tC
Z the board at sSs g. although there is moth
: ing for him to do. -oiAi
, culiarly worded resolution cutting of tn,
men. II was seconded by Building In
spector withneIl, but opposed by Chairman
Rosewater. Both sessions were full Of mucl
J argument between Chairman Rosewatel
and Comptroller LObeok and were atteudes
by big crowd of job-seekers. Chairman
Rosewater contended that Notwithstanding
City Attorney Wrfght's opinion the appoint
ments we're authorized and legal. and tina
5 the men could not be removed withou
Q cause. He explained. furthermore tina
instant dismissal of the entire force wouIt
I be menace to the safety of the city. an,
result i'm the loss Of many tools ana SUP
. plies which would be dropped instantly, a
2 soon as the board adopted the resolution
Z and the men were told to quit work.
4 Text of the Resolution.
- Il mas tt,fv aru7trnanf r,ora tha- 49,