Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-08
POLICEMEN "FIREDp BY Ex-MAY-
OR PICKER MAY DRAW
FULL PAY.
New Council Allows Claims Amounting
to $154.31 Because Former Mayor
Says Men Were Discharged Without
Just Cause.

refer GallaRDer, Jesse Grammer ana
George Rittenburg were. last night, al
lowed a total of s154.31, the amount
they would have drawn had they re-
manned on the force until the end Of
the Picker administration. The new
city council allowed the claims and or
dered them paid on the recommends
ton Of Alderman Weidenfeller, who
explained that Mayor Picker had told
him that he had discharged the men
without Just cause, that they were I'M
usually efficient officers and that he
was sorry afterwards for his act Gal
lagher, former night captain. claims
$60.67, former Sergeant Grammer
s46.S2 and Rittenburg. who was patrol
and ambulance driver, the same
amount.
Mayor SHUTS has not yet signed the
warrants and may not do 80, as he OBJ
jects to setting a precedent which may
cause loss Of considerable money to
the city.
The council meeting last evening
was the completion of the session be-
gun Monday night and was short
one. The allowing Of the former po-
licemen's salaries was the principal
business of the session, and in addi-
ton Alderman Keyhoe was elected
president of the council, the Courier
was made the official organ of the city,
and routine business was transacted.
All the aldermen were in their seats
when Mayor SHUTS called the meeting
to order. Mr. Keyhoe's election as
president Of the council, which came
first on the evenings program, was by
unanimous vote of his fellow mem
bers. Alderman C'Malley's motion
that the Courier be made the official
organ of the city was carried without
q dissenting vote. The bonds of the
incoming city officials were referred to
the finance committee, which will re-
port upon them at the next session of
the council.
Lumber Bills Unpaid.
Clerk Warren called the attention
of the council to the fact that there
been allowed by the council but which
cannot be paid out Of the present funds
set apart for that purpose because
these funds are exhausted. These
bills, Mr.. Warren explained, have been
due for several months and the lum.
bermen have been demanding their
money. In all they amount to about
| $3.50. The councilmen agreed that
they should be paid but all agreed, also
with Alderman Keyhoe, that the city's
creditors must 7ait until the middle
of the present month, when the city
will receive new funds from the col
lection Of the taxes.
To Ask for Bids.
On motion of Alderman johnson the
purchasing committee was instructed
to advertise for bids for oak and pine
lumber for the use of the city during
| the coming year, the specifications tc
include material for new flor on
| the Vine street bridge, which will prob
ably be put down during the summer
Embellishments Claims.
Alderman Weidenfeller then pre-
Recommendation that they be allowed
and ordered paid:
R. Aldenbrook, signs at fourth
ward voting place .........$ 400
Peter Gallagher, captain Of police 60.6i
Jesse Grammer,. police sergeant 46.8s
George Rtttenburg, patrol and
ambulance driver ........... 46.8.
i Mr.. Weidenfeller explained to the
council that the claims of the former
policemen covered the time between
the date of their discharge from the
force by ex-Mayor Picker after the!
had attended the democratic city con
vention and voted for the nomination
of T. J. Phillips for the mayoralty. HI
said that Mr.. Picker since that time
had told him that the men were mos
efficient and capable officers, that the.
had been discharged without notice anc
without Just cause, that he himsel
had discharged them in the heat o
anger and had since been very sorr,
he allowed himself to do so.
Alderman O'Malley objected to al
lowing the claims on the ground tina
/ he did not like to establish a prece
: dent He said, Mayor Suits may
{ during his administration, see fit t.
| discharge some member Of the polio,
: force and that member may CLAIM
: wages to the end Of the two years
) term" This was the view Mayor SLUT
3 took also, but Alderman Weidenfelle
! met the objection by asking the mayo
4 If he would discharge a policeman be
cause of apersonal grievance despit
the fact that he might be capabl
and efficient officer. To this tn
' mayor replied that he probably woul
i not, and the debate went merrily on
Alderman Humphrey thought Nj
: Picker was justified in dischargin
4 the three policemen because he ha
j posted notices advising them not t
:. take part in the campaign for mayo
9 and they had attended the conventio
a and voted for Phillips in spite Of hi
orders and in direct violation Of then
Alderman Keyhoe and Alderman Johl
son, however, expressed the opinio
that inasmuch as the men were goo
and efficient officers and the forme
mayor had admitted that their di
: charge was because of personal malic
: and in a fit Of anger, they should b
allowed pay for the time lost. Th
; roll was called and the claims we1
;. allowed, Aldermen Mather, Keyho
! Weidenfeller, Wright and Johnson vo
: ing aye.
+ Sidewalk Resolution.
A resolution providing for. temp
4 r