Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-22
CITY COUNCIL IN DEADLOCK
Casts FOrty-ons Ballots without Elsctins
President and Continues Meeting.
FUNKHOUstR ONE AHEAD OF BEDFORD
zimman Casts vote for Himself
20 he in Position 90 Decide
the Contest at the
Last.

After forty-one Intellectual ballots to de-
eide upon a president the new democratic
city council confessed itself in a deadlock
yesterday afternoon and adjourned until
3 p m. today for a fresh tussle.
Until a president is elected no business
can be transacted I'm the opinion of City
Attorney Burnam and ex-Asslstant city At
torney Herdman. on all except the first
ballot the vote on president stood like this:
For Funkhouser - Brucker, Elsasser,
Funkhouser Johnson, McGovern, Shell
don-6.
For Bedford-Bedford, Bridges. Davis,
Hansen. Jackson-5.
For Zimman-Zimman-L
IT requires seven votes to name the presi-
dent Councilman Bedford developed less
strength than was expected and Councilman
Funkhouser more. As was suggested some
time ago. Councilman zimman, the only
republican in the body. holds what may
be the deciding vote He can now elect
Funkhouser. II he wants TO, or in case
Bedford gets one more vote he can elect
the latter He said his reason for nominat-
ing and voting for himself was in order to
not participate in the scrap and let the
democrats settle 1t among themselves
EIbourn Presides Mt First.
Former city Clerk Elbourn presided at
the first organization meeting. The council
chamber held several hundred persons who
smelled blood and anticipated a fray.
Mayor Dahlman did not appear until tho
twenty-eighth ballot He was warmly APP
plauded but took no hand in the scrap.
The latter was without verbal violence.
Speeches appeared to be tabooed. The only
diversion occurred When Zlmman rose and
said
Representing the minority party in the
council, 1 move, seconded by Harry Zim-
man. that II. B. Zimman be placed in nomi-
nation for president"
Applause and laughter followed. The first
ballot developed a few compliments. Bed
ford voted for jackson and Elsasser and
Funkhouser for Cooley Brucker. Then
the bouquet throwing stopped and the le-
gions fought grimly until 4:SO o'clock. The
result showed a decisive lineup Of the coun-
ell which in the order of things may last
throughout the regime. In fact, this is the
report. decorated with the positive state
ment that the big six" will stick together
through thick and thin. while on the other
hand the minority five have announced a
determination not to let the combine" run
things. Zimman remains independent and
the big Six" must have his vote to cut
mustard.
Classified, this is the way the new dem
ocratic council stacks up:
Big Six-Funkhouser. Brucker. Elsasser,
Johnson McGovern and Sheldon.
Minority Five-Bedford, Bridges, Davis.
Hansen and, Jackson.
lndependent-Zimman
Both Sides Make Claims.
The Funkhouser majority supporters de-
clared that members of the opposition.
probably Hansen or jackson, would weaken
soon and give them the votes required to
elect The Bedford adherents. however, de-
cln~cd they would hold firm. The Funk
houscr crowd showed more confidence.
Once Il voted down a proposition to adjourn
ov g rnil the evening or the next day and
onl- @nc'Ccr's desire 10 terminate the use
less lCrcGton Of the roll call enabled the
Bedford faction to quit and try to get a
fresh hold Al predictions of the feud be-
tween tho two combines have come true and
th~ro Is said to be much rancor below the
surface that is expected to be shown vi
lat-r. Charges OF treachery have been
made privately and may be hoisted out in
fho arena in the course of events to fol-
low
Meanwhile no business can be transacted
and the appointments and employees at the
city hall are laughing up their sleeve. They
take It as an omen of the democrats be-
ing unable to agree upon appointments and
other things If they have so much trouble
in picking a council president.
The councimen went into the meeting
feeling good deal like men floating or
life preservers in water Of an unknown
depth. They had held no caucus and moi
until the second roll call did anyone know
how matters stood Among other things a
well-known franchised corporation employ,
was on the floor actively lobbying in Funk
houser's behalf
Democrats Are Now in ONCE.
Small fuss attended the taking hold Of
city government affairs by the new demo
cratic administration-the first N sixteer
years-Monday. Mayor Dahlman picked nj
the reins of the executive department will
the quiet unassuming manner that is char
acteristic and then turned his attention I,
receiving host OF men. most OF whom
wanted TO see him about appointments, bu
few merely TO congratulate him.
City Clerk Butler and City Attorney Bur
nam, with their respective new Office forces
took charge Of their departments. A
Comptroller Lobeck and Building Inspecto
"ANhich were it-tlecteu there were n
changes in these Offices
Mayor Dshlman, accompanied by Charlie
Epstein, who since election, has pc.
former the once of a faithful guard, ap
peared in the executive rooms az 1885
Retiring Mayor Zimman had been wait
ing for an hour TO turn over the Office
Mayor Dahlman shook hands with Mis-
Malone, the secretary, Maynard Wilson
the once messenger and a few other
and went into the private office Nj
Zimman escorted the mayor to tn
executive chair and the possessor SETTLE
himself into il with sigh of relief. II
wore new suit OF clothes and smoke
cigar. His predecessor presented hir
with the keys TO the doors and desk an
explained that one OF the first JOB
awaiting him would be the signing O
about 1000 warrants. The instalIatIo
was effected in the presence of reporter
who were therefore. the mayors frs
callers.
I'm sorry l kept you waiting so long
said the mayor 10 Councilman Zimmal
But / was delayed by a few gentleme
Who wanted jobs"
The mayor said he believed the ne
council would proceed TO organize will
out caucus, as he had not heard OF an