Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-29
FunkhOuser, the Chief InSurCent, Leads In
surrection Against Mayor Dahlman.
LOGAN IS TO FIGHT HIS APPOINTMENTS
Progress Impeded by Lack Of Knowledge Of
Chief Executives Plans,
SOME WILD ANTICS OVER CITY ENGINEER
Less Rabid Partisans Have Little to
Say Against RepublicRns-Au
Agree on one Thing,
DiacOrd.

And now" said Councilman NJ. F. Funk
houser at the conclusion Of the first secret
session held by the eleven democratic mem
bers Of the new council. II would ask
that each man here stand up as pledge
that he will not reveal anything that has
been said here in this room today"
In compliance with his bidding the new
councilmen stretched their limbs and
avowed that they wouldn't tell thing;
that the proceedings would be kept deadly
dark and the public would not have
grounds oven for guessing at their
thoughts. This after free-for-all caucus,
at which the mayors possible appoint
ments were discussed and with a failure
to decide on any OF them
The single achievement was an agree
ment to hold up all of the mayors appoint
ments tonight, to adjourn to Thursday
evening and in the meantime to have an
other secret session. at which the slate
will he dissected and the program toward
IL made up.
Zimman Lone Absentee.
1t was the first time the new council
met as a committee. All the members were
present, but Councilman Zimman left the
star chamber early, he cannot be ac-
cused OF telling Who, then. is the traitor
! that betrayed this profound secret1 Some
! one must have talked, for the wallis OF the
! committee room at the city hall are thick,
! the doors are sound and OF oak and there
| are no closets In which the inquistive
newspaper man who was elected from the
! seance at its beginning could have hidden.
! In open session there appeared to be no
business to transact. Following custom.
Temporary President Bedford was placed in
the chair. The situation was carefully
canvassed and II was duly agreed there
| was nothing before the body, But ttJ
| room did not clear so rapidly as was ex-
pected and Councilman Brucker was moved
to remark:
Say. let's get together by ourselves.
] There are some things we ought to talk
over"
| Plenty to Talk About.
Mr.. Brucker's suggestion was hailed with
manifest delight There were deal of
things the members wanted to talk over
concerning action in Topping OF the heads
OF appointees that an intractable mayor
had decided upon without asking advice
or assistance from the councilmen. Espe-
cially was 1t emphasized that freedom was
desired from newspaper reporters. There
fore. on the first chance it had, the new
council buried itself up to the neck in
mystery and proceeded to have a cat and
dog time of it for two solid hours.
The first appointive ONCE taken up was
that of city engineer. At once a virulent
sentiment developed against Andrew Rose
water, present incumbent, whom It was
supposed the mayor would name. Council
men Bridges and Elsasser were pronounced
in their antagonism and there were others.
Councilman Zimman defended both the in
tegrity and technical ability of the en-
gineer and told few things about the
IA
1904 In a few minutes, however Zim-
man was called away, and after that tho
real fun began. for the single republican
member Of the council and the only man
really familiar with city affairs was not
among them.
. Not SO Easily DOwned.
But It wasn't so easy TO down Rosewater,
even then. He had friends OF a tentative
nature-for instance, Bedford absolutely
; refused to commit himself when asked to
do so towards the close OF the session.
Again and again II was proposed to take
vote on the matter. Blsasser wanted to
pass the hat" for a secret ballot others
wanted to stand up and count noses"
Certain councilmen seemed nightly afraid
Of the latter plan. Time after time, when
anything definite was proposed, a Babel OF
tongues put the proposal TO flight. There
was no attempt to dispatch matters in a
regular way.
! In the midst Of the fasco Funkhouser
who did 90 per cent OF all the talking
started to give his opinions the pro-
posed reappointment Of Tom Lee for city
, prosecutor.
81 want 10 say right here and now thai
I'll vote against this man Lee" said hei
: why, his own father doesn't want him
reappointed."
This was about the time that ElsasseI
thought a vote was going 20 be taken or
u, Rosewater. He shouted:
= None OF that for me. You can't tangi'
: me up on the Lee proposition and this ons
! at once. One at time"
Somewhat in the Dark.
A distrust Of all republicans was voiceC
by some of the councilmen, but their great
. est embarrassment lay in the fact thal
they did not know whom the mayor wa
, going TO name for various oftices
'Who is he going TO name for heAlu
= commissioner" demanded FUnkhouser
\ who is he going TO name for street com
missioner building inspector, plumbing
10 inspector and for the other jobs? II SEEM
to me we could quickly dispose Of th'
. business II we knew.
e But We don't know" responded a con
= frere. 1t was upon this frank admission
that the perspiring statesman sprung tn
"a plan Of referring the Dahlman appoint
u ments tonight 10 the general committee 10
consideration.
Being without the aid OF counsel th
] statesmen overlooked section 70 Of tn
charter, which says plainly that failure u
- confirm amounts TO a refusal and 1T shA'
be the duty OF the mayor on every regllR
council meeting thereafter 20 submit Othe
appointments for such ofices, II the ap
!. pointee thereto be not confirmed. and TO D
: continue until approved by the council n
~ name shall be submitted successfully NOR
"a than twice for the same Ofiice" But. 0
~ course, this can be remedied by prolonsinl
= the meeting and not adjourning and thei
4, calling a special meeting as outlined in tn
secret caucus.
e. Council Has Active Pert.
lG Whsthsr required legally OF not tradftioI
At ths siSY hall hAS hsen thAt thS eOunGI