Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-07-12
FINN GETS OFFICES At LAST
Treasurer Finally Forces Council TO Give
Him Suitable Quartsrh
MOVES OUT AND BACK INTO CITY HALL
pemOcrats, Finding Their Partisan
Buncombe No Longer Elective,
Give All Fink Asks
Them For.


from the city hall to the court house to
execute the consolidation provisions OF
the charter. The republican city and
county treasurer moved the books and
records to the court house. Then, after
the council had provided suitable quarters
I'm the city hall for the merged depart
ments. he moved the property back again.
The fresh chapter in city hall COMEDY
was pulled off in a highly dramatic way
The crisis was reached when City Hall
Superintendent Dave Rowden, he of many
n serio-comic fray, took Treasurer Fink
in custody for daring to move the books
in defiance to council order and lugged
him before that body. There Mr.. Fink
made an grafton destined to be memorable
for its persuasive eloquence and powerful
diction
Fink In the Forum.
why am I arrested and summoned be-
fore you in this way?" he demanded.
What right have you to Interfere with
my conduct OF the Office 10 which 1 was
elected and for which have given a
heavy bond? l am the custodian of the
books, records and money and / may
transact the business OF the treasurer in
the court house or the city hall as see
fit For months l waited for the council
to provide large enough quarters OF a
suitable kind in the city hall in order that
the consolidated departments might De
lodged there. You first tried to give me
rooms that would not do at all and then
corned my applications for relief. Mean
lille the public has demanded that the
DIVISIONS of the charter joining the two
y.1ces be carried out. It would be moro
convenient to have the Offices In the city
hall but Il is not complying with the law
to go on conducting a city treasury in
the hall and county treasury in the
court house, requiring citizens. to visit
both places TO pay their taxes, and not
by any means obeying the plain terms of
the charter.
Council Repudiatea Promise.
You made promises to me before and
you broke them. l set this afternoon for
moving to the court house and move l
shall"
Thereupon the democratic council de-
scended from it's perch and begged Treas
urer Fink to give them few minutes time.
President Johnson grew almost eloquent IN
trying to induce the treasurer TO meet these
requests He said the body was laborinS
valiantly 20 give him proper quarters and
in a few minutes everyone would be salts
fed.
I'VE are going to give you the rooms
used by the fire department and the CHIEF
of police" said Councilman Jackson,
These are Just what you want. You will
have them in a few minutes. Please stay
q while and watch us adopt the resolu-
ton"
A start on moving the current years
tax books and some of the special tax
books was made at $40 D. m The council
had called special meeting at o'clock
90 arrange for rooms for the treasurer,
spurred on by his posted notice that after
wednesday he would transact city business
at the court house. Tuesday night the
council In response to a like notice. had
adopted a resolution instructing the hall
superintendent to prevent the removal of
any property from the office. pursuant to
the advice of the city attorney, who held
that the treasurer was not the real Gus
todian OF the records but that the city
council and mayor could do as they pleased
with them. tHN
ROwden Sees Things.
Wednesday morning. evidently anticipat-
ing business on the part OF the treasurer
Superintendent Rowden induced Mayor
Dahlman TO station two policemen to guard
the doors of the treasurers office. Tho
minions Of the law remained on duty until
about o'clock, although Councilmen John
son and Sheldon had promised to have
them removed shortly before noon II the
treasurer would consent to an Armistlce
until 3 O'Clock. AS the bluecoats remained
at front and rear entrance, Mr.. rink con-
sidered that his obligations were cancelled
and he proceeded to complete the arrange
ments for moving
Injunction papers to restrain the city
from interfering had been prepared by
County Attorney Slabaugh ready for the
signature of a judge in case serious resist
ance was made About o'clock the police
men were sent away and Dave Rowden
mounted guard. The council convened and
twenty minutes later Treasurer Fink
headed a line OF clerks and deputies laden
with the current and special tax books
The oficious Rowdsn tried TO stop the pro-
cession. He failed miserabiy. but grabbed
hold of Fink. The latter. having an eye
20 strategy. demanded being taken before
the council This was done. Meanwhile
the clerks and deputies carried their books
across the street to the court house and
the operation was contaminated.
CouneiI Finally Wakes In.
All this was unknown 20 the council I'M
Ill after q adjourned, and then the demo-
cratic members were extremely lrritated.
Councilmen Funkhouser, Bedford, Brucker
and Hansen not having the honor OF being
present After Fink made his speech and
O. had been begged to negotiate Elsasser wore
blank look
"well, what are we and what rights have
we. anyhow" he asked
The rights OF a private citizen IN this
case" responded Fink. IT have charge OF
the treasurers once ana any attorney who
knows his business will tell you I am the
custodian Of the effects OF that once"
County Attorney slAbauRh wandered in.
took Dave Rowdsn 20 one side and men,
toned some OF the penalties for forcibls
detention without authority OF law. Mr..
Rowden then and there dropped his role as
pressrver OF the peace and upholder OF
democratic buneonbe.
FLAX GETS An He wants.
AIr. Fink left at his own free will and
the council adopted q resolution giving his
department the rooms occupied by the
fire and police chiefs on the FIRST moor OF
the city hall. removing the IRE chief e
the apartments OF the commissioner OF
health and the latter 20 the vacated tar
commissioner rooms. The chief OF polio,
was awarded two rooms just east OF the
tax commissioners ONCE. all on the second
door The resolution was tennoraFv a ~