Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-10
Bridges Leads Assault on the CfiOs Of the
Engineer on Upper Floor,
APPOINTEE IN CHARGE OF OUTER ROOMS
Andrew Rosewater Stands His Ground in
rivate flee.
MAYOR ARRANGts TRUCE UNTIL MORNING
Question of Legal title TO once 20
he settled In the Courts-SOme
Lively Episodes During
the Raid.

The appointment Of Thomas shaw by the
city council last evening to succeed City
Engineer Rosewater precipitated the most
sensational developments that have been
seen or heard I'm the city hall since the
present city administration went into ONCE.
After prearranged plans Mr.. Shaw's APP
pointment and approval Of bond, together
with a declaration that he was duly ap-
pointed city engineer. went through during
the regular council proceedings like creased
| lightning. Then the balance OF routine
business was taken up. Then followed the
/ grand entry of councilmen, new engineer
| and followers into Mr.. Rosewaters office
upstairs, where a really dramatic scene
| followed.
The outcome was the summoning of
! Mayor Dahlman, who denounced in vigor-
Gus terms the whole proceedings but could
not see his way clear at the time 70 take
any official action Mr.. Rosewater re-
maned over night in his private office,
which is I'm the corner of the engineering
! department while Mr. Shaw and two OF
| his business associates, Harry Nickers
and John johnson, remained in possession
Of the engineering department proper
! through the long vigils of the night. Mr..
| Shaw backed by the eight members Of the
| council who voted for him, at midnight
! claimed a victory in gaining possession Of
the Office, thus placing the matter up to
Mr. Rosewater to institute action.
Legal Proceedings Today.
| To gain access to Mr. Rosewater's private
! Office passage must be made through the
engineering office, hence the advantage
| gained by the new incumbent and his sup
porters. Through his attorney, Frank RAN
som, Mr.. Rosewater will this morning be-
gin proceedings to secure possession Of the
engineering department on the contention
that he is the regular city engineer and
that Mr.. shaw's appointment was Illegal.
The question as to who is the legal city
engineer hinges on the question as to
whether the city council last evening with
out concurrence OF the mayor, had the
authority to appoint an engineer.
Councilmen Bridges, McGovern, Jackson,
Sheldon, Davis Johnson, Hansen and
Brucker acting under the advice of the
city iegal- department, assert they had the
right to appoint Mr.. Shaw last evening
and have had such right since the mayor
discontinued sending in appointments last
spring and further claiming that under
such circumstances the council may pro-
ceed to appoint without the mayor. on the
other hand, Mr.. Rosewater has all along
contended that he was what is known as
| a 'holdover." by virtue OF the fact that
the person who confirmed last spring
by the council and mayor did not qualify.
The person referred TO was Jesse Lowe.
After Mr. Lowe failed 10 qualify within
the required thirty days the mayor sent in
the name Of Mr.. Rosewater several times
and then discontinued sending in recon-
menda tons after the council turned down
Mr.. Rosewater's appointment Lawyers
say the matter now is one Of charter in
terpretation which must be threshed out
in the courts.
ROwden Lets Them In.
After Mr. Brucker's resolution, declaring
that the council proceed TO appoint city
engineer was passed last evening and Mr..
Shaw was appointed by the eight council
, men referred to- Mr. Rosewater imme-
diately left the council chamber and hur-
, rled to his office with intentions Of denying
! | adnittance to anyone, but later develop
ments changed this program.
! While the council was finishing up the
balance OF the regular business Mr.. Shaw
5 was hurried to the home Of Judge Ken
, nedy to have his bond approved, in the
] meantime having taken his oath before
eide Drew OF the National Surety company.
I The bond was hurried back to the council
1 chamber in time to be approved. Then.
!, led by Councilman Bridges, McGovern and
= Jackson Of the council committee on public
4 buildings and property, Mr.. Shaw was
4 escorted up to the engineering department
/ with a crowd Of other councilmen and cit
. liens, II happened that at the time Super
b intendent Rowden OF the city hall was in
Mr. Rosewaters office, so that the callers
had little trouble in getting through the
ounter door Seeing the crowd coming Mr..
I Rosewater hurried into his private ofice
which was rushed by Councilman McGov-
ern and f. Clancy Hunt the latter being
a World Herald reporter. Mr.. McGovern
d braced himself against the door OF Mr..
e Rosewater's private office and Mr. Hunt
e was at Mr McGovern's hells, but seeing
u Mt Rosewater had been too quick they
j. dessted from further attempts in this
= direction. Councilman Bridges and Jack
II son then began 70 show Mr.. Shaw around
p the engineering department when Mr..
e Rosewater decided to come out OF his Of
s. hce and face the crowd.
some Tart Dialogue.
THE new city engineer" remarked Mr..
- Bridges 10 Mr.. Rosewater, as Mr. Shaw
u advanced Then Mr.. Rosewater recovered
himself and spoke his mind
e It am willing 10 face men. but when you
~ come here like a lot OF bandits at mid
night, I am at a loss 20 how 10 act
;, Act as men and I am willing to meet you
y I'm the courts. But you can not rush In
y here and take possession like a lot Of out
- laws / am still under bond 10 the city
' OF Omaha and am responsible 10 the cti-
zens for tho records Of this ONCE, My
- bondsmen have not been released"
W. I'VE have an engineer that Is capable Of
. taking care OF the records. We have got
g the ONCE and that Is what we wanted,
,s remarked Councilman Bridges.
/ Take his old records and throw them
.e out into tho hall" said Councilman Jackson
with a smile Of intense satisfaction
Then Mr. Rosewater went back into his
- private once and telephonad Mayor Dahl
= man and Attorney Ransom. The mayor
b was az a theater but responded as quickly
as possible. When he did arrive he re-
.' ] t.,,ly.a tka r,tfDgTrrep for fhaTr Coytrge