Omaha daily bee., 1907-05-02
COUNCIL PASSES PAYROLL
Attempt TO KnOoS Out City Engineer Rose
waters Salary FailG
VOTE is SEVEN TO FIVE ON FINAL ACTION
Elsasser and Bridges Fight TO Last
Ditch. Claiming City Might be
Liable II shaw IL Finally
Seated.

The Aprl general appropriation ordinance
was passed on inaI reading by the city
council yesterday afternoon after a skir-
mish which started in the morning and
carried over to the afternoon, when
tull attendance was summoned. The ordl-
nance carried with Il the salary for City
Engineer Rosewater over which the con-
tenuon arose. The vote was seven to fivf.
Councilmen Bridges, BrucKer. Hansen.
jackson and Johnson being against passage
OF the ordinance with Mr.. Rosewater's
salary included, unless the engineer would
furnish bond 20 protect the city in case
Thomas Shaw was sustained as engineer
~ the supreme court and Mr.. Shaw should
recover salary from the city from time
or MS recent appointment. II was believed
mat had Councilman Jackson understood
what he was voting for the vote would have
been eight to four instead OF seven to Eve.
The engineer matter waxed warm at the
morning meeting when the appropriation
ordinance was introduced, and only eight
counctlmen were present Realizing there
was not enough strength at that time to
pass the ordinance. the matter was deferred
to the afternoon for a full attendance.
Councilman Bridges was for requiring Mr..
Rosewater 70 furnish the bond mentioned,
Notwithstanding Mr. Rosewater has an Of
icial bond Of $1,000 and that City Attorney
Burnam advised the council that the city
would not be held liable even in the event
OF Mr.. Shaw being declared engineer and
getting An award for salary from time OF
his appointment by the council. Some Of
the councilmen had consulted nearly every
lawyer in the city and had become be-
wildered in a maze Of legal opinions. They
lost sight OF the fact that the city attorney
is the duly recognized legal adviser for the
city council
Elsasser Grows Warm.
At the afternoon session the ordinance
was read first and second times according
to law. Then the finance committee OF
the city council-Funkhouser Bedford and
Sheldon-recommended that the ordinance
be passed. On vote on the committee report
COuncilmen Bridges, Brucker. Elsasser,
Hansen and Jackson were feminist the re-
port but seven votes carried it through.
Then Mr.. Elsasser spoke a few words,
was called out OF order by President John
son. persisted in holding the floor and
maintained that Mr. Rosewater had no
right to increase salaries Of some OF his
department. as indicated on the appTopri-
alton ordinance.
Mr. Elsasser's fuse burned out and he
quieted down after Mr.. Johnson explained
to him the operations OF a recent legis-
lative act giving Mr.. Rosewater complete
control over appointments and salaries Of
employees OF the public works department
Mr. Zimman then moved that the roll call
be taken on the passage OF the ordinance
as # stood. Mr Bridges made an amend
ment that Mr.. Rosewaters salary be first
stricken from the payroll before taking the
vote. Bridges, Brucker,' Hansen, Jackson
and Johnson voted TO strike the name Of
Rosewater out before voting on the ordi-
nance, but seven votes knocked out the
Bridges amendment Then came the Zim-
man motion that the roll be called on pas
sage OF the ordinance. Bridges, Brucker
Elsasser, Hansen and Johnson voted against
that, leaving seven for passage, and then
the evangeI Of payday swept the marble
corridors OF the city hall and spread the
word that the payroll had been passed.
Some culprit had reported that the whole
payroll would be held up a month.
Papers IN relation to appeal on behalf OF
Thomas Shaw will be filed next Tuesday
In the supreme court This appeal viii be
hled from the recent decision OF Judge
Kennedy, refusing TO grant application for
a writ Of mandamus asked for by Mr..
shaw's attorneys.