Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-30
MAYOR IS IN A BAD HUMOR
Reads Riot Act to Councilmen for Dis
charging His Appointed.
CITY ATTORNEY AS ARBITRATOR
Council mittce Asks wIckhnm to
Accept Return Of Hts Check md
Contractor says He VIII
Think Matter over.

Although there was no big pyrotechnic
display as had been anticipated. Mayor
Maloney took occasion at the meeting Of
the city council last night to tell some
OF the councilmen a few things with refer
enoe to interfering with his sppointees.
The ummar discharge OF Foreman Bill
Hoyt OF the bridge gang by Councilman
skodsholm. chairman OF ths committee on
bridges. was responsible for the mayors
remarks
Councilman SkodSholm claimed the right
as chairman Of tho committee to discharge
any man on the bridge force who did not
obey orders or who was incompetent. Hoyt
It was claimed by both skodsholm and
Councilman Jensen had not followed the
instruction OF the city engineer and was
consequently responsible for the collapse
ot the Indian Creek bridge at Fleming
avenue.
City Engineer Etnyre took exception to a
newspaper statement in the mayors in
terview with him and demanded that the
mayor and the reporter who wrote the
article both retract. Mayor Msloney re-
fused to do so. Mr.. Etnyre also gave his
version Of the trouble at the Fleming
avenue bridge which left the blame on
Hoyt.
After some oratory from Councilman
skodsholm, who said he wanted to be
shown the city attorney was requested
10 render an opinion as to the right Of d
chairman Of any committee to discharge
an a]ppointec Of the mayor. The city
solicitor was also asked to define exactly
what rights the mayor had and what the
councilmsp had in such matters.
Contractor Il. \. Wickiam's communt-
cation stating his reasons for declining to
accept the return OF the $1,000 certified
check deposited by him at the time of
filing his bid for the construction OF a
municipal water works system, was read
and on motion of Councilman Morgan was
promptly ordered received and placed on
file without discussion.
Water Committed Report.
Following the reading OF the Wickham
letter, a communication from the commit
tee on water works was read and likewise
on motion of Councilman Morgan ordered
received and placed on file at the sug-
gcstion OF Mr.. Morgan. who presumably
thought It mighttbe needed at some future
date for another booklet on the water
works problem, was also ordered made a
part Of the records Of the city council.
NV NpAhhihntSdlipu lToNu Ile committee
follows
The committee on water works have beer
cn~deaNprings 70 accomplish what will be for
the best Interests of the people Of the city
or Council Bluffs in providing an efficient
and desirable water works plant. and the
city council advertised for bids for such q
SYSTEM OF .watef works during the present
year. In reply to such advertisement Mr.
E a. Wiekhani was Che sole bidder. The
specifications upon which the bid was made
were specific. but the whole bid was made
without reference to some Of the more
specific conditions of the specifications, anC
further we believe representation was made
to other bidders that the city was not II
earnest in the matter and for this reason
the bid was not made as specific as per,
haps would otherwise have been anC
probably a fewer number of bids were fol
this reason received. This committee be,
lieves Mr.. Wickham is dcsirous of further,
Bluffs, His, business Is located here and hC
city as any other citizen. After careful
II will he for the best interest of the city
necessary funds with which to purchast
, tempting II obtain further bids for the
same. For these reasons and that the speci
f~ications were incomplete, the committe,
deems best to readvertise for bids, having
in mind the best interests Of the city. TIL,
committee believe that Mr.. Wickham will
be patriotic enough to assist in this matter