Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-25
CITY OFFICIALS MIX IT UP
Funkhouser and CosgrOve Fight in
Council Chambers of City Hall
DAMAGE IS SLIGHT, HOWEVER
Councilman sustains Wounds on Face
which DIeed PrOfuseIy--Investi-
cation Of wOIfrs Discharge
PrecipItates Trouble.

Enraged by Comptroller Cosgrove's re
tort that Councilman NJ. f. Funkhouser
voted for him for the office of city comp
troller because he had to, and not through
any promises made. Funkhouser attacked
Cosgrove yesterday afternoon in the coun-
Gil chambers of the city hall during the
meeting OF the committee Of the whole
Only the Intervention OF members Of the
council prevented an exchange Of blows
Funkhouser sustained injuries on the
face from which blood flowed profusely
the result OF Cosgrove's attempt to push
him off him before the pair was
separated In protecting himself from the
attack of the councilman Cosgrove
scratched Funkhouser's face. opening
wounds from which the blood trlckled
down his face in tiny rivulets.
Z Councinen Berka, Davis and Schroeder
separated the belligerent city fathers be-
fore further damage was done.
The trouble was precipitated by charges
that cosgrove had promised not to dis
charge any of the employees of the city
comptroners office when the slate was
framed for him to succeed c. o. Lobecls,
who resigned to assume his duties as
member of congress.
COsRrOve Asked to Explain.
to explain why he had discharged Otto
Wolff, along with two other appointees
of Lobeck. Such action resulted from a
protest filed by Danish residents of the
city with the council last Tuesday night.
As an explanation of his action, Cosgrove
stated that he dispensed with VOLTS serv-
| ices because the former bookkeeper had re-
peatedly refused to comply with orders
issued by him as the head of the depart
ment.
II have tried to install a standaId died
system in my department" said Cosgrove
Though I have repeatedly requested
Wolff to cooperate with the other clerks
he has refused, saying that such sys-
tenn was not feasible here Other clerks
| sided with him and for that reason
deemed it best to replace them for the
good of the service"
| delegation of Danish residents, OF
| which Waldemar Michaelsen. city cleo
trician, acted as spokesman, was present
at the meeting. Michaelsen answered for
the professors taking exceptions to Cos
groves explanations
Michaelsen charged that Wolff and
others were discharged for political reasons
He also stated that the system which Cos
grove had inaugurated was the worst in
years. and cited as a specific instance that
he had tried to get information without
results. vrS
IF this council wanted statement OF
the city's finances, II could not get one
| from the city comptroller" was Michael
sens parting shot
Either Misinformed or FaIsifyIng.
Cosgrove answtred this by saying that
Michaelsen was either misinformed or was
falsifying.. and called the city electrician q
cheap CRATER .bs'ists. rs
At this phase of the proceedings Funk
houser injected himself into the squabble
saying that he voted for Cosgrove be.
cause he had promised mot to discharge
| any, Of Lobeckbl1 bpolntees. 3s ySh'
! you did nothing of the kind. You voted
for me because you had to vote for good
/ democrat" retorted Cosgrove. i'-
Funkhouser sitting inside the press rail-
ing. started for Cosgrove, who was across
the building, Advancing on the comptroller
Funkhouseer declared that II he would
come outside heF would show him why
he voted for him
! Upon reaching Cosgrove, FunkhouseI
clinched, Cosgrove protecting himself by
face. Berka, Davis and Schroeder, who
were sitting near, rushed to the struggling
pair and succeeded in separating them be.
fore any blows were exchanged.
The Danish delegation quietly withdrew
and the council proceeded with other bust
ness