Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-03-03
WOULD ABOLISH COMPTROLLER
Bill introduced by Reagan Creates a
Storm at City Hall
COsGRovE MAKES STATEMENT
says ~ IL . scheme 90 Get Him Out of
the wey-snys that He H. Ready
20 sub.tautInte Ills As
q scrtions.



Fred n. Cosgrove ciiy comptroller. says
the bill 10 abolish the office " city comp
troller WAS insugated and prepared W &
gang Of grafters. some Of whom have ac-
cumruulated small fortunes through the
use Of tbcir official positions for private
gain The bill known as senate file $50. was
Introduces bvsSenatpi' Reagan Wednesday
and provides for the adjustment Of the
office Of eGbs comptroller.
Cosgrove puts the issue spuarely ur to
the trainers nf the bill lie declares that
he knows Shefeof he e speaking and Is
prepared to 20 through with the charges,
no matter IL grand jury investigation
results.
According 10 those who have seen the bill
Il provides that ia the event Of the abolish
ment of abs citf comptruller's office. the
affairs Of the office shall be conducted
by the city clerk.
Cosgrove's statements Jared the city hall
from end TO end Thursday morning. He
says his telephone was constantly ringing
and that Ne was kept busy denying re-
quests to withhold his statement.
The Dill to abolish the office Of city
comptroller, bias not been seen BY me, al
though some days back / was privately
Informed that such bill was being pre-
pared at which time / was advised that
BY seeing" a certain official, l might
head Il OFF. Needless to say that 1 did
not see the official named, and in con-
sequence. [ presume the bill has been in
PRODUCED" said Mr., Cosgrove
Il know no reason for such action at
this time sci what spirit has prompted
the INTRODUCTION OF the bill, other than an
inference make. from such Information
as has cohe to me, that It was being instl-
-aHnNw q
credited cotorie. some Of whom have ac-
cumulated small fortunes through the use
OF their official positions for private gain
This gang doubtless expect that II this
safeguard Of the public is removed, their
opportunities for further graft viii be i'm
proved. .tm
when ! became city comptroller I an
nounced that / was not a candidate for
reelection { did this for the reason that
intended TO be free to do my whole duty
by the taxpaytng puBlic and that whole
duty | understand. consists in enforcing
within the limits of my authority, those
laws OF the state which have been devised
TO prevent extortion. graft theft or EN-
bezzlemcbttof public cash or credits, either
direct through contracts or misuse Of
office as q result Of wilful or ignorant
neEllgenoe let official duty. This announce
ment and the Belief that il was in me to
carry this determination to the end, has
doubtless prompted the introduction of
this bill planning, perhaps, to have the
office placed r friendly" hands, to the
end that exposure and popular condemna-
ton Of past and contemplated raids upon
the public might Dc smothered. Whether
or not the bill becomes law is of little
CONSEQUENCES to ME personally. other than
as a tsxpAye,
Il do not believe this bill has been aimed
at me personally, for If 1t becomes law
il could only relieve me OF official duties
for my salary would continue to the end
of the term to which l was elected. This
has been Established in the courts Of this
state. Therefore. can see only the one
object to be attained" .,--..