The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-04
POLITICAL PLUMS
AFTER ELECTION
Changes in Present City Officials
May be Made Difficult If TWO
councllmen Are Re
elected.
THE PRESENT STATUS
Mayor Elder viii Want clerk Sand
berg In and Gray and Schmidt
Will Protest Other
Changes.
THE PRESENT STATUS

Political pluns in the shape and
color of city offices will be strangely
lacking If two Of the three present
members of the city council are re-
turned victorious at the polls on
March %. This was learned today
upon questioning the present admin
istration.
There are six appointive offices
which are most desirable, and for
which, in the past, there has been
more or less rivalry. Politicians have
made themselves and likewise have
lost their heads" in making these ap-
pointments in the past. The important
Offices and the men now in them fol-
low:
City Attorney Ralph b. Smith.
City Marshal-Henry Schevers.
City Clerk--O. w. Sandberg.
Street observation-disclosures P.
Breheny.
City Physician-Dr c. A. Dimond.
City Engineer-John F. Winters.
In the event that Commissioners
Thomas P. Gray and F. T. F. Schmidt
are returned to office there will be no
change in the offices of marshal, city
engineer and city physician, according
to authoritative information gained
today. 1t is generally accepted that
Mayor Elder named the city clerk and
city attorney and new mayor might
WELD some Influence in bringing
about a change in these two offices.
On the other hand the election of
Mayor Elder and only one of the two
commissioners now in office would
work the same way, with the city
clerk and city attorney almost certain
Iof being retained if they desired the
offices for another term. 1t is thought
Attorney Ralph B. Smith will with
draw at the end of his present term
and give his time entirely to abstract
work.
The office for which there is said to
be the greatest number of candidates
is that of city marshal, now held by
Henry Schevers. Schevers was lifted
from the ranks of an officer by the
present commissioners and repre-
sents, in the minds of many, the best
police executive the city has had for
ia long time. Various reports have 1t
that the labor unions have a candi-
date for this office in the person OF
one of their members. Other rumors
name at least six men who are eager
for the berth, 1t is also stated that
"a member of the present police force
lis in q receptive mood Candidates
for the city commission stoutly deny
they have made any promises. AS
long as Commissioner Gray is contin-
Iued in office ne will make a strong
plea for retention Of the present of
| ficers under his direct supervision.
The office of city engineer, now
held by John +. Winters, who was
Brought here from Burlington, has
been the basis of more or less specu-
lation and a former city engineer is
being prominently mentioned as In
line for the appointment again. MAY.
orally and commission candidates de-
cline to be quoted in this particular
1t Is understood Commissioners
Schmidt Is stoutly opposed to any
attempt to change the street super
visor, Thomas P. Breheny The status
of city physician is practically the
same.
The greatest harmony is said to
have prevailed in making the appoint
ments two years ago. Each of the
three members of the city council
took it upon themselves the appoint
ment of men over whom they would
have direct supervision in their de-
partments. But now, it is said. any
attempt to bring about changes, II
two of these men are reelected, will
prove futile.