Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-10

Mayor p. J. Trainor.
Hooters message asks for Corpora
ton OF new council in carrying out
pledges az reform and economy.
Oath OF office administered 10 new
council by Mayor Hector.
| Shrih insurgent democracy rose up in
the South Omaha city council last night
and tried by main strength TO override
the election laws. the decision of the city
! attorney and the advice Of Mayor Hector
In an effort TO seat Fred Heiflinger.
democrat in the place Of Joha Rins. re-
publican councilman OF the Fourth ward,
who has q plurality OF fourteen on the
lace OF the returns
! After number OF flukes and false
starts, the retiring council finally came
together at 30 o'clock to clean up oil
unfinished business and canvass the
election returns. The business Of the
regular meeting embraced a few odds
and ends and the passage Of one ordi.
nance which made the maximum fee OF
the building inspector IS for the cree
ton of buildings over $1,000.
The canvassing board began its work
by the election OF Jack Walters as chair
man. Two principal points were to be
settled-the election Of Riha Of the Fourth
over IIefflinger and the election OF
Badura OF the Fifth over Wawry zinkle-
gics. Early In the count wawry zinkle-
wicz expressed his indifference, but Heft.
linger. on the advice Of numerous ad-
visers, persisted in his contest, although
the plurality OF Riha was increased,
rather than diminished, by the count.
Riha Enters Protest.
After the work of the canvassing board
had been concluded Il was decided to
take side peep" at the machines and
+. +. Z. Ridgeway. Jack Walters and
City Clerk Good went down to the base
ment TO take a peek The peek" was
unsatisfactory 10 the hopes OF Hefflinger
who reappcared in the council chamber
with notice Of contest which he wished
the council to act on at once. Rha, who
had patiently borne the strong-handed
methods for some time, revolted at this
and told the council In plain words that
II was going beyond Its sphere in settling
or cssaying TO settle an election contest.
Councilman Walters, as chairman OF
the canvassing board, strove between n
sense Of duty and desire to placate the
sans cullotte" that were gathered round
to encourage Fred" In getting his
rights" Walters appealed to City At
torney Murphy. who told the council
that its business was to canvass the cleo
ton returns as they appeared on the
face OF the poll books and not to usurp
the duties Of the district or country court.
Franek. Mat Peterson and George
Hoffman. defeated for re-election. seemed
to take an especial delight in keeping up
the music and Mayor Trainor, after hav-
ing had his library board appointments
turned down. took the situation philo-
sophically and calmly put the matter up
TO the council to determine.
Murphy Says No.
City Attorney Murphy's opinion was
repeated over and over, but Heffilnger
and his advisers openly took the floor and
took part in the debate. f. +. E. Ridge
way came back with more advice as to
the propriety Of opening the machines.
City Attorney Murphy then explained to
the council In plain terms that It would
lay the members open to criminal prose-
cutlon II II attempted to tamper with the
machines.
Police Commissioner Joseph Pivonka,
who had evidently been advised by Mayor
Hector, took the floor and denounced
the conduct Of his democratic brethren.
He concluded with q demand for his
certificate Of election, as did councilmen
vana and several others. Mayor Hector,
who had not yet taken his seat, stated
that the council could under no circum-
stances open the machines
Tie crowd by this time was weary, and
after a motion to adjourn sine die. Mayor
Trainor introduced Mayor Hector and
administered the oath OF office. The new
mayor in turn administered the oath to
his council and rapidly read his message.
which follows:
In taking up the duties which re-
linquished some years ago with sense
OF relief. | feel keenly both the honor
and the responsibility conferred upon me-
and 1 ask your cooperation in carrying
out the pledges We have made TO the
people If South Omaha.
The decision OF the district court with
reference 10 charter amendments places
US in rather an embarrassing position,
and / respectfully suggest that you call
upon the legal department OF The city
Immediately Tor a definite opinion as 70
whether or not the original twelve sec
tons contained in senate file No. -
were properly enacted into law and are
valid amendments to the charter and as
to whether the fourteen sections intro
duced later are all invalid, and If 50 in
lust what position that leaves US, insofar
as the original charter is concerned.
IL will he my purpose in tIlhng ap-
pointive positions TO do 20 with an eye
single TO the public welfare, and since
some Of these appointments require con
firmatiOn b. your honorable bouy / IN
vite your careful and impartial scrutiny
Of all appointments proposed. not In
spirit OF either rewarding or Furnishing
tine proposed appOintee for political Or
personal matters, but simply Tor the pub
lie good.
The division of powers Of government
places the responsibility for the moral
welfare, the enforcement. Of law and the
preservation Of order. largely In the
hands OF another depai tment OF our city
gOvsrnn-cnt but the Imperative demand
Tor thc suppression Of vice makes II in
eumbent on all Of US to earnestly CO.
operate in every possible way for the en-
iorcement of Jaw and the preservation
or the good name Of our city.
Allow me 10 suggest tnat in almost
every instance the public welfare will
be best served by open sessions OF your
body: that there may be no opportunity
to charge any secret. clandestine or even
undesirable action on your part Like
Caesars wife. let US be above suspicion.
Bonded Indebtedness and other fixed
charges make it imperative that We exer-
else all possible economy consistent with
he welfare Of the city.
The procedure governing the award
..g Of CONTRACTS for public work or SUD