Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-12
CITY DADS wage
>WORDY BATTLE IN
COUNCIL CLASH
Mayor Dahlman and Commis'
sioner Butler Exchange Per-
sonalities and Opinions
in Riotous Session.
DoFF COATS AND 90 TO IT
Verbal Pyrotechnics Galore in
Issue Over Street Rail. ~
ways Extension.
ROW OVER WELCOME ARCH

Mayor Dahlman and Commissioner
Butler, at a meeting of the city coun.
Gil crossed swords in the most acrid
exchange Of opinions and PERSONAL.
ties heard in the council chamber
since the adoption of the commission
form of city government.
The chief bone of contention was
the street railways extension on
Twenty-fourth street, Kansas avenue
to Ida street; whether this extension
would affect the city's case in an ef-
fort to determine franchise rights.
II am here to represent the peo-
ple," quoth the mayor, doffing his
coat.
~ also represent the people," re-
joined Mr.. Butler.
And the Fight Was On.
Commissioner Hummel brought in
large electric fan and turned it loose
upon the combatants.
"My vote is as big as yours" was
the next verbal projectile hurled by
Butler.
ut is no bigger than mine," re-
Joined Mayor Jim.
On June % the council adopted a
resolution, drawn by Corporation
Counsel Lambert, granting to the
street railway right to make the ex-
tension referred to and containing
such provisions as in Mr.. Lambert's
opinion would protect the city in a
pending effort to determine the legal
status Of the franchise of the traction
company. On July 6, another reso-
luton, drawn by Second Assistant
City Attorney Te Poel and offered
by Commissioner Withnell, was
adopted by the council and the Lam
bert resolution rescinded.
Butler Wins a Heat.
Mr.. Butler explained that he be-
lieved the second resolution was
drawn by the corporation counsel,
but upon being advised by Mr.. LAM
bert that the TeSPoet resolution
would not safeguard the city in its
rights, Butler moved that the TIE Poel
resolution be, reconsidered and re-
ferred to the legal department. He
won out on that contention, being
supported by all except Mayor Dahl
man and Commissioner Withnell.
Then ensued the proposition of
whether the council should or should
not abide by the advice of its corpora
ton counsel in matters of franchises.
"If our corporation counsel cannot
draw a resolution upon which we may
stand, then it is time to ;.,olish the
,ffice. There seems to be some differ
ences up in the legal department"
said Mr.. Butler.
/, Mayor Brings in "Pee-pul."
"This far-fetched business is moth
ing but bunk. / don't care what these
attorneys and bunkaneers say about
it. We are here to use our best
judgment for the people. These peo-
pie need this extension and you can't
tell me that the extension will inter-
fere with our investigation of the
franchise rights of the company when
we get to that matter. have had
Mr.. Lambert working for six months
on this street car franchise matter and
he is not quite ready to report yet.
One member of our legal department
says this resolution will not leopard
ize the rights of the people" was the
next speech by the mayor.
Mr.. Butler then wanted the street
car company notified of the action of
the council and ordered to stop work
on the extension. The notification
will be made, but the work will not
be stopped, this action being the ad-
vice Of City Attorney Rine.
The difference between the Lam
bert and Te Poel street railway reso-
lutions is this: The former recog-
nizes that there is some question at
this time regarding the company's
franchise rights; the latter hints at a
Continued on Page Two, Column Five)