Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-05
MAYOR SMITH IS
BACK IN OFFICE
IN GOOD HEALTH
Declares He Got Full of EIec-
tricity While Recover
ing From Injuries of
Riot Night.

Mayor Smith returned home yes
terday morning, after an absence of
more than five weeks, stating that
while he was in the south he was
"reeharging the dynamo"
There is some fight in me vet
nc remarked to a group of friends
who met him at the station when
the morning Chicago train arrived.
He went direct to the city hall,
where he presided at the regular
council meeting. The council cham
Der and mayors office were deco
rated with flowers for the occasion
OF his homecoming.
i am feeling fine except that the
use of my right arm has not been
completely restored the mayor
said. "A physician in the south ad-
vised that | take treatments and in
time my arm would be normal
again"
The mayor stated that while away
he did not keep in touch with affairs
in Omaha except as he may have
seen an Omaha paper occasionally.
Questioned as to removal of the
chief of police and the proposed
transfer of the police commissioner,
he said he was not ready to COM
init himself; that he wished to con-
fer with the city commissioners
first and get line of what has &C.
Cured during his absence.
Il do believe" added the mayor,
"that money may now be spent for
increasing the police department
and for buying new equipment,
whereas before the court house af-
fair it could not have been done"
He was not inclined to go into any
OF the details of the situation in con-
nection with the attack which was
made upon him at the court house,
September %.
Coal Strike Comment.
While stopping over in Chicago
Monday, he stated that he met some
business friends, who expressed the
opinion that the coal strike would
be broken this week.
The mayor was in local hospital
10 days after the court house riot,
then he went to Excelsior Springs
for few days and later to the home
of son at Haines City, Fla. Mrs.
Smith and daughter, Ida, accom-
panied him on the journey.
In the party which met the
mayor at the station yesterday were:
City Commissioners IRE, Falconer
and Ringer, Chief of Police Eber-
stein, o. M. Olson, the mayors
secretary; T. H. Werlich, superin-
tendent of the board of public well
fare; Joseph Sherry, Robert
Holmes, Rev. Titus Lowe, 0. A.
Scott and F. L. Weaver, city at
torney.
The mayor refused to pose for a
photograph at the station.
Mayor Smith is not favorab1y im-
pressed by Police Commissioner
Ringers new ordinance, which con-
templates extending to the chief of
police the power to promote, de-
mote or transfer any member of the
police department without referring
the matter to the police commits
sioner.
This is a power that should be
used gingerly," said the mayor.
Giving the chief of police authority
to discharge man because he may
not like the color of his hair, for in
stance, is matter that should be
given serious consideration"
The mayor, on previous occasions,
has expressed himself strongly in
favor of civil service.
This new ordinance was brought |
up for consideration by the city
council committee of the whole
Monday morning when Mr.. Ringer
urged that it be recommended for
passage, but the council decided to
hold it over until the mayor should
return. 1t will be called up for dis
cussion next Monday morning.
Visits the c. of c.
Mayor Smith quietly entered the
dining room in the Chamber of Com
merce yesterday and seated himself
at side table.
He was soon spied by the crowd
of diners which thronged the room,
all of whom rose simultaneously
and applauded him.
Members of the executive COM
mittee, then in session, advanced
to the mayor and invited him to
their meeting, where he remained
for about As minutes, listening to
words of welcome and congratula-