The daily crescent., 1850-04-29
municipal Omcers.

Under this liile, the Delta Of yesterday exam
ines the law relating 10 the powers of the Council
and the Recorder. By resolution of 1897, the
Council elect the officers on the first Tuesday Of
May, which in the 7th. The Recorder has the
casting vote in all cases. The new Recorder takes
bis seat on the second Monday Of May, which viii
be onthe 18Th. The Council censists Of 3 Wings
and Democrats. Two Of the Wings are absent,
and will not return in time TO be at the election
there win be lie of 7 to 2. Recorder Baldwin in
the chair, with his casting vote, decides the eec-
tions. The Delta then proceeds TO say, that II the
Democrats absent themselves from the regular
meeting on Tuesday, MIR. Baldwin cannot, by his
vote, elect Wing officers. We hops for the honor
| Of the Council no such attempt will be made, by
wilful neglect Of duty, TO tbwart the win Of the
majority. But, says the Delta, il the Democrats
adopt this course at the first meeting, and thus pre
vent quorum, the Wings will follow their example
at the second meeting 1t seems that il any Alder.
man absents himself for three successive sitings,
he shall lose his seat in the Council and the Mayor
and said Council shall provide for filling the va
cancy. The Delta thinks that a sitting does moi
necessarily mean quorum so thai il, at the expi.
ration Of three sttings, the seven who do meet and
who DO not constitute quorum, may decide thai
the other seven have lost their seats The Delta
has certainly studied the subject very carefully.
But it is TO be hoped that neither party will follow
these suggestions If one party can disregard their
duties, and refuse TO enter upon the offices to which
hey have been elected, the other party will, as
matter of necessity, do the same thing. Let us
make calculation. The Wings hold " sitting
on Tuesday the 7th; the Democrats absent them.
selyes-there is no quorum so on the 18Th. On the
he fa 4 a. yNTt..
present-there is no quorum. On the 23d, the
Wings again are absent, and there is no quorum
Thus the action of the Council is paralyzed until
June lst. By that time the two absentees will
have returned, and then after lapse of month
there will be Council.
We do not believe that less than quorum can
decide on any question Surely minority so small
that it can only adjourn, is not vested with the
power 10 determine that the rest of the members
have forfeited their seats, and proceed to order
new election.
The Legislature never intended, says the Delta,
that majority Of the Aldermen might absent them
selves during the entire session, and thus prevent
all organization.
Certainly not: the Legislature never contem-
templates that the majority nor the minority will
fail IN duty. 1t makes no provision for such case
because it cannot conceive that any man, or set of
men, will thus tfile with the rights Of the majority
or the interests Of the city.
During the session Of the Legislature, we cen.
sured the Wing party for breaking the quorum in
thar body on the election of Speaker. We shall
regret to see party spirit in the Council so far carry
away men of character, from that course which
their own sober thought teaches them is the cor.
rect one.
On Tuesday it is to be hoped that the Aldermen
elect will meet and qualify and perform the duties
which belong to the office they have asked and
received at the hands of their fellow-ctizens Apv
other course leads to disorganization and anarchy
The Delta disclaims speaking for any one, or Of
recommending the execution OF any course calcula-
ted to prevent the orderly administration Of the
Municipal affairs. But it certainly explains how
easy 1t would be to carry out such plan. 1t does
not set fire to the hOuqe-but it points out the
matches and fuel-it puts obstruction on the rail
track, but it tells where convenient heap of stones
lies