Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-30
THE CITY COUNCIL.
Plan for Its Organic alton - COrres-
pOndence.

Plan for Its Organic alton - COrreSs
pOndence.
A committee consisting Of Messrs. Rein
hard, Armstrong and Naghten, reNesent-
ing the Democratic members of the City
Council, and a committee consisting OF
Messrs. Donaldson, Patterson and Barcus,
representing the Republican members, had
mutually agreed, on Monday morning last,
to submit the matters in difference between
the Democratic and Republican members,
respecting the organization of the City
Council, to the decision or arbltrament OF
two gentlemen-one to be chosen by each
commttee-with power in the two arbitra-
tors, in case of failure toagree, to choose
third man or umpire.
The Democratic committee chose Judge A..
G. Thurman,a and the Republican committee
Henry G. Noble, Esq. Messrs. Thurman
and Noble had conference on Monday
morning, and the result was communicated
to the two committees in the following let
ter; 1Oa HeaTaf E-r-
' COLUMBUS, May 2Sth,. 1866.
Messrs. REINHARD, DONALDSON and others
Gentlenen-As requested by you, we have
had conference on the subject of the or
ganization of the City Council. Each of us
having, after mature consideration, arrived
at conclusion upon the legal question, and
not agreeing In opinion, we consider it USE
less to discuss that matter, or to call in a
third person to decide between us, The
latter course seems to us Objectionable; but
were it not so, we have no time for such a
conference and for a discussion of the ques-
ton. ... r..a.. -... -..-..
Waving then the legal question, we, in
pursuance of your invitation to make any
suggestions that might seem proper to us,
propose, for your consideration, the follow
ing plan: We understand that the diff
Guilty in organizing the Council does not
arise from any objection to Mr.. COmstock
personally, but is entirely owing to the
fact that nine members of the Council
believe that he has been, and the other nine
members believe thathe has not been. elected
President. And whether he has been or not,
depends upon the Interpretation that should
be given to the Charter; and in respect to
this, members of the legal profession differ.
Under such circumstances, and as months
will elapse before the session of the Supreme
Court (the only tribunal that can authori-
tatively decide the question:, 1t seems TO us
plain that such course should be taken as
will require no one to surrender his opin-
ions, and will, at the same time be perfectly
honorable TO all and effect, without further
delay, the organization of the Council.
This can be done in this way:
If an agreement as to the distribution OF
the offices aud the constitution OF the COM
mittees has not yet been made, let it be
made at once. Then let Mr.. Comstock file
with the Clerk this afternoon resignation.
No one can then deny that the Office Of
President is vacant. The Republican mem
bers would believe that the vacancy was
Occasioned by the resignation. The Dem
ocralic members would consider that the
office had never been filled. And so, no
one would be required to surrender his
judgment. ... ..-... ....
Then let all the members of the Council
meet together at the Council Chamber this
evening, and proceed to elect President,
the Democrats, or sufficient number of
them to elect, voting for Mr.. ComstOck, or
any other gentleman who may be nOmin-
ated by the Republicans. Then let the
other offices be filled and the committees be
constituted as previously agreed upon. We
think this course would be perfectly honor
able to everybody, and solve the difficulty
at once. And it is quite probable that the
Legislature will, next winter, so amend the
Charter as to remove all ambiguity, and
prevent the recurrence Of a similar diff
. Guilty. a...
Yours truly,