Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-30
Corporation Affairs.

la
evening the doors Of the Aldermen's Chamber
were opened about twenty min utes past seven
O'Clock, and in a short time thereafter the fol.
loving members were present: Messrs Baker,
Clark, Republican member from the Fifth
Ward,) Cook, Croeker, Fenwick, Grinder,
Morsell. Talbert and the President Richards
sfun Board Mr.. Richards took the chair and
MI Moore president OF the Conservative
wing took seat on the platform TO the right
of Mr.. Richards. Major Hall the Secretary
elected by the Republican organization) took
the SecretaIy's chair, and Mr.. s. V. Noyes (the
secretary elected by the Conservative wing)
took a seat to his right, but took no part In the
subsequent proceedings.
Before the hour Of half past seven arri we'd
Axed by law for the meetings of the Boards
sired TO offer, asking if he was IN order. Mr.
Moore replied that the hour for meeting had
not yet arrived
There being some lite confusion az this point.
Mr.. Richards arose and said il would be Just as
we'll Tor them not 10 make disturbance
at this meeting OF the Board. The recent act
OF Congress IN relation TO our municipal affairs
had b'come law, and they knew the penal
ties Tor any interference with the legallycousti-
tuted aut hOrities of the city. He hoped there
would be no conflict or attempt at disturbance
he would make none himself except 10 main
tain the position to W hich he was legally cleo
ted, as President of the Board of Aldermen
winch ne was determined 10 do. He hoped his
friends ON the other side, and Mr.. Moore, who
claimed TO be elected President of the Board by
them, would acquiesce In this. When the time
comes, there was way to test who had the
best right He made no threats but would
main tam ms position, and would call the
Board TO order at the proper time, which had
not arrived yet
Mr.. Moore arose and said the gentleman (NIr.
hIchardS) was mistaken in supposing the act
Of Congress had anything to do with our or.
ganizatIon of the Board Of Aldermen. The
other side {the RepubliSans) had no claim to
an organization, except one effected outside the
w do oha,,
Der. He (Mr. NJ claimed to be president of
Tie board oy AN election, in which majority
OF The me- mbers voted for him. He would much
rather be on the floor, but they had elected him,
and he was compelled to stand up in honor of
The right. The act of Congress referred 10. if
1t had become law, only put in the board one
Clark in place OF one so elected, INT Gulick. J
The presiding officer of the board was ALWAYS
elected by majority of the body. If not so
elected, be had no title to his seat He was
willing for the board 10 decide whether he had
been elected. II the other gentleman was
worthy and he Mr.. NJ y not, confirm that other
IL he Mr. NJ was worthy and the other not,
then confirm him Mr.. Moore) in his seat He
would not have il SAID tor moment that he
foisted himself on the board as their presiding
ohcer. Let the board, now there was a full
siding ofncer-the gentleman or himself. He
was willing for that.
Mr.. Richards interrupted to say il was time
10 call the Board TO order.
Mr.. Moore proceeded 10 call the Board TO or.
Der. when Mr.. Richards said he Mr. NJ was
out Of order. Mr.. Richards then called the
Board 10 order, and said TO Mr.. Moore, who
was standing by his side. and attempting to
speak, you are out of ORDER ..come to CT.
der" Mr.. Lloyd arose TO offer a resolution,
when the Chair (Mr. Richards) said, "You are
out OF order 10 Mr.. Hall, the Secretary, "Read
the minutes of the former meetings. and to
MI Moore, who was endeavoring to read Mr.
Lfoyd's resolution, sYou are out of order: take
your seat The confusion stIll continuing
an nC m nuah nEr 1I,,~.-
ceiyed. and Mr.. Moore still being on his feet
and endeayorlng 10 read the resolution while
the Secretary (Nlr. Hall) was reading the min
utes of the preceding meetings (of the RepubIi
can organiZation), Mr.. Richards called upon a,
magistrate present to restore order and said,
"Wlll some one take a note of these disorderly
proceedings will the officer whose duty it Is
him where be belongs"
Mr.. Moore finished reading the resolution
while the Secretary was reading the min utes
and said us il the pleas of the Board to aet
on this resolution Will this Board confirm
the election of Mr.. Richards as President of
this Board!''
Mr.. Crocker.-''The reading OF the minutes
y first in order"
Mr.. Fenwick arose TO speak, but was cut
short by the Chair MIR. Richards) who called
"oTder, order; the gentleman is out of Order.''
The readings of the proceedings OF the meet
ings OF the Republican organization of the
Board having been concluded, Mr. Moore said
MI Grlnder was not present at the meeting of
called TOT the ayes and noes on adoption OF the
N in ptes as read.
Mr.. Fenwick again tried to speaker, and on
6eing agaln called 10 order by the Chair (Mr.
X explained that he was addressing both
Presidents. He said the first meeting AT which
II was claimed Mr.. Richards was elected Pres
ident was not held in this Chamber in &C.
cordance with the law.
After some discussion, Mr. Richards said Mr.
Grinder was not present in time 10 act on the
al the meeting last Monday.
Mr.; Moore hoped that correction would be
made IN the journal. Mr.. Fenwick reiterated
that one days proceedings entered in the Jour
pal never took place In this Chamber
q Vt. Richards said the minutes Were correct
IN 10. At partic ular and must stand. He wished
~ make statement as 20 the allegation that no
proceedings took place In this hall as
sui IN the journal, in reference 10 the
eiectlon of himseif q. prssident. he knee.
such proceedings did take place in this cham.
Der. Gentlemen. on account Of the Confusion
" hich prevailed, may not have taken note Of
IL or been aware of hat occurred. Mr.. Rich
ards then iecapitulated At length the proceed
ings at The first meeting, saying that after nine
members had been sworn in, he was elected
President of the Board, IN this chamber by
votes out Of the 9. The other two members
were not then sworn in. Mr.. Larman was
sick and absent, and if all the thirteep had
been sworn in, seven votes would have been a
majority OF those present. He believed then,
ana sun believes, that he was legally elected
President of the Board of Alderman, as shown
Dy anu Hail was elected
- cretary. As TO the assertions that no such
occurred At that meeting as his
election as President, members knew it was
the case, that they did occur. When the at
tempt was made 10 swear in a member not
entitled 10 a seat, then the Republican MEM
befs withdrew 10 another room, where Mr.
Hall was chosen temporary secretary. There
was then motion made TO 90 into Joint meet
ing. He MIR. r. was chosen 10 preside over
that Joint meeting, and Mr.. %. :. Baker was
elected secretary. In that meeting they had a
4uor am, and the Mayor took the oath OF Office.
The Conservatives then organized Joint meet
Ing- and went through the same forms the Re-
pUblcans had, except that they did not find
any votes 10 count, or any Mayor TO swear in.
he made these statements to show the claims
he had 10 preside over the Board and 10 define
the position he occupied. The question now
was on the approval OF the minutes as read
Mr.. Cook wanted TO know who were entitled
10 vote ON that The nine who were properIy
sworn IN and qualified al the first meeting of
the Board, or the fourteen who were present
The Chair Mr.. RIChardsl said be would recog-
nIZe The fourteen who now had seats inside he
bar as members. The yeas and nays were called
ON the adoption of the minutes as read Mr.
Moore again asserted that the election of Mr.
Richards as president did not occur in the
chamber as stated the minutes The yeas
ana nays having been taken on the adoption OF
me minutes as read, resulted: Neas-Messrs
Baker, Clark. Cook, Crocker, Grinder. Knight
and President, (RIchards)-7. Nays-Messrs
FenwIck. Larman, Lloyd. McCathrau, Moore
Norsell, and Talbert-7. 50 the minutes wer.
not approved,
Mr. Croker offered the following: