Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-07

Interesting Message from the
\ New MayOr-PrOtests--
Another Meeting
Tonight. f


Memphis awoke under new munich
pal administration this morning, headed
by Hon. John W. Leftwich. Last night
Mayor LoAand administered the oath Of
Office to the incoming chief magistrate,
who in turn did the same to the new
members of the Board, against whose
service protests had not been entered
The announcement of the meeting at
tracted large number of gentlemen to
the Council Chamber, scores of whom
were parties seeking places in City Hall.
Aldermen were never before so popular.
Gentlemen never able TO see them on the
streets before begged the privilege of q
few moments private conversation, as
surfing them of their eternal friendship
and importuned for Office. The Mayor
was particularly in request, every one
struggling to shake him by the hand, and
whispering the magic word "offics" in
his ear. These without axes to grind re-
NAMED in the background, in digni6ed
silence.
After the old Board had completed the
business in hand, an adjournment sine
die was had, and the new Mayor was
sworn in. Then came the work of quail.
flying the new aldermen. Alderman
Passmore was temporarily called to the
chair, to which Judge j. T. Swsyne was
afterward elected permanently, recev.
ing III out of II votes.
Upon being conducted to the chair,
President Swayne thanked the Board for
the compliment paid him, and earnestly
asked their cooperation, without which
he could not hope to succeed. He ad-
verted to the unfortunate condition OF
the city government financially, remind
ing the Board that it was for them to
bring about better state of affairs, and
added II shall insist upon our DELHI
erations being conducted with the utmost
propriety and dignity; and he knew
that, as gentlemea, they would observe
all usual courtesies of deliberative bodies
toward each other, and toward their
Chairman"
Alderman Shaw, in retiring from the
Board, made few remarks in exceed
ingly good taste, coupling them with a
resolution thanking the late President,
Alderman Hubert, for the impartialitY
which has characterized him as presiding
officer. The resolution was unanimously
adopted, and Alderman Hubert appro-
priately responded.
A resolution thanking the late Mayor
and the other city officers, especially the
members of the fire department, was also
adopted before the adjournment of the
old Board.
The members of the new Board who
took their seats were: First ward, John
Clancy; Second, Thomas Joyce; Third
William Black Fourth, |. 7. Cartwright;
Seventh, Z. A. Renner; Eighth, Thomas
Mofet; Ninth, E. M. McDavitt and John
T. Swayne; Tenth, j. W. Peck. There
we're also present and in their seats the
following members holding over j. j
Powers, G. d. johnson, E. W. Wicker
sham, R. F. Brown, T. W. O'Donnell, j.
D. Ruffin, H. Lemon and W. H. Pass
more.
Protests were entered against Mr.. M.
Burke, of the Fifth, Mr.. P. II. Cicalla,
of the Sixth, and W.. @. Ellis, of the
Tenth ward, taking their seats.
In the Fifth ward Mr.. j. c. Hoist re-
ceived q plurality of votes, but did moi
take the candidates oath. Mr.. NJ. Burke,
second in the race, had complied with
the law. Mr. M. Cohen, who also com
piled, was third in the race. Both Hoist
and Cohen gave notice of contest. Mr.,
Cohen declares Burke ineligible, aver
ring that he had not resided in the ward
six month next preceding the election
Mr.. Hoist maintains that, having served
in the Board subsequent to the passage
of the franchise act, the oath was unne.
cessary; further, that the enabling act
relieved him from the necessity of taking
said oath. Concluding
Mr.. Burke cannot take the office, for
he is prohibited by section 9l2 Of the
Codes which prohibits party from hold
| ing an Office unless he receives plurality
of the legal votes. Mr.. Burke did not
receive a plurality, but a very small
minority, as the returns will show. The
most that Mr.. Burke can claim is that
the Office is vacant | am entitled TO
hold the office until my successor is
qualified, and therefore claim the posi-
ton.
Mr.. Edward r. Hill, in contesting Mr..
P. A. Cicalla's seat from the Fifth ward,
ayerred that the latter is not natural.
lied citizen of the United States. Mr..
Cicalla furnished the Board copy Of
his naturalization certificate.
Mr.. Thomas Fleming contested Mr.. w
c. Ellis seat from the Tenth ward, on
the ground that the latter had not been Q
resident of the ward for six months next
preceding election day.
On motion, Aldermen Passmore, Ruff
fin, Lemon, Brown and Wickersham were
appointed a committee to investigate the
protests.
Aldermen Passmore, MeDavitt and
Ill -. $4,000 - 6 = Al. 81. :