Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-06-15
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL NEW 8.
Meeting Of the Conservative Wing of IN
City Councils

proclamation. the Conservative members OF the
tlty Councils con gregated AZ the City Hall a
ssioe. p; 70. foT me purpose Of holding spe-
closed, and the doors guarded by policemeS.
the members OF the two Boards with A large
crowd OF citizens, then went INTO the central
area OF the Clty Hall, and there the respective
presidents called the members TO order Cap
tAins Moore and Nalley both spoke of the POSI-
non the Boards were In, and stated that as a
room could be obtained IN the Law Building
en- 5th street, they would entertain motions for
adjournment to that place. Such motions were
made, and the two Boards adjourned to the
sround Moor, the Boards were called to order,
me Aldermen being at the upper and the Coun.
cal al the lower end Of the hail.
following letters wsrs read frs; in the
action.
Alaermen and Board Of Common Council of ne
ofy Of MISREPRESENTATION: L have con-
vened you this evening in conformity with the
third section of the act of 1s20, incorporating
the inhabitants of the city of WASHINGTON. he.
heylng that the public good requires prompt
ano decisive ASTON IN regard 10 the present
condition OF municipal affairs.
Il would suggest that legislation he had liz or
Ger 10 prevent misapplication of the Corpor-
ation funds. and 10 that end IL seems to me ad.
Llsaoie tnat proper n0tice should be served on
me bank officers, the custodians OF such funds
warning them against paving checks drawn
by the Register OF the city and Mr.. Bowen.
AND would also call your attention To the
conduct OF the Register, in come ction with
the returns Of the late election and suhmit 10
your consideration how far his conduct in that
ana many other particulars, may REQ uire YOU
ZEE saefclse me power vested IN You by the
Iourtn section OF the act of 174e, amen da tory 10
the charter. ~
1 also enclose herewith the opinions of the
distinguished counsel selected by your commit
Tee, sustaining the legality Of Your action. and
containing important suggestions as TO your
future course Very respectfully,
THos. f. LLOYD. Mayor. &C.
WASHINGTON, June 10. 1s6s.-Thomas T.
Lloyd, Mayor # the City Of Washington. After a
full conference with the committee appointed
by the joint meeting Of the Board of Aldermen
ana Board of Common Council of this city we
are OF the opinion that your election to the
once OF Mayor ga fr,eriss Is in conformity with
tne provisions Of the charter; and that. having
accepted said office, and qualified according TO
law. II has become your duty 10 discharoa its
functions. and in all respects 1phold and main
tam IT'S nights and privileges until 1t Is ascer.
talnsd and declared by Competent authoritv
who Is entitled TO the Office
among the most important objects demanding
yonr early attention We would snsosSi Cd
so v ,s ,Hal immaculate possession be demanded
OF tne mayors office. together with the hooks
ars archives now .ziawfully withheld: that
notice be given 10 the First National Bank.
holding the funds of the city, that any payment
OF II upon any order other than your own will
De Al the peril OF the bank; and that by the
anthorlty IN you vested as Mayor. YOU Specially
convene Inc two Boards as early as can he
zone, and submit to their delibera;ion how far
the Register OF the city, BY his recent prac-
tees, has merited removal from office for ina.
deity TO the interests Of the city and malyersa
ton id ofiea
In the event Of the removal OF this officer. the
two Boards are authorized by the charter 10
Older an election TO fill the vacancy
We deem n further important that YOU bring
10 the immediate notice of the Police Commis-
sloners the charge made against Major Richards
OF iehaing the police force under mis- eo-,,,,nd
10 ana IN usurpatioI of omca And tbp Gran
"a JOSEPH X, BRADLEY,
W. ID. DAvIDGE,
r. 7. MERRICK.
In the Board of Aldermen CONSERVATIVE
~lng,) MI Lloyd. from the Joint committee
appointed TO bring legal proceedings, said the
committee was prepared TO report, and read
the following:
ain pursuance and execution OF the lustruc-
nons contained in the resolution, the committee
called upon Messrs. ]. II. Bradley, w. ID. Day-
1dge, and X T. Merrick. gentlemen we'll known
an our community, and had full conference
with them on matters committed TO their charge
The result of that conference is in part ex-
niolted IN the letter addressed BY those gentle.
men to Mr.. Lloyd. a copy of which is here.
with returned II Will be seen by that that
those gentlemen concur in fully approving the
course adopted by the Councils in the election
OF Mr.. LLOYD TO the Office of Mayor until IL is
ascertained and declared by competent author.
lily who is entitled 10 that ONCE
They also advise that Mr. L.oyd shall forth.
with demand possession Of the office: that i'm.
mediate attention b. given by the corporate au-
thorities to the security of the funds of the
Corporation, so that they shall not b. drawn
from their present place of deposit without
the authority OF Mr.. Lloyd; that the two Boards
he convened at once, and that the Mayor su b.
nat 70 tner consideration the official miscon-
duet and malversation in Office Of the present
Register OF the city, with view TO correct that
grievance by his removal from office and
new election, II that shall be found q necessary
and the most efaeient remedy.
Your committee further report that no doubt
or question Is entertained that, under the char.
ter, the only persons entitled to be admitted
and sworn as members elect TO the Board of
Aldermen and Board of Common Council, re-
sPecn Sely are those who were return to the
Mayor by the Commissioners Of Elec ton of the
by the Mayor declared TO be elected. The re.
turn required by the charter to be made to the
Register Is not only not essential to the quail
hcation Of the person elected, but In fact has
nothing 70 do with it. Those persons declared
by the Mayor 10 be elected are so prima face
and they. and they alone, can be sworn in and
by them the two Boards be organized. After
such organization each Board respectively is
20 decide every question Of contested election OF
ITS own members.
The language of the charter is unn istakably
plain as to this point. The Register Is bound
10 notify those persons who have thus been
proclaimed by the Mayor. and none others, Of
their election. This is equally plain from the
very words of the charter. The requisites of
the charter have been fully satisfied, and these
Boards are now fully, and beyond question,
lawfully organized
Being thus duly and lawfully Organized.
these Boards, having largely over q ma jority
of all the members OF the two Boards, have
been forcibly and Illegally opposed by the
Chief of Police and his subordinates. and OBJ
structed in the discharge OF their indispensable
and lawful duties. Your committee Is in formed
and believes, and, therefore, charge that this
Obstruction has been Interposed At the instance
of Mr.. Sayles j. Bowen, who, without having
holds possession of the office of Mayor of this
city, and with il some of the archives and
property Of this Corporation
simple statement of the facts is SUFFICIENT
without argument 10 show the necessity of
prompt action in order, if possible, 10 prevent
further illegal and violent acts.
The Charter OF leo and 1sl3 requires that the
Mayor shall, before he enters on the duties Of
his office, in the presence of the Boards Of Al
dermen and Common Council, in joint meeting.
take an oath, &c. This is prerequisite and
condition precedent 10 his exercising any of the
duties Of the office. He Is not Mayor until this
is done.
Your committee, therefore, especially call
The attention Of this Joint meeting to these ex-
fraOrdInary and almost incredible acts Of Mr..
Bowen, and of MAJOR Richards, the Chief of
Police, as demanding the most prompt and Wig
Ofous remedy.
These Boards have hitherto, with most COM
mendable fcrbearance, submitted 10 the indig-
nifty of having the doors OF their chambers
barred against them and guarded by a strong
police force: TO being forcibly restrained by the
police from even entering into the CITY Hall;
and 10 being forced, by the same power, TO hold
their lawful meetings IN most unsuitable rooms
IN the basement of the building. They have
<edulOpsly avoided every step which might