Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-21
Corporation Affairs.


Of Common CouaciI-Geutlemsn: / haye caIIei
you together in special meeting this eyenIn.
that you may take some action the bill no w
precincts for voting in this city. The imnort, -.
ance of the matter is so great that deem Il ne
cessary to call you together. Very res pectfuI
ly,- RICHARD WALLAcH, Mayor"
Mr.. TAFT, Chairman Of the COMMITTEE Of (,on .
ference, appointed At the last meeting of the
Board, ON the DILL creating additional yotinD
precincts, then moved a Reconsideration Of the
Conference, agreed to. The Chair said the bill
was now before the Board- Mr. TAFT moved
that the vote by which this Beard re iected the
a,mehoments Oh tne lower Board, Producing the
Tor appointment Of two cier ks in each precinct \
De reeonsldered which was agreed TO- The
bill and amendments were then read
MT. TAFT said II was manifest tn him. nj
icast that the lower Board did not propose to
Is ke any action in this matter TO settle the dis
agreement between the two Boards, so as to
IoIce TINS Board to adopt their amendments, or
submit 10 have tour precincts ouIy in each
ward he hoped that the Board: would agree
To the amendments.
Mr.. Moore asked il the lower Board was in
session. "
Mr.. TAFT said there was no quorum present
now. though there had been q Quorum-eleyen
memoers-present twIce during the evening,
der. ~ VI
Mr.. Noyes said there had been fourteen or
niteen m. mbers OF the lower Board il their
number present at any one time
MI Richards said the great mistake was in
not completing this bill at the last session of the
Boards, and it would have been done then
but for the time Of this Board being taken mn
fore il. w.
Mr.. TaIt said this Board rejected the amend
mems and appointed a Committee of Confer.
ence, but the lower Board, for some reasons
best known to themselves hurriedIy
adJonrned without awaiting the action
a.
bill. -P'' '''"'
Mr.. Richards repeated that one.half or
tnree quarters OF an hour Of the time in which
this Board might have passed the bill had
been taken up with a campaign speech (Mr.
MooresD on the Republican candidate for the
mayoralty.
did not come here to whip the Board for
what he might term a dereliction of duty. This
Board knew Its duty without attention being
called to il by him.
Mr.. TAFT said the plan for increase of the pre-
clncts In the Aldermen's bill had been an.
proved by all the Judges Of Election, in
GLIDING Mr.. Bowen.
MI Richards said il might have been got
through the Boards at the last meeting but for
had referred N
had made no such disclosures as to the pur.
poses OF the lower Board at the last meeting
as he had tonight. IL be was in the conf
denee OF that Board, and knew the facts, he
MIR. Richards said he did not know the facts.
but was satisfied II the matter was not acted
on then that 1t would be TOO late to act on it at
ali.
Mr.. Elvans saw no relevancy in these explo.
sive remarks. He called himself party man
yet he was anxious that there should BE- full
number OF voting precincts in each ward. AL
dermen must satisfy him that there was au.
thority to appoint these clerks before hs would
vote for the Council amendments He had ex-
amlned the law since the last meeting, and iD
ms opinion there was no power for such ap-
polntments under the law; and we had no more
night TO pass law 10 allow any outside parties
INTO the rooms with the Commissioners of cleo.
uon 10 perform the duties devolved upon them
Congress for their appointment. He was
anxious TO have the bill passed. but was NOT
willing 10 sfultify himself by voting for action
which would inyalidate the election, and thus
that II was Illegal.
Mr.. Noyes said the gentleman (Mr. E) took
! ne same ground that he (Mr- NJ did at the
menr, but he (Mr. NJ had no idea
us adoption would invalidate the election
The section II illegal would be only dead let
yer. Last year there were clerks called in in
several pTecints 10 aid the Commits sioners but
there had been NO complaint IF the illegality of
mat election. He did not think five precincts
T Wor ne knew was not sufficient in his
would vote for agreeing TO the amendments So
as TO secure that number
MI Richards thought if the appointment of
clerks was illegal, ii would affect no one but
the clerks themselves who " would not he able
10 draw any pay, but he took the ground the
other night and took it now, that this Corpora
Iitn mad as much right to appoint clerks as to
gave the power to appoint such officers as are
TO carly on. It's provisions,
MT; Moore said the lawof Coners.s
lsfqlYs Ipese duties % the Corpora,onu i Nr nOu
me commissioners Of Election, appointed by
" hieh had nothing to do with tenn, ON mo.
lion of Mr.. Noyes the amendm, mt for five pre
einis IN each ward was agre I'd TO
, MT Moore had no doub.. the bill would pass
his Board, but he coulra not vote Tor il. Is il
might lead to litigat. IN. But he wouId state
one ihlng ,ior the -usfacton of those who voted
lor II II the bill which passed Congress, and
s.nnn, As nJw In the hands OF the President,
-,ghl II tnat bill did not become a law, and the
nvards pasA this measure, the election would
be a nullity.
Mr.. Noyes would call the gentlemans (NIr.
's) attention to the fact that there were clerks
to assist the Commissioners of election in his
Mr.. NJ. 50 own ward last year, (the Fourth.)
Mr.. Moore did no: know that at the time, but
II was NOW proposed TO act understandingly,
and TO pass the bill ON the table, which violates
an act of Congress by an exercise of power not
given to the Corporation
Mr.. Elyans said that was yus the point he
raised. His vote weuld not defeatHhis measure,
but IT was foolish II not improper. II the Com.
missioners should refuse to appoint CLERKS they
could do so; we had no right toG4o anything
NOR than TO request II Of or suggest II to them
Mr.. Nee athran had been of the 'upi1ion at
first that the lower Board had acted in good
faith in this matter, but not finding in their
for employment of clerks the usual
words, they put in, namely, .wlthout regard
70 race or color" he thought the object was only
10 scare this Board by illegal amendments from
taking any action on this important matter
But he would not be scared, bat was willing to
taSa the whole bill as IL stood.
Mr. Elyans Yves Lot prepared to accept such
inn puta.ions on the power Board as that. His
objections 10 the bill we've personal to himself.
He believed the lower Roafd had acted in good
faith.
iments. Ii the soDmisslQpers think the ap.
point Of clerks Is illegal, tiey need NO,
employ them, and that clause Of this bill
does not amount 10 anything. But suppose
they 40 appoint clerks, This Corporation is
not responsible: Is rot liable. Those clerk.
could not proceed against the Corporation. but
against the men who engaged them. He would
support that section in order TO get the five pre-
cinets, out would like to see seven or eight in
each ward.
Mr.. Tait thought if the Government again
appointed commissioners, as they did last year,
who could not write their names, this Corpo.
ration could not make great mistake In en-
ployiug clerks 10 aid them.
Mr.. Richards read from the Charter Of 1S+S
20 prove that the Corporation had the power 10
appoint the clerks.
Mr.. Moore said the commissioners We're not
officers OF the Corporation, but of Congress.