The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-10
CITY COUNCILS.
Their Proceedings Of Yesterday.

HueIE Oi 1ebtcEuUys
Select Branch. President Cattell in the
chair.
The Mayor sent in message in reference
to the commission bills before the Legisla-
ture, criticising it, and asking that Councils
take vigorous steps towards their defeat
Mr.. King offered long preamble and the
following resolution
Res0loed BY the Select and Common Coun-
ellis of the city of Philadelphia, That Joint
special commission of five members from
each chamber be appointed, for the purpose
of acting in conjunction with committees of
citizens, in maturing arrangements for the
convening of the people of this city, without
distinction of party, to obtain an expression
of the people upon the subject of said acts,
and to take such other action as may be
deemed necessary to avert the frightful pub
lie calamity which the passage of said acts
will infict upon this entire community.
Mr.. Cochran offered resolution withdraw
ing previous motion to refer, and instruct
ing the Committee on Legislation to proceed
directly to Harrisburg, and by all honorable
means TO secure the defeat of the commission
bills.
Mr.. Littleton moved to postpone both re-
solutions, and take up the Common Council
resolution relative to the same subject which
was agreed to.
The resolutions offered by Messrs Coch-
ran ana Mug were tueu thhSu up duu
nitely postponed.
A communication from the Fire Commits
sioners submitted the appointment of Will
liam H. johnson as Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department
Mr.. It. j. Smith moved to refer the commu-
nication to the Committee on Fire. Agreed
to by IL yeas to 10 nays.
Mr.. Hanna offered in place an ordinance
authorizing the paving of Market street,
mi. Al. II
blocks. Referred to the Committee on High
ways.
Mr. G. A. Smith, chairman of the special
committee on League Island, stated that
| Congress had made an appropriation of
| $500, 600 for the improvement of this island,
| and that it regarded this sum as a pledge that
the Government did not intend to repudiate
! its acceptance of this site for a naval station;
and further, that thanks are due to our repre-.
sentatives for securing an appropriation fol
the improvement of this island, against the
determined and persistent opposition Of those
who favored rival and less meritorious loca
tions. The report closed with a resolution
asking the discharge Of the committee, anC
this was adopted.
Mr.. Smith also offered resolutions tender
ing the thanks of Councils to our Represen
tatives and Senators in Congress, and t
Hon. Alexander G.. Cattell, Senator from New
Jersey, for their efforts in securing the ap
preparation of 5000, 600. They were adopted
Mr.. Shermer offered resolution of reques
to the effect that the President of Selec
Council appoint committee of five member
to investigate the alleged charges against
member of the Public Building Commission
who is said to have bought up votes in Selec
Council to secure the defeat of the Mayor
veto of the special tax bill.
The resolution was adopted, and Messrs
Shermer, Cochran, Shoemaker, Fareira an
Il. j. Smithswere the committee named.
The Mayors message, vetoing the bill TO
the improvement of the meadow lands, wa
then read.
On the question ''Shall the bill pass no
withstending the objections of the Mayor
the vote was-yeas 10, nays 8, and the bi
becomes law.
Common Branch. President Huhn in til
chair.
A communication from the Mayor was r,
ceived relative to the bills now before th
Legislature creating commissions to tai
charge of the Water Works, Highways, an
Police Department.
Mr. Buzby offered series of resolution
denouncing the appointment OF the commi
, sions as a virtual disfranchisement of IL
citizens and Councils, and providing for IL
, appointment Of a special committee of fl,
members from each Chamber to make arrang
ments for town meeting in opposition
the measure. Passed.
? Messrs. Buzby, Charlton, Schaffer, Mite
{ ell. and G. w. Nichols were appointed IL
: committee for Common Council.
I Another message was received from II
: Mayor vetoipg the ordinance for the il
a provement of the meadow lands; not that
. opposed such an improvement, on the co