Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-08-20
BOARD OF
A SpriGhtIy Meeting Last Evening -The
SOIOns On Parliamentary LAWS
Ten or Eleven "a Majority of
the Board.
An Important Decision Rev -rsed-The
The SchOOI-BOOk Question
Again Discussed.
Motions and Counter MOtiOns-What
They Know About FiIibustering
An Adjournment Carried
Under Pressure.

An adjourned meeting of the mem
bers Of the Board of Education was held
last evening. Present-President VIZ.
Mitchell in the chair, Messrs. Gavin,
HolbroOk, r. w. Mitchell, Wiggin.
Bruce, Taylor, Maury, Mansford, KOr-
trecht, Merrill, Phelan and Bateman. z
LIvEL TINE EXPECTED.
AS it was expected that there would
be a lively and exciting debate over the
adoption or rejection of the University
COmpany's series of school books, q
large numbra of citizens attended the
meeting, and a few ladies were present,
evidently to see the fun.
THE ROLL CALLED.
The Secretary, Mr.. &c. Cairns, called
the roll, and declared a quorum of the
Board present.
DECISION OF BIR GAVIN, CHAIRMAN PRO
EN-. AT LAST MEETING.
DR.. r. W. Mitchell said he rose for the
purpose of moving a reconsideration of
the vote at last meeting on the appeal
from the Chairman pro tenn. (AIr.
Gavin, that it required eleven members
of the Board to constitute a majority to
change the textbooks in the schools.
He had voted at last meeting to sustain
the decision of the Chair, as he was in
the habit of doing, and besides he then
thought the Chairman of the Board was
correct. He DIR. MitchelD had since
talked to several experienced parlia-
mentsrians, and from the opinions
they had given, he had come to the
conclusion that Mr.. Gavin's decision
was incorrect upon the question. The
Board was at present only composed of
nineteen members, owing to the death
of one of the members of the Eighth
ward. The Board had elected his sue
cessor who, although he had signified
his intention of accepting the position,
had not vet been sworn in, and there
fore the Board at present was only COM
posed of nineteen members. He had
also spoken to Mr.. Gavin on the subject,
and he was now of opinion that his de-
cision was incorrect, and the motion to
reconsider would be seconded by him.
Mr.. Gavin said he would cheerfully
second the motion to reconsider, al
though he thought at the time he was
correct in his decision. He did not,
however, consider that this motion
meant a full reconsideration of the mat
ter before the Board, but only a recon-
sideratiOn of his decision.
Mr.. KOrtrecht said he had consulted
with some of the best parliamentarians
in the city, and all of them were of
opinion that the Board, at present, was
composed of only nineteen members,
and that, therefore, ten was a legal ma
jority.
MI. Gavin wanted to know what
would be the effect if the motion was
adopted. Would it bring up the entire
matter then under discussion before the
Board.
Mr.. KOrtrecht remarked that it would
have the effect of bringing up the mat
ter then under discussiOn-the adoption
of the readers, spoilers and primers of
the University series of textbooks.
DR.. Maury contended that if the decis-
ion of the Chair was OVerruled, the read
ers, spoilers and primers of the Universe
ty series would be adopted, as ten mem
bers had voted for their adoption.
Mr.. Gavin said he was willing to vote
for the motion to reconsider if it was
understood that its adoption would bring
up the whole matter as it originally
came before the Board. But, from the
way in which it seemed that several
members considered it, that it would
have the effect of adopting the readers,
primers and spoilers, he would vote
against it, although he had seconded the
motion.
THE VOTE
was then taken, the ayes and nays being
called for.
The Secretary proceed to call the roll,
and Messrs. GaTvin and HOlbrOOk voted
in the negative.
A BREEZE.
The Secretary next called the name
of DR.. r. w. Mitchell.
Mr.. HolbrOOk rose and said: 81 object
to DR.. Mitchell voting, a he is not a
resident of the ward (the FOurth) which
he represents. He has been a resident
of the Second Ward for about four or
five months, and the charter says that
the member shall be a resident of the
ward which he represents.
DR.. Maury said that he thought this
matter had been settled and that a vote
of the whole Board had voted in favor
of DR.. Mitchell retaining his seat.
Mr.. HolbrOOk-That does not matter,
and l call upon the Chair to enforce the
charter. DIR. Mitchell is not a member
of the Board.
Mr.. Kortrecht said that DR.. Mitchell
had only taken up his residence temper
at the Overton Hotel, and the
question was simply one ~ofintent. They
were aware that many parties often alb
themselves from the city on bust
ness and pleasure, and still retained
their residence in the ward in which
they had resided before leaving. DR..
Mitchell might intend shortly to take
up his residence in the ward which
he represented.
Mr.. HOlbroOk-He is not going to take
up his residence in the Fourth ward.
DR.. Mitchell-Let the gentleman speak
for himself, and not for me.
The Chair-Order, order.
Mr.. HOlbrOOk said that he would OBJ
ject TO DIR. MitchelPs vote, as he was not
the memberforth the Fourth ward. Hehad
been living four or five months, since
his marriage, at the Overton, spending
his honeymoon, and that was long
enough. He would take objection to
his vote, and would fight to enforce the
parliamentary rule.
DR.. J. L. II. Taylor contended that
Mitchell was still a member, owing
the decision of the Chair. He asked
5Or the ruling of the Chair.
The President-I a hardly see how
[ can do otherwise than override the
point, after the Board has declared DR..
Mitchell a member. ,
The ayes and noes on the motion to
reconsider was then taken, and resulted s
Is follows: 4
Ayes-Mitchell, Wiggin, Bruce, Tay- i
or, Kortrecht, Phelan and MauTy-7. {
Noes-Gavin, Holbrook, Mansford, i
8ateman, Merrill and President Mitch |
I
The President declared that the mo- /
ion to reconsider was carried. /
ANOTHER MOVE ON THE DECISION.
Mr.. Kortrecht-I now appeal from the
decision of the Chair, and will move (
hat it be not sustained. If the decision
s not sustained, then the readers, SPELL
RS and primers of the University Series {
will be adopted.
The 'ayes" and "noesn were called
or, and the vote resulted as follows: {
Ayes.-Gavin, r. w. Mitchell, Wig {
Bruce. KOrtrecht. Marry and TIA y ,