The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-08-06
VACANCIES in the Library Board.

There are TWO vacancies III tnt poaiu va
directors for our public library -one caused
by the resignation of G. Lynde, DR., IN /
March last, which vacancy Murdoch pro /
posed to fill by appointing A. Hull. lie
was confirmed by oiga coce vote, but not
in conformity to law, nor did he accept the
appointment. The other vacancy was
caused by the removal of L. Nj. Haver-
stick
The Union says
A. the Board Is a public body upon whom re-t
important public duties it Is best to be sure
that It's members are legally chosen
None of the members of the library
board or of the late members of the water
board were ever chosen in strict compll-
ance with law, not one OF them having
been confirmed by yeas and nays, as re
CURED by law This was a blunder OF
Murdock's and his administration. 1t
might be well, therefore, ''as the board is
public body upon whom rest important
public duties, to have their appointments
confirmed according to law. We alluded
to this matter at the beginning of Mr.. Day
enport's administration, and we quite agree
with the Union that 1t is best to be sure
that its members are legally chosen.
This can only be done by submitting their
names and confirming them according to
law. by yeas and nays, to be entered on
| the record.
/ The vacancy in IIayerstick's ease is for
the balance of one year from the date Of
/ his appointment,-that in Mr.. Lynde ;
case is for the balance OF three years from
the same time,
Neither the water board or the library
board were ever confirmed in compliance
of law. 1t requires majority of all the
members elect to the City Council to con-
firm an appointment, and it must be done
by yeas and nays, and the yeas
and nays must be recorded on the
records of the Council The Council con
si-ts of / / members, elected by the PEG
plea Mayor aud 10 Aldermen. Ii there
tore requires the votes of six Aldermen,
without the Mayor. 10 confirm an appoint
ment. There is only one case in which
the Mayor eau vote III confirming appoint
ment> aud that is in ease the whole ten
Aldermen are present and evenly divided.
In that ease his vote would be proper and
effective hut in no other case.
Mr. McNlaSter was not confirmed, and
, therefore the two vacancies still exist
II Aldermen Drayton, Koch and Wilke,
{ had any good ground of objection to Mr.
McNlastcr, they should have stated it l
p they had no good ground of objection t,
the man, then their votes showed them t,
be factions and unreasonable Ii the,
e think that in voting against Mr. MeMaste
: they were many manner aiding Haverstick
p they showed lack of knowledge of tn
position. Haverstick Is out Of office an,
no power. except the Mayor, can restor
him. AID Don showed better apprecia
!, ton of the case. Whatever he or the 9th
2 er three may have thought of Hayerstick'
removal was an irrelevant idea,-llayer
!, stick was out, and the question to conside
was this Is Mr. McNIaster suitabl
/, mau for library director II he is, the
/ Aldermen Draytou, Koch, and Wilkes iii
. an improper thing in voting Ngainst hin
Their votes would have confirmed hin
=. Bat il he is not a proper man for the pos
= ton, it was their duty to show in what re,
pect he was unfit, and if their objection
were good. it would then have been th
duty of the Mayor to have appointed
better man We guess Aldermen lray
/ ton, Koch, and Wilkes have made an III
y fortunate mistake unfortunate for them
and the snoner they correct it the belt,
will it be for the library.