Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-07-07
COMMON COUNCIL.

suggested to him that the seat OF tht
gentleman (Mr. Hughes) from the
eighth ward be declared vacant as be
was a candidate for office, and thereby
ineligible. L know nothing OF it myself.
Councilman Walsh-Have you seen
the announcement in public print.
DR.. Hewitt-No, sir.
Councilman Waish-Ah yes, then.
Councilman Roush said, let the gen.
tleman, Mr.. Hughes, explain it.
Councilman Hughes This, gentle
men, can be very easily decided. 1 am
/ going to run for county register. Ifthere
/ is anything in it you can have it. Why
| didn't the gentleman, in looking around,
investigate the right Of Others to remain
l in their seats.
DR.. Hewitt do not know Of others
who are ineligible.
Councilman Hughes-That seems
strange to me.
Dr.. Hewitt don't know why it
should be strange.
Councilman Rouch said that the gen.
tleman was out OF order. If a candidate
for office, he was ineligible.
Councilman Walsh said he wanted to
hear the law on the subject read. Mr..
Hughes had Lot announced himself q
candidate for office. Up to the time of
his announcement he was eligible.
When he announced himself publicly
then he became ineligible.
Councilman Hughes said he had a
great deal of. respect for Mr.. R0uch,
and no animOsity, and would not in
this matter. He knew where the shoe
fitted, or rather pinched. He wanted
the chairman to ask Mr.. Rouch If he
(ROuch) had ever solicited a contract in
this city. He hoped the chairman
would inquire everything, and wanted
him to prefer charges against the men,
Der of the eighth ward, if he was wrong
personally or officially. The council
should be properly conducted. The way
the council was now being conducted
resulted in no good to the city. The
members were wrangling and fussing
over politics. They had not done the
citizens any good. They were not i'm
proving the streets, and comforting no
benefits upon the merchants. II any
measure for the good Of the people was
introduced, some member would vote
against it.
Councilman Hunt (colored) u call
the gentleman to order.
Councilman Carpenter wanted to hear
the city attorneys opinion on the sub
ject.
Councilman walsh also wanted 10
hear the opinion.
Councilman Camp said it was ur-
necessary to have the opinion, if the
chairman was satisfied as TO the fact of
Mr.. Hughes being ineligible by having
announced himself a candidate.
Councilman luther asked Mr.Hughes
il he was acAndidate?
Councilman Hughes said: 81 will be
a candidate when / announce myself"
Councilman Thomas (cOlored) thought
the gentleman had declared that he was
a candidate.
Councilman Hughes said the member
looked on the wrong side OF the Ques-
ton.
Councilman Hunt (colored) was posi-
tive that some men held one office, and
were holding out their hands for anoth-
er Office. The gentleman had just ac-
knOwledged he was q candidate, and no
one knew more than the gentlemsn's
own heart in regard to the matter. He
wanted him to get out right away.
City-Attorney Hanson, being called
upon, said IS to the gentleman being
candidate, that was question of fact
not for him to determine. If be were a
candidate, according to section ), article
=, Of the city-charter digest of 1873, he
was ineligible.
Councilman r ush asked if he an
nOunced personally his intention to be-
come a candidate. This would be the
same as announcement through the
newspapers.
Mr.. Hanson said it would be the same.
Councilman Thomas (c0loTed) said the
council was wasting time, and had no
=. n hnra n in. IN,
this manner. 1t was unfair and unjust.
Councilman Hunt (colored) Mr..
Thomas, can / ask you just one ques-
ton?
Councilman Thomas (colored) said he
shouldn't have any questions put TO
him. So far as the council could deter
mine, Mr.. Hughes was not a candidate
until he had announced 1t through the
newspapers. The council had no right
to argue the matter, for it was rot
known whether or not MiT. Hughes
would be candidate.
Councilman Carpenter said Mr.
Hughes frequently told him he was
candidate, and had bets that he would
be elected.
D.. Hewitt said il Mr.. Hughes had
announced himself publicly or put cards
in the papers, then he came under the
charter provisions, making him ineli-
gible.
Councilman Hunt, 'colored, said no
man could suck around the council and
use his politics. Let Mr.. Hughes get
out right away, and learn to paddle his
own canoe. He heard Mr.. Hughes bad
j~-t --id thst he was . candidate. and
ne heard him If the chair did not.
Councilman Thomas, cOloTed, moved
to stop the debate.
Councilman - - said Mr.
luther knew Mr.. Hughes was a can
didste.
o, TELL Us NOW.
Councilman luther moved to declare
Mr.. Hughes's seat vacant.
Councilman Camp moved to postpone
the matter till the next meeting.
Councilman Chase wanted him TO
speak and say if he was or was not a
candidate.
Councilman luther withdrew his mo.
ton temporarily.
The chairman asked Mr.. Hughes II
he had ever said he was candidate.
Councilman Hughes-l said ] would
announce myself when l became can
didate.
DIR. Hewitt-Have you said to any
body that YOU were a candidate?
Councilman Hughes have been
asked If were candidate; L have told
the parties would be a candidate.
Councilman Tuther-If that isn't an
admission that ne is q candidate, l
would like to know what is.
Councilman Carpenter said MI
Hughes had told him he was a canai-
date, ard would not go before the Bart
lett convention.
Councilman Thomas (cOlOred) moved
to table Mr.. TutheT's motion. Lost.
A COUNCILMAN CURSES AN ALDERMAN.
At this state Of affairs Councilman
Hughes, who was in conversation with
Alderman Hillsman, jumped from his
seat, and in an angry manner COM
menoed tOngue-lashing the lstter men,
ber In regard TO some resolution referring
to the Irish. Mr.. Hillsman dropped into
a seat near by, and Mr.. Hughes ap-
Droaehed him and continued his abuse {:
= IN YOU came in here and mean that
resolution for an lrishman, then set
lie II here. God damn you, I'll give
you A good chance. mean what | say.
/ am as good a man as you are, God
Hav,a,, won Inst get lD on this floor,