Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-13
AN ALDERMANIC ROW.
The City Council Proceedings
Last Night Enlivened by d
Free Fight.
Muscle and Billingsgate, Pistols
and Blasphemy-"HOW Beau
tifaI for Brethren" Etc.
"YOu Lie. You Villain, YOu Lie"
A Play on Congressional
Practice-GOOd Imi-
tatiOn.
Promising and Encouraging Be-
ginning for the New Board
Reading for Tax
Payers.


ROARD OF ALDERMEN.
The board of aldermen with Chair
man Lee, met at seven O'Clock in the
city hall last night, the following nlem-
bers being present: Messrs. Robbins,
Davis, Colligan, Malatesta, Dwyer,
Hillsman, Ball, Dent and Doyle.
Alderman Dwyer being granted leave
\ to make few personal remarks, said +:
Last Saturday and to-day he heard it ru-
mored on the street that he would pro-
hably be the chairman of the
board. He wished to correct
the report, for he would not
/ have any position unless he were elected
/ honOrably. In fact, he was no cOmpTo-
mise candidate, and would not have the
| position under any circumstances. He
| hoped his remarks would receive credit.
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN.
! The election of chairman being next
| in order, Alderman Davis asked leave
to make
AN EXPLANATION.
Permission being granted, Mr.. Davis
said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN
The contest for the chairmanship of this
board has been going on so long that
! the people Of Memphis are getting dis
/ gustcd with it. l have too much re-
spect for myself and the people OF Mem
/ phis, who may think that l am the
! cause of this protracted fght-fOr my
enemies are endesvOling to circulate
| this impression-tO remain any longer
in the contest. If you will permit me
to explain why l became q stubborn
candidate for this position, the spirit
and bitterness of the opposition to me
and the Ball and Dent charges, will
withdraw from this contest. When
nominated by my friend, Alderm an
Colligan, 1 believed that 1 was compe-
tent from my knowledge Of parliament
airy law and usage TO preside over this
board. When l saw my friend, Judge
Lee, nominated in opposition to me /
considered he had not acted my friend
in becoming a candidate against me,
when, as ] thought, he ought TO be my
waTmest supporter. He knows that /
was one of the first who advised him to
run for alderman in the eighth ward,
and that l assisted and supported him
in every way. He knows that L have
done as much for the success of the
ticket elect, if not more, than he did.
He knows, too, that have been an sc-
tive mem er of this board for the last if
teen months, and that whilst he has been
deyoting his time to his legal duties, l
have devoted large portion of my time
to city affairs. Taking all these things
into consideration, I believe that have
as great claim If not greater) to the
position than be. This is one OF the
reasons why persisted so long in this
contest. Another reason why / persist
ed in it, was that l have been fought
against in a very unjust, vindictive and
personal spirit. Some members OF
this board at least one) Op-
posed me on the grounds that
ii am an ITishman, and sought
to change one Of my supporters, using
| that as a reason. Also, that an Irish
man was running for chairman Of the
common council, and that the whole
| city government would be Irish. Oh,
what O reason against me amongst a
! free ami liberal people | am proud OF
my nativity, and despise a prejudiced
spirit like this. 1t requires a low, con-
/ temptible disposition to entertain it,and
wherever found, it should be wiped
out. If an IrishmRn, or any other man,
can be found, capable of conceiving a
| sentiment like this, that because man
/ is born and raised on these bluffs he
should not be elected to Office, or that a
native American should be preferred to
a foreigner, may his tongue be unable
| TO express it. We are all here as one
people-native American, fOreign-born
and cOlOred men; and politically there
| should be no distinction. Justice to all
and equal rights to all, should be our
motto. We are all American citizens.
Mr.. Dents charge is, that "If he would
vote for me for chairman it would come
ont all right as far as he was concerned
for alderman Mr.. Dent was ineligi-
ble at the time of his election, and is so
still, because the city charter provides
that no one shall be eligible TO seat in
the general council who holds any other
public office. DIR. Dent was nominated
in November by Mayor Johnson as one
of the three members Of the board of as
SCISSORS. They were 10 receive four
hundred dollars each for their services.
Their duties are still unfinished. That
board is still in session. But there ere
! only two members of il performing their
duty, for Mr.. Dent claims to have Te-
| signed on the etwenty-fOurth of December.
| But the records show that he drew the
entire sum appropriated Of four hundred
I dollars for about one months work,
whilst il would take about the unfin-
/ ished month 10 perform the duties Of
/ that Office. Is is therefore evident that
/ Mr.. Dent could not resign in this man
ner-that is, resign and draw full pay
| for half work. such a resignation can
not be legal.
Alderman Dent objected to Mr.. Davis
being allowed to proceed, as he Davis
was making accusations false as the
devil.
The chairman permitted Mr.. Davis to
proceed.
Mr.. Davis then said:
Mr.. Dents friends, knowing this,
spoke to me on the subject. l told them
that the only way in which we could
help Mr.. Dent out of this dilemma was,
when his seat was declared vacant, to
postpone an election for a few days un.
til the assessors would have finished
their duties, and then elect Mr.. Dent.
/ expressed myself willing to do this,
for [ knew that Mr.. Dent was the choice
OF the people of the fifth ward, by a
large msjority. Another mode that was
suggested was to take no action on the
report Of the committee until such time
as Mr.. Dent would be able to qualify,
| but let him retain his seat. / expressed
myself willing to do this. Mr.. Shaw
was present at this meeting, also Colo
mel Eaton and Colonel Dwyer. Mr..
Shaw said that he could and would get
Sir. Dent to support me fo- chairman.
That evening Dent said he was going to
resign aud run before the board for cleo
ton. ] told him that would not make
any difference; that he would be dis
qualified until this assessment would be
complete. i then told him the two
methods which we had thought of for
retaining him in his seat, and he sug-
gested a third, end that was to get the
committee to delsy their report.
told him that ] was satisfied with 1t.
4 ftsf this / told him that Mr.. Shaw
said he would get him Dent to sup
port ne, and / said, ~ hope you will
10 co." 1t is just as Dsa this way
as the way Mr.. Dent puts it, and What
is in it? II / were running for mayor,
I might promise the solored people one
quarter Of ali the offices without raising
the cry Of corruption. / do not think
that Mr.. Dent Is such cad man that 1t
gould be a corrupt act for me 10 vote TO
keeg him in his seal, or to leave It va
cant for feE days until he would be
qualified TO takeSt. Mr. Ball has pub
fishcd q card in the AV0LGstefsc stating
that 1 woGld retract the statement tnat
he got elected by promising to sup
port Lee for chairman. ] told Mr..
Ball Saturday evening that If he did