The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-05-19
A Municipal Nut.

ST. LOUIS, May ls.-A good deal OF ex
citement prevailed in the city for severa
days past among the politicians over th'
election, whether acting Mayor Richter
was or was not obliged to make appoint
ments to the city Offices within certain
time. The law specifies that the appoint
mcnts shall be made by the third Tuesday
in May. Mr.. BarrGtt's death previous ia
this time made Mr., Richter President oil
the City Council and acting Mayor, with
authority to make appointments; but Us a
special election was to be held and new
Mayor was to be elected within thirty
days from the dcCease OF Mr. Barrett, Mi.
Richter decided that he should not send
the appointments to Council. The cleo
ton was held last Saturday and Col.
Britton elected, but his opponent, Henry
Ovcrslotz, served notice oi contest on
him, aud the question was raised whether
Col. Britton can be inauguratcd Mayor
pending this contest. This put the whole
matter in an other position, and Mr., Rich
ter announced that he would send the
appointments to Council tonight, This
caused intense excitement, particularly in
the Fifth Ward, which gave Col. Britton
large majority, and the politicians who
had labOrcd hard for BrittOn's election
asserted that he and he alone was Mayor
and that he should make his own appoint.
ments. Some feeling was aroused and viO-
lcncc was apprchended, A large crowd Of
excited men were around the City
Hall all day discussing the mat.
ter aud strong force Of police
on duty to preserve order When the
Council convened tonight tho hall was
packed full Of men from all parts Of the
city, many Of whom il is asserted went
there with tho avOwGd purpose Of driv-
ing the members OF the Council from the
chamber II Richter sent in the appoint
ments and they undertook to net upon
them. A large number Of police were
on hand to meet any emergency, and eighty
armed men were held in reserve at head.
quarters to render such aid as might he
required. After the Council was called
to order, message from Mr.. Richter,
stating that counsel had advised him that
the law did not require him under
the circumstances to make appointments
at this time. lie therefore would not
send in any names. lie declared however
that he wished 1t distinctly understood
that he was not and would not he intimi-
dated by the excited conduct and Clamors
Of any class OF men. lie ebeieved that the
interests Of the city did not require the
appointments to be made now, and in
view OF this and the gentleman who Is to
serve rs Mayor for the next two years
should make his own appointments,
he had concluded to leave the matter
with him. This had happy effect upon
the crowd and they Immediately began to
leave the hall. The Council then ap.
pointed committee to hear the tcsli-
mony in the contested case, which will
commence tomorrow, and after transact.
ing some routine business adjourned.
4 large crowd remained around the
City Hall an hour or two after the ad.
journment Of Council, talking over mat.
tcrs and spcculating over the probable re-
suit Of the contest, but no unruly con.
duct was INDUCED in, and finally they all
quietly dispersed.
Mr.. Talbot, one OF the men injured by
the falling Of m elevator, died this even.
ing, and Sherrcr and Ebcr nrc expected to
die