Daily Republican., 1881-03-29
POLITICAL JCGGLERY.
The Democratic COancii FxteBds
their own Terms OF once Fen
MOulhH

Auo D~""sSeie NoUuTht rAtcbu
their own Terms Of once Eel
months
The City Council held q speOia
meeting last night tor the oousidsra
ton OF Mr.. Rodney'S proposed bill
changing the time for holding tn
City election. Every member was Ii
his seat but Mr.. Adams retired shortl.
after Council opened. Clerk Frazs
then read the following resolution
which was offered by Mr.. Rodney a
the last regular meeting Of Courci
and which was referred to the Lsglsls'
tive committee Of which, Messrs Merri
Taylor, Lewis Paynter, R. Il. Taylor
A. P. Bsecher, A. P. Bailey and Presi.
dent Shsrpley were members:
Resolved, That the Legislative Com
mittee are hereby instructed to obtail
an amendment to the city charter
changing the time OF holding the city
election to the first Tuesday in Jun'
for the election Of Mayor, CsuncilmeI
and her city officers; the presen
Mayor to hold Office until the expira
ton OF his term of Office on July lat
1884; the present holding over mem
bers of Council to be continued al
Councilmen until July lst, 1882; and
the new members begin their term o
office on the lSt Of July, 1881, and his
successor to begin his term on that dat'
the election OF the members Of th,
Board of Education to be held at tn,
same time; also, that the charter be 81
amended that the Mayor shall have thu
power to veto all the measures of the
City Council which shall be passed,
and requiring . two thirds vote o
Council TO pass q measure over the veto
that the officers already elected to hold
the election next September be named
to hold the election in June next; also
that the Mayer shall, on stated occs
sions, or at pleasure, make recommen
datioDs TO Council.
The Committee having considered
the resolution unanimously reported
the following slightly amended ss
substitutes:
To the President and members Of City
Council-Gentlsmen.
The Legislative Committee, 10 whom
was referred resolution offered at last
meeting, in relation to the change o
time Of holding the city elections, woulG
report the following recommendation
That the time holding city election
be changed to the second Saturday IL
June, the Council then elected to meet
for organization en- the Tuesday next
following.
The Official term OF mayor and city
treasurer to commence on the first ol
July, aud the term OF the present in.
cumbent be continued until the first
day OF July, 1882.
That the members Of Council whose
terms expire in September ofthe pres
ent year be continued until the first
Saturday in June, 1852, at which time
the first election under this act will be
held, and the members of Council W b. oss
terms expire in September, 1882, shall
hold until the first Saturday in June,
1853.
That the next election for city assess,
ors and collectors be held ou the first
Saturday i'll June, 1884, the persons
then chosento commence their Official
terms on the frat day OF January, 1885.
The committee would further report
that they deem il unadVisabls to recon
mend that the Mayor be vested with the
veto power and that any change be
made in the present mode and time of
holding the school elections. But we
recommend that the Mayor be required
to make an annual report to the City
Council, and authorized to make such
recommendations as he may from time
to time deem proper and necessary.
tSigned MRRRIs TAYLOR,
LEWIS PAYNTER,
r. Ii. TAYLOR,
A. p. BEEcHBR,
A. r. BAILEY,
HARRY SHARPLEY.
Merris Taylor speak, ng to the report
Of the committee said that with the sx- :
oeption Of the veto power and the
school election the bill still retail ned
all its essential features, but instead Of
shortening the length OF the terms for
which the Council and other city officers
had been elec ed, the committse were
unanimous that the least advantage
ment would ensue by extending the
term Of the present City Council and city
ottio re- until the ID Saturday In June.
Mr.. Rodney said that the resolution
he previously offered was in the inter
ests Of reform and ne could not agree
with the amended report Of the CON.
mittee. Though the mere matter of
time for holding the election was Of but
little consequences he considered the
veto power Of the Mayor of the greatest
H. then called attention to the
fact that the original resolution
as he offered it legislated the
City Council himself included out
Of Office two months before their
time expired, but the amended
report of the committee extended the
time ten months, thereby depriving
the people eft the opportunity of saying
by their votes who should be their
rulers and it was consequently undem.
ocratic and unrepublicsn. He suggest
ad that in order to give the members Of
0 unci! time to consider and become
cc1ainted with the routine of Office
before they took their seats, the cleo
ion for Counoilmen, Mayor and City
Treasurer be held Oh the first Saturday. |
n June instead of the Second Saturday
Nr. Rodney was surprised that there
vas any opposition to the resolution,
's he had spoken to at least two mem
oers on the Democratic side of the
House and they had expressed them
'elvas SIS perfectly satisfied with it.
Colonel Taylor-"What two menf"
Mr., Rodney-"I decline to answer"