Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-04
THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
ORGANIZED FOR rrE NEW YEAR

ORGANIZED FOR rpE NEW YEAR
Democratlc City Officers Elected for the
FIRST Time Under the New Charter.
The meeting and organization of the
new councils this morning was notable
from the fact that, for the first time since
the new city charter was adopted and the
present Serrymandering districting was ef-
fected, the Democrats had clear majority
on joint ballot aud We're tllrs able to Sc
cure the city officers, OF whom they rot a
part last year only by some Republican
defections. For some time spirited, but
good Eatured and highly honorable can
vass has been conducted for these within
the party lines, and although the caucus
on Saturday night " settled it," the men,
bers pledged themselves to secrecy and
kept their own cOunsels so well that even
until this morning contradictory reports
were aflOat as to who had really been
chosen.
The hour for the assembling Of the cOun-
ellis, however, found few spectators pre-
sent, and scarcely anybody except the
members Of the upper body were present
ut the organization of
select Council.
MIR. Geo. W. Zechcr acted rs president
p,o. ten and ]. X. Barr, as temporary
clerk. The result Of the mum ,ipal cleo
tions was read, showing that MI.
c. n. Bituer had been elected
from the Fifth ward, to succeed
A. J. Eberly. thlt Mr.. George Berger sue
ceed VIM. Sales from the Seventh, and
Mr.. Philip Zecher took the place made va
cant by the expiration CT John 4. BOr-
ing's term. The holding over members
are : Mr.. D'err Qs.), First ward !; Mr..
Evans (R.), Second ward !; Mr.. Barr (R.),
Third ward; Mr.. Geo. NJ. Franklin (R.),
Fourth ward Mr.. Zecher ID. }, Sixth
ward Mr.. Judith (D.), Eighth ward.
The political complexion Of the body is
thus changed from six Republicans and
three Democrats to five Republicans and
four Democrats.
The returns were approved and Messrs.
Bitner, Berger and Zechcr were qualified
and subscribed.
On the nomination Of Mr.. Barr, select
council unanimously reelected II. A.
Evans, president, AMI upon Mr.. Evans's
nomination j. X. Barr, esq, was rc-elect-
ed clerk without opposition. Each Of the
officers made briefspeecbes Of thanks and
promises to perform their duties with fidel-
ity and impartiality.
The mayors message, announcing the
re-appOintment of the present police force,
&C., was received and ordered to be re-
ferretl to the committee on executive ap.
pOintnscnts when appointed.
Messrs. Zecher and Franklin were ap-
pointed committee to notify common
council that select council was organized
Sl.vt ,,,t.N
elect city officers.
Common Council.
At ten o'clock precisely Mr.. Herbert
Johnston, clerk of the last common coun-
Gil, took the chair, and announced that
a.reeably to the provisions Of the act of
assembly the body would now proceed to
effect an organization for the ensuing
year and called for nominations for i tenn
porary presiding officer.
DR.. Davis, OF the FIRST ward, was named
and by u rira roce vote was called to tho
chair.
Clerk Johnston read the returns Of the
recent municipal election, as declared by
the judges OF the court and attested by
tine prothOnotary, from which it appeared
that the gentlemen whose names were
published i'll the lNTELLIGENCER on We'd
ucSuuy IttSt I.bit OCCu uuIy ClCCtCst uCul.
berS of common council.
On motion council then proceeded to
nominate Candidates for president. Sir.
DR.. LcvergOod, president of the last COM
mon council. Mr.. Franklin, Of the Fifth
ward, nominated Dr.. Davis, OF the First
ward The clerk called the roll and the
Democratics voted for DR.. LevergOod, tho
Republicans and Hays und.) for DR.. Da-
Wis. Mr. Middleton (Rep., Second warlD
voted for Dr.. LevergoOd, but subsequently
announced that he had voted under u
misapprehension, and desired his vote to
be recorded for DR.. Davis, the Repub-
lican candidate. Mr.. Lcib ey (Rep., Fourth
ward) who was not present ut the first roll
call, nOr when the vote was taken, ap-
peared later, and by consent his vote was
recorded in favor OF DR.. Davis, the vote
thus standing, LsveryOod u, Davis IL.
DR.. LevcrsoO1 was declared elected, and
Messrs. Johnson and Hays were appointed
Il committee to escort him to the chair.
On rCsum;ng the gavcl which he has
welded during the past year, President
LevergOOd returned his thanks to the
members OF council for the compliment
and the testimonial of their good will i'm
piled in his re election. AS in the past he
had eirleavursd to discharge the duties Of
the chair with-entire impartiality he would
in the future pursue the same course.
There is al old adage, said the doctor,
that ''t,xes go up but never 20 down"
He hoEed that the present councils would
make it their business to endeavOr to dis
prove the truth OF this saying. During
the year that is just past the exigencies Of
the occasion had necesSitaIed an increase
of the tax rate from seven to nine mills.
BY prudence and common sense he hoped
and expected to see that rate reduced to
the old figure OF seven or even six mills on
the dollar He did not propose to detain
the attention Of council by any extended
remarks, and concluded by d compliment
airy allusiOn to the industry and capacity
of the young and efficient secretary (Mr.
Johns ton seated on his right, whom he
supposed would feel constrained to say
few words to council at this time.
MAKE your bow" said the president
to the clerk. as he finished speaking,
whereupOn MIR. Johnston blusled q rosy
red, and nudging the worthy doctor with
his left elbow doubtless suggested that
the time had as yet hardly arrived for him
to speak.
"True enough" calculated the presi-
dent, autlibly; "the clerk thinks he
tempting to address the council" At
this smile spread over the body. Where
upon motion was made and carried to go
into al election for clerk.
Mr. johnson, of the Sixth ward, nOmi-
mated Mr.. Herbert Johnston, clerk of the
last council. DR.. Davis nominated Mr.. z.
l. LII Al