Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-20
Board of Councilmen.

 Finishing the Business for the Year
 The New Election In the Eleventh Ward
 Not Ordered ed-CompIimentary Resolu-
 ttons to President O'Keefe.
 A special meeting of the Board of Council men was held last evening President O'Keefe in the chair.
 Communication from City Clerk Pigott, asking that he have power to hire a proper person to index records, the pay to be fixed by the Board of Finance, was read
 Councilman Cushing thought the matter should be referred to committee to decide whether it was the duty of the City Clerk to do this work
 Councilman Sargent said as he understood the matter it was for work done by previous clerks and not by the present one.
 Councilman Twiss said that there was need of this work being done, as he had found by actual observation. He understood that it was only the work of past clerks. He was in favor of the passage of the order.
 Councilman Benton favored the proposi- ton.
 On motion of Councilman Lawton the mat ter was referred to the Board of Finance with power to act
 Resolution-That gates be provided at the Chapel street drawbridge; passed.
 Order that the Board of Public Works cause layout for the widening and extension of Temple street, from George to Commerce street; passed.
 The final report of the joint special con- mittee on water, stating that a contract had been made with the Water company as direct ed by the Court of Common Council and recommending that five hundred copies be printed for distribution, was read.
 Councilman Barnes moved to amend by printing the contract in the next City Year Book
 Councilman Twiss thought the cost would not be over $50 for printing the pamphlets.
 Councilman Barnes said he had no obiec- ton to its being published in pamphlet form, but he also desired that 1t be published in the Year Book. This was agreed to, and the motion as amended passed.
 The election of officers in the Eleventh ward was taken up.
 The resolution calling for new election on the Fist of December, and afterward changed by the Board of Aldermen to the 30th of the same month, was read and 8 motion to concur was made.
 Councilman Lawton moved that the mo- tion to hold an election on the 30th of De- cember be laid on the table. The vote was taken by rising vote and carried by vote of IT to 15.
 The report of the committee de gates at Argyle and Division streets reported that the crossings had not been accepted and as the street was to be lowered action should be de- ferred; passed.
 Report of the clerk of the City Court for the month of November was read and or dered on file.
 Report of the Board of Public Works showing the cost of sewers and pavements in various streets was read and referred to the board of compensation for the assessment of sewers and pavements.
 Several adverse reports of the Committee on Claims (published last week. were read and petitioners were given leave to with draw.
 Resolution relating to the tie vote for Al :. derman in the Eleventh ward, and recom- mending that as considerable doubt existed in regard to the legality of the election and the right of the Court of Common Council to call for a new election, that the matter be re- ferred to the next Court of Common Council.
 Councilman Benton denounced the resolu- hon as piece of demagogism. He said the Corporation Counsel had decided that an election could be called for the 30th of the present month and His Honor the Mayor had said he would call the election at that time if SO ordered. He said it was simply scheme to prevent the Alderman in the Eleventh ward from having voice in the selection of commissioners next year.
 Councilman Barker replied and said that he scorned any insinuation that he or his colleagues would deprive the Alderman in the Eleventh ward from participating in the selection of commissioners He had no sympathy in any such movement, and would scorn to participate in it. He said if there was any doubt about the legality of this reso- lution the fault must be laid to the door of Republican legislators. He said he was not here to stir up strife in the Board whose term of office was now drawing to close.
 Councilman Gushing thought the charter was plain in regard to calling an election in case of tie.
 Councilman Wilson said that the Board should strive to be honest to others while striving to be honest themselves in the dis charge of their duty.
 Councilman Twiss said he was taken by surprise at the action of his Democratic col leagues this evening, as he had no doubt about the passage of the resolution as pre- sented by the Board of Aldermen. He said that in the resolution under discussion there was grave doubts. He read from the charter to show that the Common Council had the power to call elections and fix the time for holding the same. MT. Twiss called upon MT. Barker to tell him how,an election could be tided over until the next Court of Common Council under the present charter and said if he could not do this, then he must say that it was not the gentleman's honest conviction, but that he had been influenced by others in the course he had taken. He believed that unless an election was held during the pres ent year, it could not be held until year from the last election.
 Councilman Barker replied and said that his opinion was that if at the opening of the new Court of Common Council the clerk an nounced that there was @ vacancy in the Eleventh ward new election could be held. If it could be shown that the Eleventh ward would be deprived of representation then that would change the phase of the whole matter but he did not understand this to be the case
 Councilman Benton said the gentleman from the Fifth Barker) admitted that the citizens of the Eleventh ward would be de- prived of their vote for commissioners and he moved to indefinitely postpone the resoIu- ton.
 The motion of Councilman Benton was lost by party vote of 17 to 15.
 Councilman Lawton said he had no doubt but that an election could be called to take place fifteen days after the incoming of the new Board of Aldermen.
 Councilman Benton asked the Democratic members of the Board to get up and say that the purpose of this vote was to deprive the voters of the Eleventh ward from representa- tion in the selection of commissioners. He desired that they should be put upon record on this question. That was all
 Councilman Twiss moved that the resolu- ton be amended so as to make the election occur on the 30th of December, in accord ance with the vote of the Board of Alder men. He advocated his motion in an able speech. He afterward withdrew his amend mant.
 Councilman Benton raised the point Of or der that the resolution referring the election Tn the Eleventh ward to the next Court of Com mon Council was new business and therefore could not be acted upon except by unani- nous consent
 The chair, after consideration, decided the point well taken.
 motion to take the resolution from the table ordering a new election in the Eleventh ward was then made.
 The motion was lost by party vote of IT to 15.
 Councilman Benton-That settles it.
 The estimates for 1882 were then taken up. Those for the police, fire and health depart ments and sundry account as passed by the Board of Aldermen were adopted.
 In the estimates of the road department those for sewers, $3O, ,50o.0o, and for dam ages at East Rock Park, $30,000, were tenn porarily tabled. After the estimates were Tassed ur,0n these were taken up, and Coun-