New-York tribune., 1884-02-28
4 SERIOUS MUNICIPAL TANGLE.
THE BALTIMORE COUNCIL ILLEGALLY CONFIRM a
TAX COLLECTOR AND OTHER APPoINILEs'
LEY TELEGRAPH IIIE TRIBUNEl

THE BALTIMORE COUNCIL DLthAllsh tO-'''
TAX COLLECTOR AND OTHER APPoINTEEs'
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSEI
BALTIMORE. Feb 27.-The municipal af1airS
n, this cy are getting as thoroughly mixed as those OF
New Orleans during the reconstruction era Inc IN
decent haste shown the endeavor to legislate fe
Marshal Helskel out OF Office for the purpose vi se"e
the department into the hands OF friends OF the huteu
fire commissioners before their trial came on, was 'ne
openng of a remarkable series OF proceedings ana inc r
Suits promise to be exceedingly serious The whole bus
ness of the Tax Office may be thrown into CONFUSION
Dozens OF legal controversies affecting real estate andun
told DELAY i'm the collections OF threaten TO ensae'
and all for the qualification OF the revenge OF apon
Of some politicians, and the cupldty OF others
BY law ali the Mayors appointments must be cohhrmeo
before the expiration OF February or the present IN
cumbents hold over The boltng reform members refuse
to return to the Council The Mayor wanted the city la"
officers Poe and Veazey TO say simple majority con-
sutes a quorum in Council They refuse and resign Ihe
ring lawyer appointed instead an opinion as desired
The Council last night. without legal quorum con-
frmed 40 appointments OF the Mayor, including the
City Collector Health Commissioner and six directors on
the part of the city the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company.
In the last campaign Il was publicly charged by the re-
formers. and never denied, that the Baltimore and
Ohio furnished 100000 to Latrobe's campaign fund IN
consideration of which he was 10 make Edward Higgins
tber man CITY Collector most important position con-
paying Protests from prominent townsmen, euins i T
the president and secretary OF the Democratic Cl
utve Committee against such an appolntIne were ~
no avail Higgins confirmed last night. Inc eg,l- %
y of the Councils action will be tested before the courts
In the meantime a lively fight will take place between
the old officials and those thus traudulenty app0nu
over possessio of the offices. General Henry y Iayor
the efficient CITY Collector said to-day regafdhg
fhe action of the Council upon Mr.. Higgnss cOnnins-
ton: ,---, A. Al.
"The question viii be serious drawback 10 inc inc
collection of taxes because the people Will be chaiy
as 10 how they settle their dues 10 the
city, while legality Of the City Collector connatl3n
s in question: for receipt given by an officer llegaK
elected would he valid myself would not settle Dli
OF my own under such circumstances. Inc IgaHy Oh
the tax sales would also be dspued and with numbers OF
lawyers watching these sales closely for flaws III OdsI
that they may get cases, it is plain that the CITY wOu
have hard time in collecting back dues in TINS way,
prominent Democrat, lawyer, who mas Deen luentl-
fled the regulars ard who believed their actl0n IN
making a majority a quorum Illegal, says; II DeuoVe
that never before in the history OF this state ana ey
were appointments OF the Governor or the state ana
Mayaf Of the city thoroughly dictated by tue ring
than during this year. II the desth-knel OF the
regulars and tue election OF an independent Mayor
Iatrobe will never be Mayor now"