Daily Republican., 1885-07-01
City Council.

| "A nPNCioi mcctiuB OI lilly COunc1
was held last evening, with Presiden
Farra In the chair, to take action OF
the petition Of James Lynn to have
the ballot-box of the Twenty seconC
election district opened, and the vote,
counted. There was a large number O
spectators present, and the space out
side the railing was packed. Th,
opinion of the City Solicitor was read
to the effect that If the box was opened
it would not be legal to count an,
ballots, except those cast for mem her,
of Council.
Mr.. Merris Taylor offered preamble
and resolution, setting forth tha'
James Lynn, the con testant, had fail !;
to state In his petition the grouud,o !
the contest as required by the So
charter, merely asserting that he verb,
be lieved that he was elected, and re-
solving that as the petition was no,
made out according to law, it should
be dismissed.
| He moved the adoption AZ til.
preamble and resolution, az Eaid il
would be remembers II al q
previous meeting he had reu thai
he scarcely knew what cou vnur.
sue in this matter, but nc tai.
| ing legal advice, he had the
conclusion that this was - Duld
be done at present, Mfssosaoo 20 has
plenty of time before the expiration of
the thirty days prescribed by law to
have his petition made out in proper
form.
Mr.. Baynard said in reply that eyerv
word said by Mr.. Taylor might be true.
but for the lite of him he could not see
how this matter was to be got at in an '
other way than by opening the bog. and
counting the ballots. Any two man
could go inside of window with their
minds made up not sign the Ia lily sheets
and thus prevent any one from being
declared elected. He mad heard If
stated, but did not know if it was true.
that TWO OF the Inspectors declared be-
fore the election that Mr.. Lynn
should not take his seat in
Council. Mr.. Lynn does not
make any allegat atious of fraud; all he
wants is to have the ballots counted.
and he thought he had q right to that.
MIR. Hawkins said that he would like
Mr.. Taylor to quote the law relating to
this matter, aud that gentleman then
read the section of the charter relating
to contested elections.
Mr.. Baynard replied that if he under
stood the law Alright, it provided for a
man contesting a Feat in Council, which
he was prevented from occupying, but
last Tuesday night Mr.. Tay lor presen ted
petition Of contest from Mr.. Barnhill,
who is now seated in Council. Such q
. 1ing he did not think had ever been
done before. He concluded by making
An earnest appeal to have the ballots
counted, and assf rted that Mr.. Taylor
was trying to prevent the voters Of the
Twenty-second district from having q
voice in the election Of q memu of
Council.
Mr.. Hawkins also maintained that
the votes should be counted, and as
serted that they were all in the ball, t
box.
the resolution was in order. Mr.. Farra
ruled that the vote of Council would
settle that. Mr. Moore called for the yeas
and nays, which were taken, and re-
suited in Is Democratic ayes and 8 Re-
publican nays.
MAYOR RHoADS QUALIFIED.
Mr.. Merr:s Taylor moved that as the
Mayor and Mayor-elect were in the
ante room, q committee of three be
to escort them into the cham.
ber. Upon the motion being carried,
ried, the chair appointed Messrs Tay
lor, Farrell and Bsyuard as the COM
mittee. The Mayor and Mayor elect
were then escorted to the Presidents
platform, when Mayor Wales, in a
solemn and impressive manner, admin
istered the oath of office to Mayor. elect
Rhoads, who responded in an emphatic
manner will" which was received
with applause by the spectators. "You
have my hearty sympathy said Mayor
Wales, amid the laughter of all who
heard it. Council then adjourned.