Evening journal., 1888-07-06
COUNCIL MEETS.
DEFEATING MR.. SHARKEY'S
REFORM PROPOSITION.
Councilman Quinn Introduces n
Resolution on ssJudge,s Cummfns.
IL Evokes Number OF Opinions
But All Arc Against EfimA-It
Passes By "A gIg vote.

City Council met last night in regular 1
session. All the members were present |
except Lewis A. Bower OF the 5th ward. |
The session was long and the members IN a |
tslkatlve mood. After the reading OF the
minutes OF the previous meeting, orders |
were directed TO be drawn for S95 for Asa |
Loaand and $l1.25 for First a Dayis |
The special committee on the Fou rth Of
July celebration at OH and Lombard Sta
reported that everything passed Off nicely
Twenty thousand people we're pre- sent and
the committee considered it the most sue
. cessful celebration Of the day ever in this
city.
The Fire Committee was given permis-
sion 20 ask for proposals for placing a
striker In the Weccacoe engine house.
The resolution requiring the chairman
OF the Police COMMITTEES to represent when
the dog catcher kills dogs was reconsidered
and rescinded.
The monthly pay roll OF the members
amounting to sSos. .76 was passed.
Mr.. Quinn of the % ward offered the
following resolution:
Resolved, That on and after the pas
sage of this resolution the clerk OF the
Municipal Court shall report and deposit
with the city treasurer oil moneys due the
city sccruing from fines and costs, or any
other moneys falling into his hands due the
ci ty, on the Thursday following the last
day Of the month";
In urging the passage OF the resolution
Mr.. Quinn said that he did not know the
legal obligations Of the judge OF the NUM-
cipal Court to the City council, but he
thought that the sooner CouRcil arrived at
some conclusion the better. The clerk OF
the court has not given any bond for the
payment OF the money that comes into his
hands. All moneys and fines should be
sent to the city treasurer. Reports have
been deferred for three or four months and
kept in the pocket Of the judge or some one
else. AZ representatives Of the people the
members OF Council have right TO demand
and scrutinize the official action OF every
person connected with the city.
MIR. Quinn said that he endeavored to
perform his duty TO the constituency he
represented and hoped that the resolution
would receive the sanction OF Council. They
had a right TO demand as much from Judge
Cummina as from any miaor official OF the
city ana to demand q settlement when the
time comes
la reply TO Mr.. Hawkins Of the 7th ward
who said that the clerk had given bonds e
the judge, MIR Qainn said he knew that the
clerk OF the Municipal Court was not nov
under bonds as his bond had expired aud
had not been renewed.
Mr.. McGonigaI OF the 4th ward thought
that the judge OF the Municipal Court hat
nothing to do With ths money. He wal
not responsible to Council or the city.
MIR. Quinn replied that the court has
been making returns OF the fines and cost
for years Council might have no jurisdic
tion over the court, but il had over th
. .. clerk. The Council paid hin salary an,
therefore had jurisdiction and as payers o
the employees Of the city government /
had a right 10 question their integrity. A
Z matter that was on the street corner
I should not be kept quiet. The clerk doe
{ not comply with tbs law from the fact tha
he is the creature Of the judge. He dii
not want 20 state there certain facts whicl
he knew.
Mr.. Roberts OF the 9TH ward did not Sc
that the resolution would compel tie clsrl
to comply with the demands OF Council
q The resolution was the same as the laV
D laid down in the city charter.
Mr.. McGonigal thought tho practica
way would be to demand the judge to bon
the clerk. II he wss not bonded the judg
Z was guilty OF a deriiction Of duty.
? Section % OF the city charter was read q
{ the request OF Mr.. johnson OF the Sd ward
Mr. johnson thought that the rcsoiutio
? covered tie same ground as that part {
2 the charter. IC struck him that II was
. resolution against the judge IL was
y family concern.
. A matter that affected the finances {
4 the city, said Mr. Quinn. was a Renerl
!. fight. 81 hold ii is Ia the power Of Il
d Council 10 enforce the matter,n said hl
+ ''the reports are withheld through Il
y judge Of the Municipal Court, and cha
7. lsnge contradiction Continuing, NJ
, Quinn said that the Democrats were in q
majority in Council ana we're therefor
IS responsible for the condition or affair
b The judge himself was the immaculate gC
d Of the whole business. Every dollar thl
% had come into the court in the last thri
ID months mad passed through his hands
n presenting the resolution the Finance Cor
~ mittee had only performed its duty.
p Said the gentleman from tho Sd war
0, If the gentleman, as the member says,
70 the servant Of the judge " by not stril
Of the servant and not the judge; tell him
e. duty. IL bas dragged the whole matter u
3, Have the gentlemen comply with the Ii
e. and that is the end of it.n
v A substitute TO Mr.. Quinn's motion W
tb offered by Mr.. Moore Of the 9th ward,
tn follows:
e- "REsoLvED: That the attention OF &
IS clerk Of the Municipal Courts be called
~ section "a, page 80, Of the city charter, al
-s. that be be instructed to comply with q
Of section.
90 MIR. Chambers OF the 7th ward advocat
I'D the original resolution. he said that {
I'd stockhsiders OF the loan association left {
transaction OF their business 70 their att,
neys and as a consequence many poor m
were thousands OF dollars out 10 day.
y the clerk is bonded to the judge, taxi
y into consideration the financial condition
~ the Judge to day the bonds arelof no use.
Mr.. Baugh of ths LIST ward said that /
" resolution would make the opinion
Council public.
The vote was then taken on the subs
d tute which was lost. Tue vote on {
be original resolution was called and the ay
Il, and nays taken. 1t was carried by a vC
ct of Is TO 8. Messrs johnson, McBrit
Mccall, Roberts. Moore and Farra vos
10 the negative. The clerk OF Coun
Nv was instructed to furnish certified 90
10 of the resolution to the clerk OF the cor
N 10 inw