Evening journal., 1889-06-14
POLICE IMATR0N VETOED.
MAYOR HARRINGTON DESIRES TO
MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

Foarth Of July.
City Auditor John M. Newell acted az
clerk of the regular meeting of City
Council last night. in the absence Of
Clerk A. f. Messick.
The petition Of the Masonic Hall Com
pany for fire alarm box in front of the
Opera House was favorably reported
upon by the Fire Committee and the
committee instructed to purchase the
box
The report of the city treasurer was
as follows: Balance in bank to account Of
current expenses, $77, ,43O 95; park fund
$427 o. received Of Collector M. j.
Mealey, 1870; f. p Moody 81 405
An invitation from the joint committee
of the Order of United American Me-
chanics, TO take part in Fourth of July
celebration at Union Street Park, was
read and accepted. M
A communication from the Board Of
Health was read, stating that the resolu-
tion Of Council regarding Hugh MoCon-
nell had been received and laid on the
table.
A motion by Mr.. Roberts that the com
munication be accepted and filed was
lost.
Messrs. Roberts. Quinn and McMena-
min then indulged in few spirited re-
marks and the Communication was re-
ferred TO the Law Committee.
The following communication was read
MAYORS OFFICE, June 10, 1889.
THE COUNCIL
return herewith IAN ordinance to
provide for the appointment of police
matron, which has been submitted 20
me. without my signature, for the fol
lowing reasons
1. While | am in hearty sympathy
with the general object OF the ordinance,
and think that the appointment Of a
police matron would result In much
good, yet | am constrained to refuse to
sign the ordinance because Of the at
tempted limitation which is placed upon
| the mayor in the manner of selecting
such matron should the ordinance be-
come law.
The ordinance provides that "the
mayor shall aud he is hereby authorized
to appoint upon the recommendation of
the associated committee of the societies
for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Chill
dren the new Century Club, the w. O..
7. U. and the Associated Charities a suit
able woman 20 act as police matron at the
police station In the City Hall
You will see by the terms of this pro
vision that the appointment of a police
matron under this ordinance is practic.
ally made by these four societies TO the
exclusion Of every other society OF a
similar character and the chief executive
Of this city Is made the instrument
through which these societies announce
their choice.
By the terms of the city charter the
mayor Is made the chief executive head
Of the city and is solely responsible foi
the character OF the appointment.
This is an attempt TO infringe upon the
authority Of the mayor which, while Il
may be intended 10 operate for good, il
essentially mischievous and will, If per
mitted, serve as a precedent for no enc
of legislative interference with the ap
pointing power of the city.
Again, there is no reason why the fou
societies named in the ordinance shoull
be selected over and above the man
organizations Of a similar character 4
the city.
. If these or any one Of the four societie
D are to be made a coordinate branch {
r the city government, then each and ever
K association in the city Of a charitabl
i character of whatever sect, sex or color
has an equal right to be included,
, The law governing the city does nc
L contemplate any such state of affairs
r makes the executive solely responsible
l. for appointments and he ought not to b
o restricted or embarrassed as he would b
D should this ordinance be attempted to b
put in operation. In fact IL is my opiI
e ion, with all Difference TO Your honorabl
s body, that the provision to which / objec
+ is one that the Council has no right I
Q pass; and that opinion think you wi
find TO be sustained by the Law Depart
o ment Of this city, and that II this ord
nance shall be passed containing such
provision, that as far as relates to tina
+ provision the ordinance would be pei
fectly invalid.
S II is with sincere regret that l fec
j compelled to return the ordinance with
. out my approval, as / am thoroughly /
t sympathy with the general object aime
a at, and had the ordinance not containe
the attempted limitation upon the AZ
q pointing power | should have cheerful,
II signed it and would have been guided i
my selection OF police matron by th
n views and opinions of all persons VIII
with myself are interested in the wei
fare Of the unfortunate people who ma
at any time need the care of such a
official. AUSTIN HARRISGToN,
a Mayor.
It Mr.. Chambers said the clause concern
/, ing the societies had been incorporate
at the request Of City Solicitor Turne
/ Mr.. Turner said that the ordinance wa
IS contrary to law and that he would hay
told the committee so, had he seen i
d Mr. Forrest, chairman of the Law Con
mittee, said that the ordinance had bee
II shown TO Mr.. Turner, who had said sig
s it, without reading it.
A motion to pass the ordinance ov'
Df the mayors veto was lost, only Messr
l. Chambers, Hawkins, Sharkey and Viii
voting aye.
b. Mr.. Quinn gave notice that he won
d. introduce a new police matron ordinani
4. at the next meeting.
n Resolutions to have the clerk make ol
a lists of contracts entered in during u
{. past year; fixing the bonds Of city tax cC
e, iectors at $40 900 and instructing Il
4. CITY surveyor to fix the line of the o
r academy propeety in the Ninth war
3. were passed.
to An ordinance was presented by M
ne Quinn, amending an ordinance prohibi
lis ing the exploding Of fire crackers on Ju
at A. but forbids the explosion of fire arm
1t also gives the mayor power to appoi
la 100 extra police officers on July at
salary of So a day. The ordinance W
read twice and referred to the Law Col
mittee.
At the invitation Of Plumbing InspG
20 tor Kane Council then adjourned to w
"a lis and Mullins restaurant, where q
| rnarahsrc ranraeantativas of the fora