St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-13
POOR WILLIAM PITT.
City Attorney Murray Be-
trayed by the Man He
Thought His Friend.
Alderman Book Couldn't
Stand the Racket Made by
Irate Republicans.
Whipped Into Line by Presi-
dent Bickel, He Votes
Against Murray.
Nine Republican Votes Cast
for Oscar E. Holman, for
City Attorney.

Oscar E. Holman received the votes
of nine Republican aldermen, a major
ity of the board, at the special session
held last night, and was declared elected
to the office of corporation attorney,
vice William Pitt Murray. Time
was called by President Bickel. of the
city council, promptly at7:3O last night,
and the warning factions of the honor
able board INDUCED in two highly inter
esting and spirited rounds that were
contested to draw. When Clerk
Prendergast called the roll all the
members were found to be in
their respective corners with the excep-
ton of Aldermen Hamm and Melady.
After some cautious sparring Aid. Sail
born led out with motion that the body
proceed to the election of "a corporation
attorney. but was adroitly countared by
Aid. Cullen, who inquired if all the
members were present. A negative
answer being received, the repre-
sentative of the Seventh ward with
drew his motion and retired in
good order, miscellaneous business
being reSorted to until the abSenteeS
were seated. Aid. Sanborn then took
the floor again, apparently resolved to
rush the fight, and again offered his
motion, adding that the election be by
viva yoca vote. Aid. Gehan here got in
a clever blow with his little resolution,
in which it was resolved that the action
OF the meeting of March 5, when Will
lam Pitt Murray was declared elected
by vote of fifteen to two, be ratified.
The council cOuldn's see it that way.
however, ana the resolution was
to eight, Aid. Cullen. " Coni Hey.
Gehan, Hamm, Kavanagh, Minca.
Melady and Yoerg voting yea" and
Aid. Blom, Book, Fischer, Leithauser,
Pratt, Sanborn; Sullivan, Weber and
President Bickel voting ''nay" 81 OBJ
Ject to the motion for a reelection"
shouted Aid. Melady, but President
Blckel emphatically sat down upon the
Sixth ward representative, remarking:
Il decided at the last meeting that the
first election was illegal and sustain the
motion" II would like. to know" SAID
Aid. Yoerg, IF the president is Judge
here?" The chair did not deign
to notice the insinuation, but
called for the original motion of Aid.
Sanborn for proceeding with the cleo
ton. Aid. Gehan here arose to explain
that he couldn't see the necessity of an
election, as he had offered a resolution
at the laSt.meeting declaring Mr.. Muir
rays election, which passed by a vote
of Is to 2. Aid. Hamm stated that he
would vote no on the question of pro-
ceeding with the election, taking the
position that an election had already
been held under the law, and that the
council has no right to pass upon the
conStitutionality of the statutes. The
motion was subsequently passed bv a
vote of to s, and nominations were
called for. Here Aid. -......
SANBORN AGAIN MADE A RUSH
on his opponents that staggered them
for some time. Hestated that a week
before ne had nominated man
for city attorney, but that the
gentleman had withdrawn, his
action said to be on account
OF his defeat. 81 now arise" he said,
Ito nominate another man - a
tried. true Republican. steady
conscientious attorney. and a man who
Will I'LL the position with credit to him.
self and the city," closing by presenting
the name of Oscar E. Holman. The
nomination was seconded by Aid. Weber.
Aid. Y0erg was the first to recover from
the surprise, and came to the front, saw
ing: Il don't see the use of proceeding
to an election. If we have elected
Mr.. Murray illegally, it was lille
gal last year, and the. whole
work of the the year is Illegal.
We refuse to make any nomination"
The roll was then called, Aid Blom,
Book, Fisher, Leithauser, Pratt. San
Bickel voting for Mr.. Holman: Aid,
Cullen, Conley. Gehan and Minea yot-
ing for William Pitt Murray; and Aid.
Hamm, Kavanagh, Melady and Yoerg
refusing to vote. LAS we seem to have
no candidate" said Aid. Cullen in ex-
planning his vote, II voted for Mr..
Murray, but l believe the action of
the council tonight is wrong.'
Aid. Hamm said: Il decline to
vote. and take the ground that [ have
already fulfilled my duty" The vote
was announced and Aid. Cullen took
the floor. saying: ''NIr. President, is
this constitutional election or not??''
The question was unanswered, when
Aid. Yoerg jumped to his feet and as
serted that he didn't believe the court
knew, adding as he sat down: II be-
| lieve he is totally incompetent to Judge.
Here Aid. SaHborn again came to
| the front and called his opponents
down, alleging that they were out
| of order and treated the chair with
| great disrespeet. Thus ended round
the first, and as the Murray faction re-
turned to their corners decidedly
| groggy, the president announced that
| other business would be taken up. AS
! he did so William Pitt Murray, who had
throughout the harangue maintained
an impressive silence with good effect,
BROUGHT HIS TEETH TOGETHER
on the half-conSumed cigar stub. took
up his well-worn silk hat and silently.
| mournfully passed out into the night
air. Business was resumed again. and
the antagonists had scarcely regained
their wind when the bond of City Attor-
ney Murray, signed by Henry Ii. Sibley
and r. W. johnson, came up for ac-
ceptance. Aid. Sanborn at once moved
that it be referred to the committee on
ire department. and an audible
litter came from the lobby. Aid. Yoerg
couldn't see the necessity of such action
and moved that the bond be accepted.
lively set-to again resulted. in which
Aids. Sanb0rn, Yoerg and Hamm partic-
ipated with honors easy. Aid. Melady
finally moved that the motion he
| amended and the bond referred to the
committee On ways and means. Aid
Sanborn accepted the amendment. and
| the bond was SO referred. This closed
| the stubbornly-fought contest and the
members passed out one at time. won
dering which side was victorious, and