Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-14
WAITING FOR A QUORUM.
Last Nights Council Meet G Fails t,
Materialize
SECURING THE CITY FOR ABSeNTEtS.
President Lowry and Eight Demo-
Gratis Hold the Fort and
Patiently Wait for
Daylight.
There's big row on in the council.

lhere's big row on in the council.
AT O'Clock last night, when Pres idcnt-
elect Lowry called the meeting 10 order.
nine democrats were present, but not "a re-
publican was in sight. Mr. Cooper demo-
crat, was,also absent, leaving one man short
of a quorum.
The members present formed themselves
into groups with interested spectators and
wondered what it all meant
President Lowry announced that the Coun-
Gil had met for business ana would remain
while the sergeant-atarms went out and cap
tured a few absentees.
Ed O'Conner, the new sergeant-at- arms,
made sortie, but returned in half an hour
with the report that the other nine members
OF the council were supposed to be dead.
well camp right here until quorum is
secured II 1T takes until tomorrow night, or
until Saturday night,n said President Lowry,
and the crowd In the lobby cheered
cards were produced and the members of
the council who were present, with their
friends, soon had half dozen high five games
in full blast
During the progress of the card contests
the cause of the shortage of members, numer-
lcally speaking, was discussed. 1t
was was hnally pretty well understood
suit of an effort that is being made
by some of the members of the council to re-
tain Harry Counsman as deputy clerk and
other republicans in the city clerks office
Harry is repu blican and the democrats
want to supplant him by forcing John
Groves, the clerk to appoint democrat. The
appointment of a deputy has to be confirmed
by the council,and Counsman's friends hoped
to win over two republicans by some clever
maneuvering
Mr.. Cooper was compelled to be absent
from the meeting, ana, with Chafee and
Davis out of the city, the other
members in favor of retaining Counsman
saw chance to block the proceedings by
staying out, and probably by this means
force the democrats to compromise.
At2 o'clock Ed O'Connor, the sergeant
alarms, came in, accompanied by Couns-
man, and said he had visited several
OF the councilmen's homes and found that
they were either out of the city or in bed. He
had no authority to break into their houses
and could not bring them to the council
chamber unless he had some means of getting
them out of bed.
"Go and try again. said Lowry.
ut Is no use" said O'Connor ~ am will
ing to do anything reasonable for this coun-
eli, but will not break into mans house to
drag him out here at this hour of the night"
" am member of this cOuncil,n shouted
Elsasser," and demand that the sergeant
alarms be made to obey the chairman or be
discharged
This created a great hubbub and oil the
men in the room were suddenly crowded
around Lowry to hear what should be done
with the sergeant.at-arms
Osthof took O'Connor's part, saying that
1t. was unreasonable and ridiculous to ask
him to go out after the absentees at that
hour.
Counsman ventured to say word in
behalf OF the sergeant-at-arms, and
Councilman Tuttle answered him sharply
The words began to fly hot and
fast, and Counsman became quite angry
Tuttle was on his mettle in flash. Couns-
man pulled his coat, and personal encoun-
ter was only averted by several of the coun-
cilmen stepping between them.
Lowry smoOthed the ruffied edges down by
a few timely words of advice to both, and
then the card tables were made the center of
interest. 1t was generally conceded by all
members of the council, including Elsasser,
that 1t was unreasonable TO expect the SER
geant-at-arms to bring anybody in until
morning.
"As soon as daylight comes,'' said Lowry
to the sergeant-at-arms, ''you will bring in
the absentees. All others will remain here
until we get quorum. Your DEAL" said the
president passing the cards to Tuttle, and on
went the game.