Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-16
STILL HUNT IN ETNA.
Move TO Unseat Burgess Martin as
President of Councils.
PAPERS ABOUT READY FOR COURT
A Decision to Ie Asked for Some Time
Turing This Week.
POLITICS MIXLD UP IN THE MATTER

A still hunt is being made for Burgess
Martins seat In the Etna Councils. Be-
fore this week is out papers will be pre-
sented to the courts asking for his removal.
So quiet are the actions by his opposers
that even the people Of his own town, with
very few exceptions. know nothing about it.
Sometime ago Judge Stowe handed down
decision in the case of the chief magis-
trate of Duquesne borough. The Judge
held that borough Burgess was not en-
titled to a seat in Councils where six Coun-
cilmen had been elected. Since that time
numerous little municipalities have been
considering tn. advisability of getting rid
of this superflous office holder. None of
them, however, have taken any steps in the
matter but Etna.
About ten days ago the Etna Council met
and then an effort was made to oust Bur-
CESS Martin. But, as one of his friends
said yesterday, ''The Councilmen who had
the matter in charge lost their heads at a
critical moment and we came out in the
Lead
Won't Walt on the Supreme Court
The Borough Solicitor at that meeting
advised the Burgess to hold Office until the
Supreme Court gave a decision in the
matter. This was supposed to have ended
the case. There are some people In Etna
who think waiting for Supreme Court
decision is slow proceeding. In this case
they could not get an answer before next
January, and that is a good while, espe-
cially WREN there Is some politics mixed up
in the matter One or two of these Etna
people are Councilmen and the others citf-
Zens. For week or more they have been
quietly working on the removal of Burgess
Martin. One attorney has been procured
and negotiations are being made for the
services of another. Already some of the
papers have been prepared and the balance
ton received yesterday these documents
will be presented to the court some
time this week, possibly by Wednesday.
There is some talk as to what Judge this
case will be brought before. gentleman
who can speak authoritatively yesterday
said Judge Stowe was desired, as he Thought
the question would be quickly disposed of if
that jurist had the making OF the decision.
Other friends of the movement say it will be
immatertal what Judge hears the case.
Judge Stowe has already made n decision,
and they thought it was altogether probable
any other Allegheny county Judge would
be of the same mind.
The Burgess Is in No Hurry.
Another question arises which the ousters
of Burgess Martin are not altogether IA
miliar with. Even if the Allegheny Courts
shall decree that Mr.. Martin must vacate
his Office, the question confronts them, will
he do it before the Supreme Court has had
chance to give its opinion? They say,
though, they will be ready to cope with
this difficulty when it comes. 1t will surely
come, for Burgess Martin has publicly de-
clnred he will not give up his office until the
State tribunal so decides.
If stories be true the decision OF Judge
Stowe made a much longed for loop-hole
through which the opposers of the Chalfant
section of Etna Republicans could fire their
guns. There exists in Etna two political,
factions, Charles Chalfant. of Spang, Chal-
FAINT & Co., is the acknowledged leader of
one, while the other is made up of a large
number of citizens OF Etna who are un-
friendly to him. 1t generally turns out in
the borough elections that the former side
scores the victory. Burgess Martin is said
to he with the Chalfant people, as arc sew
eral of the Councilmen. The story goes that
it is not so much to get rid OF Mr. Martin as
it is to curtail the power of the Chalfant
people.