Evening star., 1893-10-30
STILLED BY DEATH.
Elaborate Ceremonies Closing the
Fair Abandoned. -
RESPECT HOMAYOR HARRISONS MEMORY
Views Vary Regarding the Question
of Succession.
THE FUNERAL WEDNESDAY.

THE FUNERAL WEDNESDAY.
| CHICAGO, Oct. 3O.-Today the white city
at jackson Park Is quiet in honor of Chi
cago's dead mayor The ceremonies which
were planned to close the life Of the exposi-
ton in a blaze of glory were yesterday
stricken away by the order Of Director Cen
eral Davis, after he had conferred with lead
ing members Of the local directory and of
the national commission. Instead Of ora
tory, music and fetes. and the fluttering of
thousands of banners. there is everywhere
the evidence Of silent regret. The great ex-
position will merely close by limitation of
the act of Congress; the flags will remain as
they were all day yesterday, at half mast,
but at sunset the national salute of twenty
one guns will be fired. not amid applause.
but as an announcement that the nations
fair has officially closed
| The big meeting in Festival Hall, which
had been planned for speeches Of congratu-
Iauon and OF presenting to foreign commits
sloners the evidences Of the success Of their
exhibitors, has been abandoned so far as
those features are concerned. When the in
vited guests and the public reached the hall
1t was to hear resolutions Of regret over the
taking away of Carter Harrison. The cere-
monies were simple and impressive, for they
ended with the adoption of the resolutions,
and then the organdst played solemn music
while the audience departed.
While there Will be no ceremonies today
the grounds and buildings are open as
| usual. There Is no wish to keep people
| away. but merely that there shall be no
demonstration. The buildings will be open
nd fhArA ~
mination about the grand basin, but no
| band concerts will be given.
Views Regarding the Succession.
There seems to be great diversity of opin-
ion yet In reference to the powers Of the city
council In the matter of the vacancy caused
by the death of Mayor Harrison There is no
provision Of the statute dealing directly
with the question. Some Of the lawyers and
some of the aldermen hold that section Is,
article 2. covers the case
| 1t says: During a temporary absence or
disability Of the mayor the city council
snail elect one of it's number to act as
mayor pro tem., who. during such absence
mayor" "a 'ie
Inc aldermen determined to act on the
WIDEST Interpretation of this. They will
PproDaoy do nothing until after the mayors
iuneral Wednesday. They met this morn
ing at II O'Clock. to arrange for the funeral
| WI men they meet in the afternoon thew will
not no transact any business, but adjourn until
| SOME Qay In the latter part of the week
Thursday or Saturday, when they probabiy
WILL eject mayor pro TEN.
| ins general opinion is that the choice
sa ~ou,a iall upon Alderman Madden of the
fourth ward. AS chairman of the finance
committee he Is the recognized leader of
tne council He will probably be the choice
OF OF majority of the republicans, while at
| the same time he will be acceptable to a
majority Of the democrats -
me most important thing that can en-
gage the attention Of a mayor of Chicago
Garihs H ing tne next thirty or fifty days will
OF the city with the worlds fair directora te
Alderman Madden Is perfectly familiar
with these matters.
| A Popular Belief
Popular belief among city officials and
aldermen has been that the controller
would become the head Of the city govern
ment on the death or disability of the
mayor. Examination of the charter. how
ever, convinced the heads of the city de-
partments that the contingency was un-
provided for except through the calling Of
a special election.
seems to recognize the controller as
sort of vice mayor. and the head of the
most important department Of the city
government. 1t fails however to clothe
him with the power to transact any city
business in the absence of specially dele
gated power as chief executive. In the
absence Of the legal successor Of the mayor,
in case Of the latter's disability, the
mayors signature is necessary to all war
rants and legal proclamations, as well as
veto messages. At present the city corpora
ton is without a head
| will the election Of a permanent success
sor to Mr. Harrison be thrown into the
council?' was asked the controller.
Not as l understand the intention Of the
charter. The aldermen Will meet today at
10 O'Clock, and 1 hope they will choose an
active head of the government and provide
for a special election. The only trouble to
be feared Is that they may get into a dead
lock and delay matters. By mandamus
proceedings they might be compelled to
pass an ordinance calling for a special cleo
ton"
SHOULD they fail, could you transact
business until an appointment could be
made?"
'At other times, during the absence Of
the mayor, the controller has signed war
rants and proclamations, but 1t has been
only by virtue Of power delegated by the
executive. 1t is a custom that has grown
and strengthened by age According to
law. however, the mayors name must ap-
pear on warrants and other municipal pa
pers. and although I place it there in the
absence Of the mayor 1t Is only by his
authority. and with Mr. Harrison dead I
| could be presumed to have no such power
The charter provides for no such contin-
gency as the present, and the solution
seems to be the appointment Of a mayor
pro tenn. by the council and a subsequent
| choice by the people at a special election"
Corporation Counsel Kraus. after a par
tial study Of the statutes. is inclined to the
opinion that no Jaw exists comforting
authority on the council under the present
circumstances to elect an acting mayor.
| 'It is true" said Mr.. Krause. that pro-
| vision is made for electing a mayor in such
a as now confronts us. but the stat
utes absolutely silent to who shall
perform the duties Of mayor in the inter-
| venine time between the death Of the may
| or and the regular election Of his success
sor at the special election.
| MY judgment inclines to this course
that the council should, at once. tomorrow
night. possibly. elect figurehead. an act
ING mavor. nominally, II you please. but
still flgurehead. to act in a mere minis
terial capacity. whose duties would be lim-
tied to an infinitesimal extent who should
| not sign or veto ordinaces Of importance
or any ordinances at all. for that matter
II it could be avoided. lest complications
NAV arise involving the city in expense