The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-14
INAUGURATION DAY.
The Democrats Elect a Permanent
Chairman Under Protest.

Date-Mr. Dunn Refuses to Serve in
the Common Council
The new City Government, with the
exception of the Mayor, met yesterday
morning at 10 o'clock for organization.
In Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The Board of Aldermen chose Mr.
Josselyn as temporary chairman, who ap-
pointed as committee on credentials
Messrs. MCGOWAN, Strout and Prince.
The committee reported that seven Gre
dentials for aldermen had been received
and that by these credentials the seven
gentlemen in the seats were elected.
A message was sent to. the lower board
announcing the temporary organization.
The lower board notified the upper
board of it's temporary organization
with the choice of Mr.. W. G.. Chapman
as temporary president
The two boards then went into joint
convention for organization.
When the Board of Aldermen recon-
Yened, Mr.. Josselyn in the chair, the
Mayor absent, the first business in or
der was the election Of permanent
chairman.
Mr.. Brackett nominated Mr.. Guptill
and Mr.. MCGOWAN seconded the nomina-
ton. Mr.. Strout presented Mr.. Josse-
lyn's name and Mr.. Prince seconded the
nomination. The ballot resulted Cup
till, 4; Josselyn, 3.
Mr.. Strout then called the attention of
the Board to section IA of the city char
ter, which reads: "After the organiza-
ton of city government and the quail
.Jicatioe Of q mayor and when a quorum
of the board Of aldermen shall be pres
ent, said board, the aDayor presiding,
shall proceed to choose permanent
chairman . ~ Mr.. Strout moved,
therefore, as no mayor having been
elected and qualified that this board post
pone the election of chairman until af-
ter the election Of mayor.
Mr.. MCGOWAN thought it singular that
the gentleman had not presented this
motion with the reasons fer it before the
vote was taken. Under the rules and
orders it was competent to elect per-
manent chairman and the vote had been
declared.
The chairman said that since the gen.
tleman from six, Mr.. Strout, had shown
the provision in the charter, the action
just taken was null and void.
Mr.. Strout said he might have appeared
dilatory or careless in making his point
known, which rendered the election at
this time of permanent chairman void,
but the fact still remained. During all
cases where the Republicans had been in
power and the mayor absent noticeably
the case of Mayor True--the board had
refrained from electing permanent
chairman until the Mayor was elected.
Mr.. MCGOWAN moved that the board
proceed to vote for permanent chair
man under the rules and orders of the
last city council.
Mr.. Josselyn refused to gentertain the
motion as it conflicted with the city char
ter, which was permanent
Mr.. MCGOWAN moved committee be
appointed to request the present mayors
presence.
Mr.. Josselyn saw no occasion or au-
therity on the part of this board to send
for the mayor.
A message from the lower board was
received requesting joint convention
for the purpose of electing an assessor.
Mayor Ingraham entered the chamber
and took his seat beside the chairman.
Prior to his entrance motion had been
made to adjourn, which was defeated.
The motion was then made by Mr.. No
Gowan that the mayor being present, the
board proceed to elect permanent
chairman.
Mr.. Strout raised the point that the
charter, section IA, referred to the mayor
of the new city government, not the
mayor holding over. He said this not in
discourtesy, or personal at all to the
present mayor, but simply by the con-
struction of the section which said: "Af
ter the organization = y and the
qualification of a mayor" which re-
ferred distinctly to a new mayor since
the present mayor only holds over and
therefore does not have to qualify.
Mr.. McGowan's motion was put by
Mayor Ingraham, who had assumed the
chair, and resulted, Guptill 4. Before
the vote was taken Mr.. Strout entered
his protest against it on the same ground
he had already taken, that it was con-
trary to the provisions of the charter to
take the vote at the present time.
After the vote was declared Mr.. Strout
moved that the board adjourn to Thurs
day evening at 7.3o o'clock, but the vote
failed of passage by party vote.
Alderman Guptill then moved to adj
iourn without date and the board SO
voted by party vote.
In Common Council.