Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-06

The City Council Of 'oS,5 met for organi,
cation saturday evening. Never before,
probably, did the Council chamber contain
such ayast number OF oilice-seekers, There
was a perfect swarm OF them. Among the
spectators we're Mayor Shortlidge, Water
Commissioner Pickles, Street and Sewer
Director Chambers, City Solicitor Elliott,
City Treasurer Adams, CITY Auditor
Billany, Building Inspector Dohl and ex-
Councilmen McKelvey and Ross.
Mr.. ONeill took the seat formerly occli-
pied by Mr.. Ross, Mr.. Donohoe selected
the seat which MIR. Murray had for Il long
time. Mr.. Griffin chose the seat which he
had in the late Council. Mr.. Meaney en-
sconced himself i'll the seat formerly Occu-
pied by Mr.. Magee. Mr.. Wainwright took
the seat which Mr.. MeNay had. Mr.. Dan
nenberg moved over to the seat which Mr..
Perkins had during the last two years.
: be adorned by Mr.. McKclvey Mr. Stats
chose the seat vacated by Mr.. Dannenberg.
MIR. Kirby took his old seat. Mr. McNulty
F, occupied the seat which formerly belonged
7 to Mr.. Thomas. MIR. Smith took the Seat
vacated by Mr.. White. Mr.. Ratcdse took
possession of the seat heformerly filled.
The first business transacted was the
swearing in of President.elect Perkins, the
oath being administered by Judge Ball.
Next Clerk Hersey read the returns of
the recent city election.
The swearing in of the councilmen-elect
followed the wards being called in rota-
ton and the officials being sworn four at a
time.
Briefly addressing Council President
Perkins said he realized the responsibility
of his position and would ALWAYS endeayor
TO perform his duties impartialv.
MIR. Wainwright moved that a COM
mittee on credentials be appointed and he
and Messrs. Dannenberg and Griffin were
named.
On motion of Mr.. Dannenberg Council
took q recess. 1t was intended to be for
only Is minutes but it lasted nearly an
I hour. The delay was caused by Mr.. Kirby.
Among the lookers.0n it was whispered
that he had brought his marriage certifi-
+ cate in mistake for property deed. Any
how he had gotten hold Of the wrong paper
4 and, to correct his error, he had to Jump
an electric car and chase over Eleventh
street bridge and back.
When Council reassembled the commit
tee reported that it had examined the sew
eral property deeds and certificates of cleo
ton and found them to be correct accord
ing to the city charter.
The concluding business was the filing
OF petition from Francis Michigan, con
testing the election of Mr.. Griffin. Ac-
coInpanying the petition was an affidavit
made before John Craig, notary public
The petitioner represented that he had
been citizen of this State and resident
OF this city for Is years previous to June
Sd last, that he had resided in the Third
ward for seven years, that he was and lisa
freeholder, that he was the Republican
candidate for councilman from the Third
ward June Sd last, that. according to the
official canvas, he received 30S votes, that
Mr.. Griffin was the Democratic candidate,
that the latter, according to the official
canvas, received 324 votes, that MIR. Griffin
was declared elected and that he (Mr,
McGuigan) desired to contest Mr.. Griffins
election. He claimed that 80 Illegally
stamped ballots were received by the
inspectors of the Second district. Twenty
seven of these ballots, he declared, were
stamped nowhere except in the square to
the left of the name of Mr.. Norton, the
Democratic candidate for mayor, and the
other three ballots were stamped nowhere
except in the square to the left of the name
of DIR. Shortlidge, the Republican candi-
date for mayor. The counting of these 30
ballots, he commended, was violation of
law. He asserted that 81 of the ballots
were counted for Mr.. Griffin and three for
himself. He also alleged that the ballot of
James McGinty, resident of another dis
trict, had been received in the Second dis
trict despite the protest of one of the in
spectors. This vote, he believed was
counted for Mr.. Griffin. The petition
closed with the claim that the petitioner
had received 305 legal votes and Mr.. Griffin
only 296.
Mr.. Wainwright offered a resolution ap-
pointing Wednesday, July 10Th, at D. M,
as the time and the Council chamber as
the place for hearing and determining the
contest, and directing the clerk TO give
public notice in two newspapers.
Mr.. Griffin commended that the meeting
was merely for the purpose of organizing,
that no rules had been adopted and that It
| would not be right to entertain the resolli-
ton. He said Mr.. Michigan had perfect
right to contest, but the resolution should
not be introduced before next Thursday
evening.
Discussion participated in by Messrs.
Wainwright, McNulty, Ratledge and
others followed.
Immediate action on the resolution was
demanded by the Republican members
and it was adopted by aparty vote.
Contrary to general expectation ex-
Councilman McVay did not lille petition
contesting the election Of Mr.. Donohoe.
81