St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-25
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
CONSIDERS THE FRARKtfv MiTTER nv
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DoRAN opPosED SECRECY.

Some of the Members fntimated.
After the Session Was Over
That There Would Be No
"Whitewash" OF the Nm Alder
man-Report May Be Made to
the Assembly. so
The joint c2uncil committee appointed
to investigate the conduct of .ex-Ald.
Harry W. Franklin in connection with
the building inspectors Office met
promptly at o'clock yesterday after
noon i'll pursuance to the call of Chair
man Markham. For over half hour
the committee and a number of officials
discussed the situation in an informal
way. and inspected the printed tram
script of the evidence taken at the
former meeting of the committee. The
report of the investigation as it appeared
in the GLOBE was generally commended.
At 2:4O Chairman Markham called the
committee to order and inquired if any
one was present VINO desired to offer
anything in pursuance of tht JOINT
resolution or in furtherance OF the in
vestigation. After a pause for few
moments, Mr.. Markham added: There
seems to be no response. After
another pause Chairman Markham
! asked: ''What is the first pleasure OF
the eommittee?" and stated that the
evidence of the former meeting had
been transcribed and copies thereof
would be provided for all members of
the COMM tee as soon as they came
from the printer.
Mr.. Lightner said: 81 suppose, if no
further testimony is to be offered, that
we should formulate report. We
should 90 into executive session to con-
slider and formulate our report. | move
that we go into executive session"
Chairman Markham stated the mo-
ton and called for remarks.
Mr. Doran-What is the purpose of
an executive session?
MIR Lightner = We should discuss
the matter. AS to myself am satisfied
as to what | will report, but we should
see ii we are agreed pom recommen-
datlon.
The motion was put by the chairman.
the result showing a division Of senti-
ment upon the executive session idea.
The roll was then called. Those voting
aye were Messrs. Coniey, Ligh tner,
Reardon, Markham and Schuette.
Messrs. Doran and Van Siyke voted no.
The committee retired from the coun-
Gil chamber to the committee room at
the left of the chamber. The doors
were sealed, and Sergeant-at-Arms Gal
vim was placed on guard to keep the
public away from the committee room.
Mr.. franklin and his attorney, john
l.. Townlev, who had been in the coun-
Gil chamber smiling pleasantly and
chatting with members of the commit
tee and onlookers, retired when the
committee went into executive session.
After an hours session the committee
room doors were opened and the mem
btrs of the committee came out one at a
time. Mr.. Reardoh was the first to
emerge. and when asked what was
done said, Il haven't word to say"
Chairman Markham said that the time
was taken up in discussing the evil
dence from the transcript furnished.
The committee did nothing more, and
adjourned until 2 O'clock this afternoon,
when another meeting will be held for
the purpose of formulating report.
Being asked as to how the committee
regarded the evidence. Mr.. Markham
said it was agreed that no opinion
would be expressed in advance of the
report 1t was considered unwise to
disclose the discussion in executive ses-
Sion prior to the report.
Several members of the committee
intimated that the report would not be
a whitewash. One of the members said
that there was difference of opinion
III the committee as to the character OF
the report to be made, but he admitted
that there was doubt that a white
wash" report would be made.
The report of the committee is ex-
pected to be forthcoming at tonight's
meeting of the assembly.