Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-11-23
SPRUNG A LEGISLATIVE JOKE
UPPER HOUSE CONFIRMS CAMERON
FOR WATER sUPERiNrESDErT.
The Act was Not Authorized by tho Bud-
get and Did Not Have tho Mayors Con-
sent-it Will GO for Nnught-Low-
er House Proceedings.

Even stranger about the upper house
! chamber could have plainly seen that
! something unusual was going on before last
| nights meeting. In fact tho same prog
! nostirations had been evident about the
J city hall during the afternoon 1t was not
| until the upper statesmen had gone into
executive session and the doors were again
! thrown open that 1t became known that
! the upper body had probably capped the ell
max In the way of a legislative joke.
| 1t had taken upon itself the responsibility
| OF overriding two sections Of the charter
| by confirming W. l.. Cameron as superin-
! tendeut OF the water works department
! This was done without the consent Of the
/ mayor and, in fact, his honor had some
| time since Withdrawn hts approval OF Mr..
! CAiuciQn for the position. ,.
| cut no nEure with the upper house.
The aldermen had scarcely taken their
! seats before Alderman Shiunck was on
AS We have some business OF rather
| private nature" he said. ~ would suggest
that we so into executive @aSs .On.'
Both Johnston and Dahl objected. The
remainder Of the house voted against
When the session was over President
| Tl,ruan instructed the clerk to read the
lrnU,t iings OF the closed meeting DAM
| aul Johnston insisted upon an open vote
! being taken. With q smile OF one who con
house. but leads about by the nose one or
two supposed Republicans as well, 4 res.
idcut Tiernan ruled them out OF order and
again insisted upon the minutes Of the
executive session. At this Dahl and John
Ston took their coats and left the hall, de-
glaring that they would not remain TO be
Tha clerk read: "w l.. Cameron for the
superni iendcit of the water works--con-
II a thunderbult had fallen the listeners
could not have been more surprised. IL
was generally known that on November o.
the b0ari OF public works had recommend
ea Mr. cameron for the position, ana that
at that time the mayor h"l approved OF
NE nomination. ON tAal Msht, hoWeNer,
the house adjourned without taking action
up3n the name. a tsW Gays lattr @ @the
mayor wrote a communication to the up
per house Withdrawing his consent to Mr.
C1merons nomination. The matter was
however, for when Mayor Davis received
his message yesterday afternoon to sign he
found therein Confirmation Of the superin-
drew his pen through the words before
this portion of the nights business was not
IN the budget, and according TO the charter
could not be considered,
ordinances We're passed allowing the aud
itor ana treasurer each an extra clerk and
the collector of rates two clerks;
The measure to pave Fifteenth from Nir-
rinia TO eastern city limits given its
final passage. Henry Harries was rejected
CITY Counselor McDougal was asked last
night as 70 the legality OF the upper
houses action in confirming Mr.; Cameron. ron.
at present The matter, | suppose, Will be
referred to me, and | will then give an
the portion of the charter that would APP
pear to make the houses action Illegal Is
which says said board Cof public works.
shall have power to appoint, with the con
sent of the % mayor nay nna ana maogb Sb OF dhaf he
superintendents and subordinates as may
he necessary for the arrangement and etit7
Cient operation of said water works, and
as may be provided by ordinance"
L. . l14t