The record-union., 1896-09-19

Water Works building? The answer to
that was that neither come under the
general law.
President Leonard denied that he was
attempting to obstruct the building Of
the sewer, but that he wanted the work
to proceed with the greatest possible
dispatch.
Mr.. Devine took the floor upon the
conclusion Of Leonard's remarks, and
said that the present was no time to
daily. Winter was approaching and
no time should be wasted in negotiations
with the Mayor or one else BY the
votes of six members of the board the
present contract could be ratified and
legalized over the Mayors veto. and he
therefore moved that the existing con-
| tract already signed by the President Of
the Board Of Trustees be authorized
over the Mayors veto
Trustee Kent seconded the motion,
and the matter would probably have
ended then and there had not l.. l..
| Lewis appeared before the board in an
| endeavor to pour oil on the troubled
waters. His suggestion was to the eff
rect that the Board Of Trustees secure
| a lawyer and allow the Mayor to do
| likewise, allow the lawyers to confer
together and draw up a contract which
would be acceptable to both the Mayor
and the Board of Trustees.
Mr.. Lewis admitted when questioned
| that he had not read the law in the case
was no lawyer and did not wish to be,
out he did not wish to see a quarrel go
on between the Mayor and the board
by or through which the city was liable
to suffer.
Upon request Of Tozer the objection
able portion Of the contract-placing
| the superintendent Of the work in the
hands Of the Board Of Trustees-was
read by the clerk, SO that a thorough
understanding Of it might be had.
Mr.. Lewis at this point again got the
| ear OF the President and once more
urged arbitration as an easy way out
| of the muddle. He urged peace, but
| Kent drew upon and read to him the
section Of the charter alleged to refer to
| the subject in hand, which specifically
stated that the Board Of Trustees should
have control of such work
| Tozer being asked to give an opinion,
| said he never had thought that the
Board of Trustees should encroach upon
| or assume the duties Of the Mayor. The
board might have right to supervise
such work as that named in the con-
tract, and might not, but he believed
| 1t would be better to concede the May
| or's point and allow the work to pro-
ceed.
Pennish wanted to know of Tozer the
Mayors object in vetoing the contract.
Tozer replied that he supposed it was
| because the Mayor thought the Board
| Of Trustees were encroaching upon his
duties. He thought the Mayors course
would be accepted by the people, and
| that he had made an excellent official
| II don't agree with you, General"
| said Kent.
| Tozer said he had been asked for an
| opinion and had simply given 1t, re-
| gardless Of what Kent thought about it.
| Contractor Cunningham, who was
present, was asked whether he would
| be willing to go on with the work if the
contract was awarded to him over the
| veto Of the Mayor
| He replied that he would not be will
| ing to go on before securing legal ad
vice on the question.
Then President Leonard stated tht he
had consulted one Of the prominent at
torneys Of the city regarding the matter
and had been assured that the contract
| would be entirely valid and did not
ccme under the "Vrooman Act"-did
not In fact, come anything near 1t.
Then Devine got upon his feet once
| more and commenced making a mo-
ton, when Clerk Desmond Informed