The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-24
WHO is JOHN M'MULLEN?
His Identity Was Sought After by
Select COuncil.
MAYOR MAKES APPOINTMENTS
One Of Them is Lincoln $. Tillman. Per.
nancnt Fireman. and Others Are
Finley Ross and John MeMui.
len, patrOmcn.
MAYOR MAKES APPOINTMENTS
"\Vho 10 John McNIullen p"

Who Is John McMullen?"
Now, Mr.. McMullen is a young hostler
living on Adams avenue, is in the en-
ploy of William Kelly and with no
knowledge at hand to the contrary.
and the fact that he was named for
the police force last night by Mayor
Bailey. it is to be taken for granted
that he Is good reputable citizen OF
this thriving municipality.
But select council did not know all OF
this. nor any part of II. at the meeting
last night. and as u consequence Mr.,
McMullen's nomination came near be-
ing laid over for investigation.
Under the fourth order of business
Clerk Lavelle read communication
from His Honor. in which he named
John McMullen to succeed Conrad Mey-
er, and Finlay Ross, jr., to succeed
Thomas Mills on the police force, and
Lincoln S. Tillman to fill the newly
created position of assistant perma-
nent man at the PheniX engine house.
Mr.. Manley moved to suspend the rules
and proceed to the consideration of the
appointments.
Mr.. Burns, Democrat, from the Eigh-
teenth, called n halt
He wanted to know.
After explaining that he had no in
tention of obstructing the confirmation
of the appointments, he stated that
he could not conscientiously vote for
the appointees until he found out some-
thing about them.
Mr.. Finn said. with utter disregard
for history, that he had never ques-
toned the appointments of mayor.
believing that the responsibility for
hn rnl. inn ta1 IN "a
but the mayor, and so believing he was
not going to question Mayor Bailey's
appointments. However as they had
been questioned he would vouch for
Finlay Ross. jr.. who he stated, Is q
son of his colleague. Select Council
man Finlay Ross, and very excellent
young man. Several members rose to
testify to the worth of Lincoln s. Till
man, the veteran colOred fireman, who
was the unanimous choice of his COM
pany and whose appointment for this
same position was negatived BY the
councils when it was submitted during
the former administration, Mr.. Ross,
whose son was last night appointed.
being one of the Republicans who voted
against the eX-mayor's appointments.
M'MULLEN WAS UNKNOWN.
ALL this was very well and. thorough
ly satisfied the inquisitive Mr.. Burns,
but no one stood up to vOuch for Nc
Mullen. The administration members
were plainly worried and chagrined,
worried because they could not find
anybody who knew McMullen, although
common council was searched for some
one who could come over and say Nc
Mullen was 20. H." chagrined because
the ignorance of his identity showed
to the galleries and the Republican
members that not one of their number
had been consulted about the appoint
ments or even about taking care of
them when they came into council.
Someone said that Common Council
man Hickey knew McMullin, but upon
being brought before the body he
waived the unique. distinction, explain
ing that he had merely told a man that
he had heard somebody saying that
McMullin came from the North End.
Then Mr.. Fellows got up and ex-
! mitted that somebody should vOuch for
man before he was voted on. No
body got up, however, and the Nc
Mullen mystery stin remains unsolved.
Mr.. Burns again indicated that he
would not vote for man whom no noe
knew and who might possibly be a
one-legged denizen of DunmOre for all
men realized that they would leopard
ize the whole batch Of appointments if
they attempted to force them through
i'm bulk, so resolved and succeeded in
having them considered separately.
There was no objection to Tillman
or Ross, they Icing unanimously con-
firmed on motions respectively by Mr..
Chittenden and Mr.. Lansing.
Then came McMullens turn. Mr..
tn 20 lie
tirmatiOn. Mr.. Burns offered as an
amendment that the appointment be
referred to the police committee reiter-
ating his statement that he could not
intelligently vote on the appointment
ut that time. The motion to refer was
lost by vote of six ayes, ten nays. The
motion to proceed to consider the con-
IirmatiOn was then put and carried by
two-thirds vote-eleven ayes. five
nays-which is necessary for sus-
pension of the rules. Ayes-Ross,
Finn. Clarke, Roche. Durr, Wagner,
Manley, Fellows, Schroeder, Frable,
Coyne--ll. Nays-Thomas, Williams,
Chittenden, Lansing, Burns-5.
The appointment was then confirmed
by viva voce vote.
CHITTENDEN WANTED TO KNOW.
Mr.. ,|hittenden wanted to know from
Mr.. Thomas. chairman of the sewers
and drains committee, If he had any
knowledge of the capabilities of Bern
ard Martin. whose confirmation that
committee recommended for the posi-
ton of inspector of the new lateral sew
ers on Monsey avenue and Capouse
avenue.
Mr.. Thomas admitted that he did not
know the man: that he took for grant
ed the appointing power was responsible
for the selection and approved of 1t
without investigation.
Mr.. Chittenden then questioned the
advisability of confirming man for
sewer inspector who might be butch
er or baker or candlestick maker, and
called attention oithe fact that sewers
all over the city are caving In because
they were not properly constructed. An
inspector. he contended, should be
man of practical experience, and not
merely a ward politician.
Mr.. Manley interposed the remark
that Mr.. Chittenden was never known
to question any appointment of inspec-
tors made by the last mayor. and
thought it came with bad grace for him
to begin now that Democratic mayor
was making the appointments.
Mr.. Chittenden reported that he had
opposed the appointment of one of ex-
Mayor Connell's sewer inspectors, and
further, that he led the opposition. Mr..
Roche, who was I'm the back part of the
room. came forward at this juneture
with fire in his eye and war in his heart
and in his most ironical tones asked Mr..
Chittenden when he had experienced
this sudden change of heart. when
we wanted to defeat the appointment of
Mr.. Hallstead for bridge inspector the
gentleman from the Ninth resorted to
strategy to have the appointment con-
f1rmed."
"rhe gentleman from the Seventh"