Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-11
A STATE OF THINGS.
Bal!imofe's Middle Unprecedented In
Municipal History Of the Country.
NO RELIEF FROM LEGISLATURES.
senator Bruce's Dill Giving the
Mayor Absolute Power of Appoipt-
ment Killed In the House-Now for
the Courts.

BALTIMORE, ND, March lO.-A most
remarkable condition of anairs-unique. II
not unprecedented In the municipal his
tory OF this country--is presented In Bal
timore's City Hall. The revolutionary
action Of the City Council last night in
taking from the Mayor practically all
his power, and overturning the ma
chinery OF the city government, has
caused chaos and confusion, and excited
citizens as no other movement has done
for many years.
The ordinances passed by the Council
last night take away the Mayors power
OF appointing any salaried officer of the
city government, and leave him only the
power to name the members of honorary
municipal boards.
70 The thought that there were eighty-four
Of mis- nominations hung I'D: that possiblv
not one OF the men named would get
into Office, while some of his best per-
sonal friends were on the list. and that
there are some 100 Democratic hold-oyers
drawing salaries from the City Treasury,
had depressing effect on Mayor Hooper
as he looked over the situation.
uchN dl 10 the merits
the fight between the Mayor and City
Council Is divided. The press OF the city
Is almost unanimous in its support of tho
reform ideas of the Mayor. He justifies
his actions by the assertion that although
he headed the Republican ticket last fall.
he was elected on reform platform;
that the independent Democrats aided
materially in electing the Republican
ticket and defeating the Democratic
ring, and he. therefore. insists upon Sc
lecing city officials without regard 10
politics. He struck sna6 with his first
batch of nominations. and has been on
the same snag ever since. The city Re-
publican councilmen contend that they
have waited thirty years for patronage,
and that now that they have absolute
control of the city government they want
all the pums.
NO RELIEF.
No relief can be expected from the
Legislature. The bill introduced in the
Senate at Annapolis by President Bruce,
giving to the Mayor of Baltimore abso-
lutte power by taking from the City Coun-
Gil its confirmation prerogative, and
which passed the Senate by an almost
unanimous vote, was killed in the House
to-day. Chairman Ford, of the Baltimore
city delegation, a very pronounced anti
Hooper man, was ordered to report the
bill. which he did, with a motion TO lay IL
upon the table This was defeated by
the close vote of Al to 80. Mr. Ford then
moved that further action on the subject
be delayed until April 81. The Speaker
explained that the days were three days
after the Legislature would adjourn sine
die, and that the motion was equivalent
to indefinite postponement.
There were some surprising changes
from the previous vote as the roll-call
proceeded. IL resulted in the adoption
of the motion-H yeas 10 80 nays. OF the
3S negatives IA were Democrats.
Governor Lowndes and other leaders of
the Republican party are very much
worked up over the condition of affairs.
'It Is depiorable," his Exceilency ex-
claimed. when the vote in the House was
conveyed to him. 1T is very unfortu-
nate for the people and very unfortunate
for the party. j think that all such revo-
lutionary measures by the City Coun-
ell should be STOPPED by the Legislature.
and while don't think the Mayor should
have the right to absolute appointment,
still. think II should be In his hands.
subject to the power of confirmation by
the Council, and not in the hands OF a
Joint convention" Now that 1t is settled
that the Legislature will do nothing to-
ward supporting reform measures, Mayor
Hooper will carry the fight into the
courts. and II viii not be concluded with
in two months, In the mean time the
Democratic office-holders, who expected
TO be turned out some time ago, will re-
ceive several months more salary than
they hoped for.