The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-07
CITY INAUGURATION day
New City Officers and Councilmen
Inducted Into Office.
SURPRISE In COMMON COUNCIL
The Eight Lonely Republicans succeed
in knocking Out the Democratic Slate.
The vorious Sessions of Councils
and Mayor Bailey's Message.

The stormest kid of a scene was en-
acted in common council yesterday
when the serenely confident Demo-
Gratis awoke from q contemplation of
easy victory to the realization of utter
defeat at the hands of the Grier-Hat-
ton fusion ticket.
At the reorganization year ago this
same combine defeated the Democratic
slate. This year the Democrats were
determined that they would net be
again caught mapping, so about two
weeks ago a caucus was called and all
differences it was thought, were ad-
iusted between the two factions. =. j.
Neals was slated for chairman and
John +. Mahon for clerk. There We're
thirteen present at the caucus and al
though no agreement was entered into
it was understood that this ticket
would be supported by all present.
Rut there was n good proportion of
those present who were not entirely
satisfied but that the caucus was cut
and dried affair and secretly deter
mined not to abide by its action. This
condition of affairs coming to the ears
of the Republicans combine was suE-
geStcd and this was readily agreed 10.
The combination was Kept profound
would be no opposition to Nealis and
Mahon and not until yesterday morn
ing was there any suspicion OF defeat
in the minds of the Democrats.
a complete plan of campaign was
mapped out, and SO well was 1t fol-
lowed that the Nealis-Mahon faction
had scarcely time to realize where they
were before the thing was all over.
1t was arranged that after final ad-
journment of the old council the Grier-
Hatton followers should stay in the
council chamber and be ready to I'M
mcdiately proceed with reorganization.
This was done, and while the Nealis-
Mahon people were lettering in the cor
ridors chatting with the spectators
Clerk Hatton called the roll and finding
the necessary eleven present declared
the election of n temporary chairman
was in order Mr. Grier was nomi-
mated and unanimously elected. Word
went through the corridors and COM
mittee rooms of the trick that was be-
ing played and Mr. Grier had scarcely
reached the chair when the surprised
Nealis adherents came pouring into the
chamber from all sides.
HE WANTED A RECESS.
Chairman Grier declared the next or
der of business to be the election of q
permanent chairman. Mr.. Nealis
moved that half-hour recess be TAX
en-. This was seconded by Mr.
Sweeney. The motion was put and
then the pandemonium began. Mr.
Ncalis and Mr.. Sweeney and several
others all began talking and to bring
the house to order and shelve the re-
cess motion Mr.. Keller struck upon the
idea of tabling the Nealis motion. Be
fore the ayes and nays could be called
Chairman Grier declared the motion to
lay on the table carried. Nealis and
Sweeney called for the ayes and nays
but Chairman Grier refused to order
| the roll call, ruling that he had given
his decision.
The tumult that followed broke up
the meeting of select council and
brought everybody in and about the
council chamber to the scene.
Mr.. Sweeney was flaming with rage
and his stentorian tones could be heard
block away as he cried 'buldnzing"
and demanded a fair deal. At one
juncture of the proceedings he became
so excited that he advanced to the
chairman's desk and fairly yelled I'VE
are going to have fair deal here and
| will pull you out of that chair if you
| don't give up a fair deal"
Mr.. Grier laughed in his face and this
exasperated him the more. He kept
pounding the chairman's desk and
making all kinds of dire threats of ter
rible consequence if the ayes and nays
| We're not called.
| Mr. Nealis with almost equal vehem-
ence besieged the chair from the other
side of the house. He threatened. eX-
postulated, pleaded and finally when
he found Chairman Grier ineXorable
he poured forth torrents of abuse upon
''the traitors who would turn the DEM
ocratic council over to the Republic
| cans"
| Mr. Grier succeeded in restoring quiet
| long enough to announce that at all
| events Mr.. Meals motion to take re-
| cess while q question was under con-
| sideration was out of order and that 1t
would be useless to continue the de-
mands for the roll call.
Mr.. NealiS then appealed from the
| decision of the chair but as the suf-
| ficient number of seconders We're not
| apparent the chair declared that body
| would proceed to permanent organiza-
| ton which business was under way
when the interruption came.
GRIER WAS NOMINATED.
Mr.. oliver nominated Mr.. Grier and
| as the other side of the house refused
Trained from making Il nomination.
When no response came to the question
"are there any further nominations?
| Clerk Hatton proceeded with the roll
| call. The Nealis adherents did not
vote. contenting themselves with a
| grunt or a groan as several of the
| Grier men answered to their names.
The vote was:
For Grier-Simon Thomas, r. T..
Thomas. Glroy, Molr, Wenzel Wirth,
Seamans. Oliver. Keller, Noone, McGrall.
| Grier--1s.
The result of the poll being an
Grier declared himself elected. Here
Mr. Nealis interrupted again with the
remark that the election was illegal
| as the new members had not been
sworn in. Mr. Grier answered him by
saying that the new members had to
be sworn in by the chairman and before
this could be done /. was necessary to
elect and swear in the chairman. IAN
right" Mr.. Nealis reioined. "swear in
our sweet, loving chairman-he's a
| butte"
Mayor Connell was sent for and Mr..
Grier took the oath. He in time called
| the new and reelected members before
him and administered the oath to them.
| These were Messrs. Gordon,M. Grier
and Flanaghan. newly elected. and
Messrs. Thomas. Wenzel, Noone. Reag-
an. Nealis, Zeidler and Sweeney, re-
| elected.
The election of clerk was then de-
clared to be in order. John p. Mahon
was nominated by Mr.. Reagan and II.
G. Hatton was named by Captain Moir.
Hatton was elected by vote of 12 to 0.
Mr. Lotus. who did not vote for Grler,
cast a. ballot for Hatton and Mr. Gil
roy, who was among the Grier adher-
ents went for Mahon. The vote was:
Hatton--Loftus, Simon Thomas. r. r..
Thomas. Moir. .Wenzel.. Wirth, seamans.