The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-03-03
A VERY STORMY SESSION /!
Reorganization of the Borough Council
Left II Eight Members.
SEVEN GOT HUFFED AND BOLTED.
The Citizens Members Elected James Presi-
dent, watkins Secretary, Davies Treas
urer, Pomeroy Solicitor, Llewellyn
Supervisor, and Tosh Chief.

one OF the most stormy meetings ever held
by the Borough Council was the session held
last night, at which the Citizens members
assumed control and elected a corps of Off
cials for the fiscal year according to their
own choice. The meeting was very much
like, if not duplicate of the famous meet
ing held ten years ago when the Citizens and
Democratic members were a tie and Council
was in deadlock for several weeks after
The Citizens members went into the meet
ing last night thoroughly organized and
with a well arranged program to combat the
threatened movement of the Democrats to
declare the seat of Councilman James Me
Elhenny vacant and throw Council into a
deadlock. The effect of this would have
been a continuance of the old officials in
office until next spring, or such time as some
one on one side or the other would surren-
der.
1t was about ten minutes of eight o'clock
when the Citizens members entered the
Council chamber last night The Demo
cratic members were patiently awaiting their
arrival and President Mcclure lost no time
in calling the meeting to order. There were
in attendance Councilmen Mcclure, Kane.
O'Bren, Boehm, McElhenny, Magargle, II,
j. James, Straughn, ID. r. James, Gafiigan,
kerns, Gable, Dougherty, Hand and Reese,
Councilmen-eect Edward Murphy, Daniel
Coakley and Conrad Englert were also in
attendance. The resolution of Council to
bar the attendance of curious spectators was
enforced by the police and not more than
half dozen other than officials were in the
chamber
Council proceeded to wind up the business
for the old year and started out by accepting
a report by the roads and highways COM
mittee rejecting a claim of So damages by
Christ Schmidt, who alleges that one of his
wagons suffered on account of West Coal
street being in bad condition. The com
mittee, through Mr.. Kane, stated that it
could not confirm the statement and the
wagon must have suffered by one of the
wheels catching in the electric railway track
Mr.. Gable stated that the fire alarm wires
required repairs and the fire apparatus com
mittee was instructed to attend to them.
1t was decided to use gas in illuminating
the basement of the borough building
The fire at the lookup was officially re-
ported, but no step will be taken towards
making repairs until after the insurance ad-
justers act.
The Shenandoah Citizens Water and Gas
Company presented bill for So, 1872 27, en-
bracing the Judgment recovered against the
polouSu III OtlObtI, loJls lnttI6Sl at D per
cent. from that date and water supplied for
the fire plugs from April 1st, 1889, to Janu-
ary 1st, 1896. The bill was laid over for
consideration by the new Council and upon
motion of Mr.. Kane it was decided to cut the
fire plugs from the service of the water com
pany as soon as practicable and connect them
with the mains of the public water works.
AS the time for re-Organizing drew near
Mr.. Kerns arose and stated that Mr. Nc
Elhenny had not been a resident of the
Second ward for or months and he was
ineligible to act as a Councilman.
Mr.. Hand arose and stated that in view of
the circumstances he would declare Mr..
McElhenny's seat vacant.
Mr.. Gable raised point of order, claiming
that Mr.. Hand had no power to declare the
vacancy.
President Mcclure overruled the point
and upheld the statements made by Mr..
Kerns.
Mr.. Kane was indulging in an address on
the same subject when Mr.. Straughn raised
the point that the objections were premature
as Mr. McElhenny had not attempted to ex-
ercise his right to vote at the meeting. This
point was also oyerruled.
Finally Mr. McIlhenny took the floor and,
in answer to Mr.. Kane stated that no
saloon license for Mahanoy City had been
granted to him and that he still claimed his
residence in the Second ward of the bor-
ough. He said he was forced out of the
ward last June by fire, but his household
goods are still in the ward.
/ Mr.. McElhenny also stated that Council
had no authority to declare his seat vacant
and the only procedure to that end was
through quo warranto proceedings in court.
Mr.. Staughn moved that Council adjourn
sine die, but only few voted and the mo-
tion was declared lost. A similar motion by
Mr. Kerns almost Immediately after was car
ried.
Councilmen-elect Martin Lally and Daniel
Coakley, of the First ward; John p Boehm,
Second ward IT. J. James, Third ward; Con-
rad Englert, Fourth ward, and Edward
Murphy, Fifth ward, stepped forward and
were sworn in by the Chief Burgess.
Mr.. McElhenny moved that Mr.. Reese
act as temporary chairman.
Mr.. Lally jumped to his feet as Clerk
Watkins was putting the motion and vehe-
mently objected to Mr.. MeElhenny taking
part in the proceedings of Council. Messrs,
Mcclure, Coakley and Kerns Joined in the
protest and all asked to have their protests
recorded Clerk Watkins recorded them and,
amid loud protests by Mr.. Lally and others
against Mr.. McElhenny's right to take part
in the meeting, put the motion and declared
it carried.
Mr. Reese took the chair and Mr.. Gable
moved that w. J, Watkins be made tenn
porary secretary and the protests against Mr..
McElhenny were renewed. The aye and
nay vote was called for by Mr.. Mcclure and
when Mr.. McElhenny voted the Democrats
again arose in arms, but Clerk Watkins pro
ceeded with the roll CALL reported the re-
suit and Chairman Reese declared the motion
carried.
The confusion increased each moment
Mr. Mcclure moved that Mr.. McElhenny S