The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-05-22
.BETTERIDGE IS REELECTED
Effected on a Compromise Between
Councilmen Last Night.
SCHOPPE SUCCEEDS M'ELHENNY
The Latter Election Effected Under the
Same Agreement-A Council Meeting
That Ended in Love Feast-other
Business at the Meeting.

A lengthy and what may have been a
cross-fre meeting of the Borough Council
eliminated last night in u model love feast.
/ During the early part divisions were cailed
on several questions and the respective party
members differed with each other in genuine
TNwrangling and dilly-dally fashion, but before
| President James gavel fell finally the Dem
ocrSfs>, helped the Republicans to elect a
CounciimaSTA in the Second ward and the ke'
publicans ali hCwed the reelection OF oscar sea;
Betterdge as'-t~risstter superlntenuent 70 DC
made without any Ss,t!1'aa opPo9,'iT NI,
formal voting for their candtsSS%ss ~ i'''.,'p
Councilman Gable was not present~% ~
for his candidate. The members presenGN
the meeting were Messrs. Magargle, BoehiH,
Coakley, Straughn, Murphy, Hand, Reese,
Englert McGuile, Lally, Kems and Presi-
dent T. j. James, the absentees being Messrs.
McElhenny, d. r. James and A. d. Gable.
Mr.. McElhenny's resignation was read dur
ing the latter part of the evening.
When the question of filling the vacancy
in the Second ward came up Mr. Boehm
nominated Charles SchOppe and he was
elected by acclamation on motion of Mr..
Lally.
This election was at once followed by the
reelection of Oscar Betteridge as water
superintendent by Democratic votes to 8
cast by the Republicans for Mr.. Lamb,
For the benefit of the uninated it may be
stated that the five Republican members
affected a compromise with the Democratic
members just before Council was called to
order and that compromise brought about the
elections above stated. The agreement was
that if the Republicans should take part in
the meeting they would be allowed to elect
Republican successor to Mr.. McElhenny and,
in return, the Democrats, having majority
with the presence of twelve members, could
elect Mr.. Betteridge. Had this compromise
not been affected the result would have been
that the Republicans would absent themselves
until they could have got together enough of
their own members to at least make tie vote
and prevent Mr.. Betteridge's reelection, and
the business of the borough would have been
stalled, so the arrangement was creditable to
both parties.
A request from the Shenandoah Electric
Illuminating Company for permission to put
in additional poles to strengthen its lines and
extend its line on White street, north of Coal,
was referred to the street committee with
power to act.
A complaint by David Johnston that the
Shenandoah Lumber & Feed Co. had blocked
East Coal street with lumber was referred to
the Chief Burgess.
The street committee reported that tree
in front of the Quinn property on West
Centre street and trees on North White street
obstructed the public streets and the Chief
Burgess was instructed to look after the
places.
The street committee was instructed to
give immediate attention to the complaint
that there are too many fire plugs and posts
in front Of the Bell property, corner of
Centre and Chestnut streets, and Peter
Hiley's property, ON West Oak street.
The fire apparatus committee was author
lied to replace the gong ON the hook and
ladder truck No action was taken ON Mr..
Reese's report that the Columbia hose carriage
is not serviceable. There was difference Of
opinion as TO whether the carriage could be
repaired.
Mr.. Coakley stated that the two additional
electric lights had been placed on Coal street
and Mr.. Mcclure reported that grade stone
had been found at one end of West Apple
and Huckleberry alley, but it could not be
determined what had become Of the stones at
the other end.
Mr.. Magargle stated that the steel cells
recommended that new floor be placed in
the lookup. He reported bids of cents per
square foot for a tar walk, Is for fag-stone
and Is for cement, the walk to be laid from
Jardin street to the lookup. The matter was
laid over until the next meeting.
After some discussion it was decided that
two cells in the lookup shall be set aside for
use by Constabes and three by the regular
police.
Mr. Coakley announced that the law com
mittee concurred in the opinion of Borough
Solicitor Pomeroy that it takes majority of
the members of Council present to effect an
election, and not plurality The point was
raised by Mr.. Lally when Mr. Betterdge
received votes, Mr. Lamb and Mr.. Gable
ON ballot for Water Superintendent, Mr.
Lally claimed Mr. Betteridge had been
elected and the question was referred to the
Solicitor by motion.
The contract of William Schmicker for
hauling coal from Brandonville to water
works pumping station expired on the 18th
inst, and the water committee was instructed
to make new contract and receive pro-
posals and report at the next meeting.
A request by j, Arthur Meyer, manager Of
the Factory Shoe Store on North Main street,
for permission to erect boot backing stand
in front of one of the companys show win
dows, to be in charge of boy, was ruled out
by the President ON the ground that the
Council had no jurisdiction
The fire marshall made request for the
purchase of four dozen badges for the De-
fender Hose Company and six dozen for the
Phoenix and it was granted
A request from j. F. Ploppert for exonea-
ton from taxes for 1895 on account of haV-
ing been burned out by the fire of June,
1895 was referred to the finance committee,
The pay roll of water works employees, as
presented by Superintendent Betteridge at
the last meeting, was ordered paid.
The ordinance committee was instructed to
prepare an amendment to the water works
ordinance, providing that the Superinten-
dent shall serve until his successor is elected
The chairman Of the street committee was
empowered to authorize the Schuylkill Irae-