The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-12-15
COUNCIL ACTS
Takes Cognizance Of the
Scandal
wEBB's SUSPENSION SURE.
SPECIAL MEETING SUMMONED
FOR TOMORROW
SUSPENSION SURE
At Least Seven Members Will Vote to
Dust the Derelict and Redeemj
Mondays Mistake

moved from OIHce ny tHo City oouASA'
pending the result of the trial Of the
cases against him both by the board and
NV the superior court. A special meet
ing Of the council is to be held tomorrow
morning for that purpose, and already
majority of the members have asserted
that they will vote for such action.
Webb. they claim. would have been sus-
pended from office Monday had 1t not
been for the earnest plea made by Judge
Hendricks, in which 1t was urged that
he should be given chance to present
his defense. The council was assured,
in a manner that almost made It prom
ise. that IL action were deferred for one
week, he (webb) would take no part IN
the proceedings Of the board Of educa-
tion. This promise was reiterated by
Councilman Hutchinson. who stated that
he had been assured that sucn was
webb's intention. On this plea and
with this understanding. the council
did not then suspend the indicted ofii-
cial.
When the fact was realized that Webb
had wholly disregarded the promises
and, besides, had tried bulldoxing tao
tics at the regular meeting OF the
board Monday night, there was a de-
cided change in the opinion Of hundreds
Of people az to his innocence, and the
almost universal expression was that he
was not worthy Of consideration. Many
persons who had hitherto been his
friends asserted that in betraying their
friendship Webb had lost all claim to
sympathy or assistance from them.
In the city hall Webb was about the
only subject OF conversation yesterday.
The sentiment was general that some
action should be taken by the council
TO put stop to such exhibitions of tenn
Der and effrontery as had been witnessed
at the meeting Of the board Of education
the night before. A number OF members
called upon City Attorney Dunn and
asked what could be done. 1t had been
generally understood that the board had
the authority to fill vacancies In the
board; indeed. there have been several
instances in which the board has elected
successors to members who resigned. In
spite Of these precedents. the city at
torney asserted that the power of elect
ing new members OF the board
to All vacancies lay with the
city council. Section 10 Of the char
ter provides that tho board Of education
shall I'LL all vacancies until the next
general municipal election; but in Sec
ton 1877. which 10 under tho head Of
Elections" the charter provides that
the council shall NIL all vacancies in
elective offices, except that Of council
men. This would seem to be a direct
conflict In the charter. but city Attorney
Dunn holds-and his opinion Is sus-
tained by those Of several other attor-
neys-that, as the latter section men,
toned Is contained in that part OF the
charter which deals with elections. 1t
must be given precedence over the other
section. Another reason why section 1877
applies in this case Is that 1t follows the
other section and was therefore. adopt
ed last, and IL the other section conflicts
with 1t, the first section Is Of no force.
Asked the direct question as to his
opinion as to the authority Of the coun-
Gil in the premises. the city attorney said
that there was not the slightest doubt
that the council could suspend Webb
from office, elect temporary successor
to him. elect man to I'LL the place made
vacant by Adams resignation, and at
once call an election of the electors Of the
Seventh ward to fill Adams place until
the next general election in this city.
This information was just what the
councilmen desired. A consultation was
held, In which 1t was decided to call a
special session Of the city council, the
call for which reads as follows:
LOS ANGELES, Cal, Dec IA, 1897.
To c. II. Hance, City Clerk Of the City
of Los Angeles-Dear Sir: You will please
call a special session of the council of the
city of Los Angeles, to be held on Thurs
day. the 18th day Of tecember, 1897, at
10 o'clock a. m. at the council chamber, for
the purpose of calling special election
of the electors Of the Seventh ward Of the
city of Los Angeles, to elect a member
of the board of education from said ward
to I'LL the vacancy In said board of educa-
ton caused by the resignation of ]. F..
Adams, and for the further purpose of
appointing a successor to said Adams to
fill said vacancy during the time which
shall elapse prior to the holding Of said
special election and the declaring of the
result thereof; also. for the purpose of
considering and acting in the matter of
the suspension from office Of the present
member Of the board of education from
the Ninth ward of said city and the APP
pointment Of successor to him.
JAMES ASEMAN,
FRED L. BAKER.
The members Of the city council who
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