The herald., 1897-10-12
WANTHISHEAD
COunCilmen After the Scalp
of Health Clerk Red
FOUR ARE FOR DECAPlTATION
BUT THE NECESSARY MAJORITY
COULD NOT BE SECURED
A Quiet Little Game Of Politics at the
City Hall-The Intended Vic
tim in the Dark

| All that was lacking to cotIsummate a
neat little plan to remove one of the best
known city employees yesterday was one
vote in the city council, but as that vote
could not be secured, there was no men,
ton made of the matter at the session,
ard every effort was made to keep secret
the fact that such move had been at
tempted. The official vino so narrowly
escaped dismissal is Chief Clerk M. S.
Reed Of the health office, but why he was
selected for decapitation was mot dis
closed.
Before the council convened there was
considerable whispering and private
consultation among some of the men,
bers, which told Of something unusual
but when the two sessions had been hello
and nothing except the customary busi-
raess was transacted, some of those who
had witnessed the corner talks thought
they ha0 been mistaken in their expec-
tations. The only reason that the I'M
usual did not occur, and the only reason
that Reed now holds his position, is that
four of the members could not get fifth
to go in with them in. their efforts to oust
him.
AS the contemplated action was not
successful, 1t would, perhaps be difficult
to prove just who the four are who were
after Reeds scalp but it is well known
just who were not in the scheme Those
who had nothing whatever to do with
the matter are; Messrs. Silver Mathuss,
Toll, Baker ard Nickel. OF these,
Messrs. Toll, Silver and Baker were not
approached by those who wanted Reed
removed. AS to whether Messrs
Mathuss and Nickel were approached,
and their votes solicited in support of the
plan, neither would make positive
statement, either in the affirmative or
negative. The former "had heard of
the matter. but did,e,ot agree TO vote for
it, and Gid not care TO discuss it," while
Mr.. Nickel, when questioned on the sub
ject, treated it as joke, and said that
he would not support such plan. He
would not say that he had. not been ap-
| preached.
| Several weeks ago the report became
current that certain members Of the
council were intent orr displacing Health
Officer Powers, but this runor was de-
a.!ed By all the members of the council.
1t seems that Reed was really the man
whose place they desired to have filled
| by another, and the presence of Coun-
| Gilman Hutchison, who was then away
| from the city, was necessary before the
| removal could be accomplished. It now
appears that more than his presence was
needed, for even II he were included In
the four. another vote was necessary,
and, it was that one vote that kept Reed
| in office Yesterday.
When asked for possible reason why
his removal should be desired by any of
the councilmen, Mr.. Reed stated that he
had not the slightest idea of what the
motive for the attempt was. The only
reason he could possibly ascribe was
that he had reported some of the short
comings Of the late inspector of street
sweeping, Mcclellan, to the health Of
ficer. This he only suggested as pos
sible explaratioxs, however, as he could
give no other. In that matter he had
only done his duty. Whether another at
tempt will be made at the removal Will