Evening journal., 1897-09-03
HOT TIME IN COUNCIL.
City Solicitor Conrad Declares
the City Offices Vacant.
ONEILL wHAOKsTHE COMBINATION

| ). RYAN ELEClED BAlllFF PltO |
TEN. - ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS.
CONRADs OPINION
When City Council met last night
President Leitch announced to thel
members that the first thing in orderI
would be the selection Of a clerk pro
TEN. Mr.. Morrison was in his old
seat. The announcement created
quite a surprise. Mr.. Leary moved to
have the minutes of the last meeting
read
Mr. Robertson objected. He asked
the president whether he had any COM
munIcation from the city solicitor re-
garding the vacancies Of the city Of
fees.
President Leitch said that he had.
Mr.. Leary moved that Council pro-
ceed with the regular order Of business
and that unless the rules were sus-
pended the business Of Council must 20
on.
Mr.. Robertson wanted to know where
such rule in the proceedings of Coun-
ell existed. Mr. Leary did not answer
President Leitch asked that a motion
Mr.. O'Neill wanted to have the opin-
/ ion OF the city solicitor read Mr.. Leary
wanted the rules suspended SO did
Mr.. Fisher. Mr.. Leary called for an
aye and nay vote on Mr.. Fishers mo-
tion.
President Leitch called off the names
and when it came for Mr.. Leary to vote
he asked to be excused Then the fun
began. Mr.. Oberly seconded Mr.. Learys
plea to be excused 1t was put and
all of the members voted against ex-
cusing Mr. Leary with the exception Of
Messrs. Smith, Healey and Oberly. The
first named member asked 10 be ex-
! cused from voting to excuse Mr.. Leary.
1t was seconded and then a storm
arose from the Republicans. Mr.. Fisher
said that there was no motion.
Mr.. Smith arose and asked again to
r. be excused.
e Mr.. Robertson said that the motion
of Mr.. Smith was out OF order. He
i called for the presidents opinion.
e President Leitch sustained Mr.. Rob
o ertson and said that all Of the motions
q were out of order. He seemed a little
l. angry. I'VE shall proceed to elect d
clerk pro tenn" he said, decisively.
l. Then came a lively debate between
Mr.. Deary and Mr.. Robertson as TO tho
legal signing of a check by Clerk Nor
y rison. Mr.. Leary said that II the office
u of clerk of Council was vacant. ther
= the signing of the check was illegal
ls Mr.. Robertson said that the signature
70 was legal He asked the opinion O
i President Leitch which was that i
was legal
~ President Leitch became a little per
!, picked but more so when he proceeded
y to read the opinion Of City Soliwcitoi
i Conrad. which caused a furry among
the Democrats. Mr.. Leary wanted tC
, know if the opinion of the city solicitor
in the matter would be the president
- ruling.
Is Mr.. O'Neill arose and said that If the
l. members of Council desired to dc
anything toward settling that muddle'
chance presented itself. Now" sale
NJ Mr. O'Neill, everyone can see wher'
4 the combination is. They said that
-, was the block. just because ! am an
: old man standing up for the rights o
=, my ward. Certain members of Council
= backed by a picayune press. have black
10 guarded me ever since the time tina
~ Council has been endeavoring to cleo
IL officers. ] am willing to vote for a clerk
reI but not with a combination that exist
in this body. Tonight they came her
for the sole purpose of blocking Coun
Gil"
H. After Mr. O'Neill concluded Mr.. Lear,
e. finished with the little tilt that he ant
r. Mr.. Robertson had when Mr.. O'Netl
or interrupted them. He wanted to knoI
lg by what authority any member o
th Council held that the city offices ar
all vacant. An Office created by the Leg
n islaturn cannot be abolished by Coun
ce ell He said that the law says tha
Council shall elect at a certain time.
Mr.. Fisher said that Mr. Leary ha
made a motion sometime ago that tn
city officers hold over.
Mr.. Leary said that something had Z
R be done. The city could not be withou
IE officers.
- Mr.. Oberly said that the members O
N Council had every opportunity to cleo
city officers, but they might 90 on ur
he til dOomsday, If the members are goin
sr- to vote blank.
he Mr.. O'Neill said that the city officer
nj would have been elected long befor
Ia this had not a combination existed.
The remark of the squire brough
n Mr.. Oberly to his feet. He said;
q want il understood that ! belong TO n
its combination. | can take an oath o.
on Il"
'of Mr. Robertson then whacked at Nj
beI Leary. He said that the contentio
I'M raised by Mr.. Leary as to whose au
Y, thority the city offices were declare
,er vacant would not hold in point
law. So said Mr.. O'Neill, also.
no The latter closed the debate by max
as ing a motion to proceed with the ele'
t ton of a clerk. Mr.. Robertson second
m ed Mr.. ONeill's motion.
- The crowd which had listened TO IN
- debate then drew around the rail.
- Mr.. O'Neill arose and moved tbs
," Morrison be elected clerk pro tenn, an
- that John Ryan be elected bailin pr
a. TEN. The Democrats sighed. The R'
VA. publicans looked sick. The motion va
~. put and carried. The crowd surge
out
Mr.. O'Neill had the Democrats b
the throat last night. Had he voted 4
81. the Republican candidate, II. II. 81
81 lany. Morrison would have been ouste
of So would have Ryan.
tn Nun, cor rrrrT,Opte CDTNTON