The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-01-12
GEO. l. BURTON PRESIDENT
COUNCILMANIC BoARD'S LENGTHY
SESSION.

D' ""''oh Drown the Democratic Menu
ber of Board of Finance--Roberts' Rules
Knocked Out-Board Reverses the Vote
of Committee of the Whole.
1t took the councilmen three hours to
do what the aldermen accomplished
last week in q little more than one
third Of the time. The only additional
piece of legislation passed by the low
er house being resolution to strike
out the work paved" from the street
sprinkling act. The board did not meet
until o'clock, because Of the demo-
cratic caucus which discussed the
| probabilities Of the opposition to
George l.. Burton for president, uniting
with them and electing Fuller of the
First ward. This the republicans
would have none of; they would NOT
listen to any proposition along these
lines, and the plan was soon abandon
| ed. Several candidates were In the
field for the democratic member Of the
board of finance, but it was An
| ally decided that the caucus should
present the name of d. Burton Brown
of the Eleventh ward. Mr.. Brown Is
one Of the reelected democratic mem
bers.
The members of the caucus when
told of the current rumors that they
had been trying to effect the defeat OF
Councilman Burton, indignantly de-
MED the charge, and said they were
considering the most available man
for the joint standing committee. If
they came to any conclusion they kept
it a secret, however.
| 1t was o'clock when the doors Of
the office Of the board Of public works
opened, and the democratic members.
led by Messrs. Brown and Shepard of
the Eleventh ward, filed into the coun-
cilmanic chamber, where their republi-
can colleagues were waiting for them.
| The first debate of the session arose
when the matter of adopting d set Of
rules governing the body was present
ed. Evidently the board did not think
the members of the upper house used a
vast deal of wisdom when they adopt
ed Roberts Rules of Order in lieu Of
Cushing's manual which has hereto
fore been the guide of both houses; for
at the end Of a half hours discussion
/ the councilmen defeated the prsposi-
ton by a large majority.
Councilman White of the Eighth
ward championed the change. and
/ Councilman Isbell of the Tenth ward
stood by Cushing. The rules govern
4 ing joint sessions as used last year
| WARE a don't ad xyifbo,1f *
The board made record for itself in
the matter of the city charter by agree
| ing, by an Overwhelming majority in
the committee of the whole, that it
would not be just the thing to send a
committee Of fifty citizens to
Hartford to urge the adoption Of
a city charter without the doc
ument having been first considered
by the court of common council, and
Immediately upon rising, adopted a
substitute motion for the one passed by
1 the committee, concurring with the
| board of aldermen, authorizing the
mayor to make the appointment. The
substitute motion was adopted by a
vote of 81 to 8, the members who
changed their votes declaring that they
understood the intent of the resolution
for the first time. This resolution be-
ing disposed Of the meeting adjourned,
having after all the various wanderings
concurred in all the matters coming
from the aldermen.
The board was called to order at 8
o'clock by Mayor Farnsworth, who
congratulated the members upon their
election and counseled them to remem-
ber that they were to degislate for the
whole city, as we'll as for their respec-
tive wards. The certificates Of election
were then read by Assistant City Clerk
Street and the list Of members was
read. The oath of Office was adminis-
tered to the members by Mayor Farms
worth, who vacated the chair in favor
of Councilman Shepard Of the Eleventh
ward. The first business in order was
the election of a president. Council
man White of the Eighth ward placed
in nomination George L. Burton Of the
Tenth ward for the position. The NOM
ination was seconded by Councilman
Stewart of the Tenth ward. D. Burton
Brown Of the Eleventh ward said in
behalf of the democratic members OF
that body that they had determined to
place no one in nomination for the
place..
Councilman Clifford moved that the
nominations close and that the clerk
cast the ballot. The chair decided that
the motion was out Of order. The
mover said that he should appeal to
the house if the chair ruled against
him. Councilman Isbell said that while
he was heartily in favor Of the gentle
man named he though it would be mora
satisfactory to have the house ballot
and he, therefore, moved that the board
proceed to ballot for president. The
motion passed
The chair appointed Messrs. White
and Brown tellers. The result Of the
ballot was as follows: Whole number
of votes cast, "a. Burton, 81: blank, 8.
The resolution was then read and
adopted declaring George L. Burton
president of the board. and the chair
appointed Councilman Fuller to escort
Mr. Burton to the chair. The new
president thanked the board for the
honor conferred upon him. He then
announced that the business of the
board would be proceeded with.
Councilman Fuller nominated Ed
ward A. Street, the present assistant
clerk, for the ensuing year. Mr.. Street
received the unanimous vote OF the