The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-06

ofthe Reorganization.
The last 1896 session of select council
and the 1897 reorganization of both the
select and common branches took place
yesterday morning.
President Sanderson, Republican,
succeeded himself as presiding officer
of the select branch. whose member
ship has not changed. =. j. Nealis,
Democrat, of the Fourteenth ward,
was unanimously chosen president of
the lower body, and John =. Mahon,
Democrat, was chosen clerk to sue
ceed Harry c. Hatton, Republican.
Mahon is an ex-clerk. His election
aroused the only live competition Of
the two sessions and was openly at
tributed to treachery by Mr.. Nealis,
who did not deny the charge.
The Democratic members of the old
common council carried out their threat
not to meet at 0 o'clock and consider
select councils amendment to the 1897
appropriation ordinance. The latter
branch passed the measure on third
reading. 1t is a dead letter now and
the 1897 expenses will have to be pro-
vided by new ordinance.
The reading of the mayors annual
message was heard separately by the
two branches and is reported elsewhere
in. this article. Select council reorgan-
lied with eleven Republicans and ten
Democrats, the same as last year:
In the new common council there is
either new or a reelected member
from each of the ten oddnumbered
wards. Mr.. Reese, Republican, sue
ceeds John j. Lotus, Democrat. from
the First ward; Mr. Walker, Republic
can, succeeds r. f.. Thomas, Republ-
can, from the Fifth ward; r. b. Jack
son, Republican, succeeds c. S. Sea-
mans, Republican, from the Thirteenth
ward, and r. j. Sheridan, Democrat,
succeeds George Wirth, jr., from the
Nineteenth ward.
MAJORITY OF TWO VOTES.
The twelve Democrats and nine Re-
publcans in the common branch gives
the former a majority of two votes on
joint ballot.
The old select council convened a few
moments after 9 o'clock and a COM
mon council resolution directing the
settlement of eX-Patroman r. V.
of $3.50 was concurred in.
The latest Kinsley resolution was
tabled by motion of Mr.. Durr The
only negative vote was that of Mr..
Fellows. President Sanderson re-
marked that he could not have enter-
tained a motion to concur as the intent
of the resolution was contrary to the
law which makes it possible for only
the mayor to remove an officer whom
he has appointed. The appropriation
ordinance as amended was given a
third reading and passed by a party
vote of IL to Q, Mr.. Robinson, Demo-
crat, not voting.
Mr.. Chittenden moved a recess for
fifteen minutes in order to be ready for
an appropriation compromise confer
ence in case the common council DEM
ocrats experienced change of heart
and decided to meet. Mr. Mccain
amended with motion to adjourn sine
die, The motion prevailed.
At 10 o'clock the selectmen appeared
for reorganization. Mr.. McCann, Dem
ocrat, nominated by Mr.. Kearney, was
unanimously chosen temporary chair
man and Immediately declared nomi-
nations for permanent chairman in or
der. Mr.. Mccain was nominated by
Mr. Kearney and Mr.. Roche, and Mr.
Sanderson by Mr.. Chittenden and Mr..
Durr.
MIR. SANDERSON ELECTED.
Mr.. Sanderson was elected by vote
of 13 to s, he and Mr. Mccain exchang-
ing courtesies by voting for each other.
Mayor Bailey then appeared and ad-
ministered to Mr.. Sanderson the oath
of office. The mayors message was
read by Clerk Lavelle after which the
old rules We're adopted and the meet
ing adjourned to convene in special
session next Monday night for the
election of a city engineer and a city
solicitor.
Common councils dOings were not as
prosaic as those of the upper branch
The nine Republican members were
present and ready to take their seats
at a moments notice beginning at 8
o'clock, but the Democratic twelve
failed to appear. They were at the
Globe hotel conducted by their col
lague, Mr.. Flanagan, waiting to go in
a body to the city hall at 10 o'clock.
At 9.55 Clerk Hatton called the roll
but only the nine Republicans respond
ed. The Democrats were then in the
lower corridor waiting for the court
house clock to strike the hour of ten.
They took their accustomed seats-all
excepting the retiring members at 1902
oclock-and o a moment later Clerk Hat
ton proceeded with the roll call of the
new council.
1t had been agreed between Mr..
Nealis and the Republican members
two weeks ago that if he was given
Republican support he would guaran-
tee his own and three other Demo-
cratic votes for the reelection of Clerk
Hatton. Thomas Norton, Democrat,
also made the same promise-nOt to one
person but to several. FIX President
Grier, Democrat had personally
pledged himself to support Hatton ana
the eX-president was the only one to
keep his promise. So it was no little
surprise all around when later Mahon
the Democrat candidate was chosen
by vote of IL to 10.
HAD NO OPPOSITION.
There was no opposition to the selec-
tion OF Mr.. Nealis for temporary chair
man. The commissions of the new and
reelected members were read and ap-
proved by a motion that the certificates
be accepted.
When nominations for permanent
chairman were called for Mr.. Grier and
Mr. Regan named Mr.. Nealis, the NOM
nations were closed and he was chosen
unanimously. He acknowledged the
honor in a very brief speech. Mayor
Bailey then administered to President
Nealis the oath of office and the latter
In turn nerfnrnnd the saL,nn na,,,i,.