The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-26
to BE
Held For
COUNCIL OFFICES.
Party Leaders Out For
Minor Offices.

city council hear the little buzzing bees
which have been started out by their
own associates for positions of honor in
the city government. Several have got
ten d respectable sized boom under
way, while others are just pushing out
little boomlet
This is the week of caucuses. The
democrats have not decided on one yet,
but one is expected before the new year.
The republicans will have caucus
Thursday evening. From present indi-
cations it viii not be as important as
such caucuses have been in the past.
There are too many candidates in sight,
each with his following, however small.
There is a noticeable difiidence among
republican members of the city council
regarding expressing views in caucus
on candidates for city office.
The only things on the slate are the
offices of the council itself. For the
presidency of the board Of aldermen.
Alderman Henry Brannon is considered
to have the best chance Alderlnan-
elect John r. Back has good thing"
as member of the finance committee
on the part Of the upper board.
There are two candidates for presi-
dency of the common council. with
Al II.
man and Frederick w. White manage
each to keep one eye on the other and
the other eye on the presidents chair.
Ihey are running strong. Frank NJ
Heath was mentioned as a possible
candidate and then his name was
amonSthose forgotten, but it was heard
yesterday.
The republicans will have to reach
a definite conclusion as their man for
G a
enter the council chamber with divided
ranks ON account of the democratic
strength and are decided to settle that
question IN the caucus. Whoever is
chosen in the caucus will doubtless be
next president Of the council
The republicans viii also settle at the
caucus the member of the finance com
mittee The lead is divided between
Councilman Imam and Fred D. John
son. The candidacy of Councilman In
man for the presidency presents an I'M
certainty in the consideration of mem
bers of the finance committee which
VIII not be decided until after the bal
lot for president is taken.
Members of the minority are after the
good things also. They take it for
granted and conversation with republi-
can members of the city council leads
them to think they will be given repre-
sentation on the finance committee the
same as every year except two years
/ ago. DR.. Thomas j. Barrett is senior
member of the board of aldermen on
4 the democratic side. At the recent re-
puolcan caucus which selected Alder
man Brannon for chairman it was but
natural the probable action of the DEM
| ocfatlc aldermen should be discussed.
On account of the excellent record
which Alderman Barrett has made in
the board the caucus concluded It
would be pleased if the democrats Sc
lected him. But the republicans decided
they would do nothing to influence the
democratic members in their choice.
Slngularly the terms of every member
OF the present finance committee ex-
pre- with the end of the year except
that of Councilman Philip J. O'ConnelI
Who takes his seat in the upper board
next week. Partly for this reason and
partly because ne is willing to aid
others instead Of grasping everything,
IN sight, Alderman Barrett Will waive
the claim that precedent gives him and
AIderman-elect O'C0nnell viii be
named as the representative of the
democrats from the board of aldermen
on the finance committee.
Strangely enough the same thing will
| take place in the common council
among the democrats. Councilman John
n. Connolly of ward 3 is senior member
of the democratic side of the house in
the lower body and could have the nom
| nation of his party, which would be
equivalent to election as the republi-
cans are willing. But Con- 'lman Con-
nelly is content to withd After him
Councilman John r. OF and John
Il. Meagher divide senio ty honors.
They concluded to avoid friction or A
test of strength and settled the matter
amlcably Councilman O'Leary being
the fortunate one. Thus his name will
be presented as the choice of the demo-
Gratis.
Another place which is Of interest to
the democrats is member of the board
OF city hospital trustees. Nothing def
mite has been done as in the other in
stances, but Councilman 3. II. Nc
Mahon's name is most frequently
heard. He has done excellent service in
the council and as yet has not been re-
Warded by position in an elective
office.
The city council cannot finish its bus
mess for the year tomorrow evening
The grade crossing commission says so.
and what the grade crossing commits
sion says goes. 1t might be possible to
wind up the affairs of 1898 tomorrow
evening, but for the report of that COM
mission. But the commission can not
have the report ready, and thus a spe-
clal meeting of the city council will be
necessary That meeting will probably
be called for Friday evening"
committee of the grade crossing
commission is getting out a report
which will be presented to the CITY
council. The committee consists of Irv-
ing E. Comins, ex- Mayor Charles G.
Reed and Councilman John r. Back.
The completion of the report has been
unaYoidably delayed ON account of the
illness of Mr. Comins. He has assisted
in drafting the report, but could not
accomplish as much as he otherwise
would.
The report will not be one to make
anybody go into the air with excite
ment The only real recommendation
which it Will contain is one that the
grade crossing question be referred to
the next city government. 1t is barely
possible that such action would be
taken in the premises regardless of the
recommendation for the grade crossing
problem Will exist next year, and the
only authority to deal with it is the
city council.
However, after a junket of several
days duration in southern cities, some
people might think the grade crossing
Fmmission a trifle slow if it did not
make some kind of recommendation.
What the remainder of the report will
consist Of members of the committee
refuse to say. They dismiss the ques-
toner with the reply that it will con-
tain an account of the work which they
have done since their appointment
Although yesterday was Christmas,
and Sunday at that, members of the in
coming city council could not walk
along any of the principal streets
without being held up every few steps