The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-30
CoUNCILMEN EXCITED.
Special Meeting to Consider FiremeN's
 Petition Breaks Up tn Disorder.


 The special meeting of the board of councilmen last evening, called to take action regarding the petition of the ire men, broke up in disorder, with nothing accomplished. The three-quarters of an hour of the session was occupied Tn sharp and acrimonious discussion of points of parliamentary law and provi- sions of the charter. The petition of the firemen, which, as will be remem- bered, was before the board at it's last meeting for concurrence with the alder men, was referred back to the lesisla- tive committed tke president of the board holding that the pet ton was not properly before the beard, the commit tee having considered it while the board of councilmen were III session, cont ary to the provisions of the charter.
 As soon as the matter was brought before the board last evening the point was raised that the matter was not properly before the board, inasmuch as MT. Farren of the Fourteenth ward, recommend it and that members of the outlying wards had no vote on such questions, according to the charter. MT. Farren confessed to having voted to recommend concurrence with the alder men and President Anderson ruled that the petition was not properly before the board, the councilman from the Fourteenth ward having no vote on such matters. On this pandemonium broke losse, or rather the councilmen broke loose. Half a dozen sought to speak at once with indifferent effect and the legal phases of the question were discussed in a heated manner. President Anderson asked that time be taken to consult the cot poy ation coun- sel as to whether the member from the Fourteenth ward had a right to vote in committee, but those anxious for im- mediate concurrence with the aldermen spurned the idea A motion to adjourn was lost by large majority. President Anderson called Councilman Hall to take the chair. Councilman Minnix
 
 President Anderson from the floor nov ed to amend by referring the matter to the corporation counsel for hs opinion. Acting President Hall ruled that all motions relative to the petition were out of order, giving as his reason that Pres ident Anderson had previously ruled that the matter was not properly before the board.
 
 Councilman Slade doubted the ruling of the chair and made an appeal to the house. Then the point was raised that there was no quorum. The roll call showed that there were twenty-cna present, two short of quorum. Act ing President Hall declared that there was no quorum and that by virtue of that fact the meeting was adjourned. Several of the members protested that there were members enough in the lob by to make a quorum, but to no pur- pose. Then it was proposed by some that they get together and organize the chamber by themselves, but this project was abandoned. Councilman Slade in- stead went to the mayor, who was in executive session with the board of finance, and secured a promise from him that if a majority of the council men would sign a petition to that ef- feet he would call another extra meet ing of the board tonight A petition was at once drawn and twenty sigma lures were obtained in short time SD that there is no doubt but that there will be another meeting called either for tonight CT tomorrow night.