The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-05-19
THE ALDERMEN'S HOT TIME
CITY CLERK SEVERELY REPRr
 HANDED LAST NIGHT.

Printed Mayors Message Against Orders
 of the Board-Nessagc Stricken From
 the JournaI-vote of Censure Moved
 Against Alderman ChilIingworth but
 Afterwards Withdrawn Aldermen
 Rourle Uses Some Plain Language.
 The special session of the board of aldermen held last night proved to be a most interesting one, as well as u most unsatisfactory one, bot to the mayor and to the city clerk. The board voted to approve the journal for the month of May, with the exception of that portion which contained the may ors message, document which was tabled at the previous meeting, not tabled for printing, but tabled with the intention of relegating it to the table without printing. The action of the city clerk in acting contrary to the direction of the board and printing the message in the journal was roundly denounced. The fun began as soon as the roll call had finished. President Lambert at once took up the journal for May and said: Do you discover any errors or omissions in the journal?" A moment of silence ensued while the members turned over the leaves of the Journal, a copy being on each desk, as is the custom. Alderman Dewell was the first to break the silence. He said: T don't know on what authority the mayors message was printed in the Journal It was tabled by this board at the last meeting and this is the first time that l have ever known this board to print document when it had been tabled.', President Lambert evidently not con- sldering MT. Dewell's remarks as pro- test against any portion Of the journal again asked the question concerning errors or omissions. Alderman Dewell: T call that an error, printing the mes sage. Who ordered it printed? I ask the chairman if it is the rule to print documents which are tabled"
 President Lanbert-t'I don't know.ss
 Alderman Dewell-"Why was It printed then?"
 President Lambert-'I can't tell. DC you then consider the journal all cor- rect except the n1essage?"
 Alderman Dewell-"I would like to have the record of the last meeting read" NJ
 Alderman Brennan-"I want to knowE who authorized the printing of that message. Isn't 1t in the province of the city clerk to see that the journal is properly printed?"
 City Clerk Lyon-"It is the duty of the city clerk to print the Journal. The mayors message is submitted to this board as the charter requires had 1t printed because thought it was q mark of disrespect to the mayor not to print it, and was not disposed to show such disrespect. considered 1t my duty to have the message printed.''
 Alderman Brennan-"This board IS responsible if it has done anything wrong; the city clerk Is not responsi- ble."
 President Lambert-"The city clerk has evidently had printed correctly the doings of the court of common council. He has explained that he thought 1t was his duty"
 Alderman Dewell-"Time and again papers have been tabled by this board and not printed. I think that the city clerk has done something which he had no authority to do; something contrary to the wishes of this board. Now that message was printed illegally"
 President Lambert--"Gentleme we ought not to waste time on such a triv- ial matter.''
 Alderman Dewell-"T do not consid- CT it trivial matter for the clerk to overrule motion of the board"
 Alderman Chillingworth-"To dispose of this matter I move that the journal be approved"
 Alderman Dewell-"r move to amend by striking out the mayors message for the reason that the message was H. legally printed against the precedent of the board, The city clerk printed 1t on his own authority
 This amendment was seconded by Alderman Guernsey.
 Alderman Ryan--"I would like to know if this body orders what it sees fit to print in the journal or does the clerk of the board print what he sees fit? At the last meeting of the board 1t was voted to table the. mayors mes- sage. I don't see why the city clerk has right to waste taxpayers money without the authority of the board It is nearly time that the representatives of the taxpayers had voice here. Why, it is ignoring the taxpayers en- tirely. He had no right to print in the journal anything not approved by this board.'
 Alderman Brennan-"I also want to add a protest to the remarks of the clerk that he thought that an injustice was being done to the mayor and that it was his duty to respect the mayor and print his message when the board ordered it otherwise. In that language he characterizes my action as a mark of disrespect to the mayor. Now want to protest against that"
 Alderman Guernsey-s'I seconded the motion to amend of the alderman from the Eighth because think in this par ticular instance 1t was a gross viola tion of subordinate duty to print that message. The members voted to table the mayors message because they did not think it worth printing. I second