The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-19
City Fathers Must
Say Yes OF No.
NO PEEK-A-BOO
Strings to Telephone Fran
chise-City Hall News.

90 Ia ( pGSI Ou5g lLS past lew udES
and the result of their labors is bound
to result in an interesting state Of af-
fairs when the matter of an election
comes before the city council. There
has been talk to the effect that the cleo
ton will not take place tomorrow night
but from all standpoints it would seem
DESTROYS rather than otherwise that the
election should occur at the next meet
ing of the city government.
Of the candidates who have entered
the field, but three are talked of to any
extent They are George W. BatcheIder.
Theodore P. Brown and George S.
Davis. manager of the local branch Of
the Lowell Arms & Cycle Company.
From what could be learned last night
the candidates named are on about
an equal footing although the friends
of each predict a handsome majority
fer their candidate.
1t came to the ears of friends of Mr..
Davis yesterday that he had withdrawn
from the contest. but investigation
proved this to be altogether incorrect.
Mr.. Davis is very much in the contest
and putting III some of the hardest sort
Of work to land in the office. His friends
claim for him that he is admirably suit
ed for the place and If assurance
amounts to anything will win out.
Mr., Davis is thorough accountant,
having handed a set Of books almost
since boyhood. He has been engaged in
business on Main street for the past 16
years, and, aside from other qualifica-
tions, Is possessed of the one most es-
sential in an office of this sort-a facul-
n ton dino No HI .-Ir
Alright. Mr.. Davis gives as his reason
tor desiring the office, which is perhaps
less remunerative than the position ne
now holds. that he wishes something
that will allow him more time at home
which his present occupation prevents
A peculiar coincidence in connection
with the candidacy of Messrs. Davis and
Batchelder is that Il either is defeated
1t is his desire that the other should Set
the place. George w. Batchelder is a
son of thu late registrar, and aside
from possessing characteristics that fit
him for the office, has had some expert
ence there, serving under his late father
as meter reader and in other capaci-
| ties, There is a strong feeling of sym
pathy in his direction, coupled with the
desire that he should succeed his father
| in the office.
| Mr.. Brown is also looked upon as a
long business career and service as
! president of the common council, which
| gives him an excellent insight into
! municipal affairs. is we'll adapted for
| the office.
| Fred L. Hutchins. the fourth candi-
| date, is still in the field, although not
| looked upon as having as strong a fol-
| lowing as others.
| Should the election take place tomor.
row night, it will be doubly interesting
| from the fact that the voting will
| be conducted in accordance with
| a new law passed March 7, which calls
for yea or nay vote in the election of
| any city officer.
| a copy Of the law follows
| Section When the election of any
| city officer is vested in the common
council. or in the board of aldermen
| or in both acting Jointly or concur
| rently, the election shall not be valid
| unless it is made by a yea and nay vote
each member who is present answering
10 his name when II is called by the
clerk or other proper officer, and vot-
ing yea or nay, or declining to vote,
| as the case may be.
Section 2-Au acts and parts of acts
Inconsistent herewith are hereby re-
pealed.
Section 3-This act shall take effect
upon its passage. approved March I,
1892
The new law had its initial applica-
| ton in Lowell last Monday night.
When the mayor Of that city read the
| laW, it was characterized by members
OF the council as fool legislation" and
various other uncomplimentary terms.
There was some talk Of referring the
matter to the city solicitor, but the
mayor refused to do this
| Since that time, the matter has been
| thoroughly discussed in Lowell and
other cities. and general consensus of
| opinion is that the intent of the law is
| to require city councils to vote for ctty
| officials in the same manner that mem
! bers of the Legislature vote for United
| States senator.
The advent of the new law in Wor-
caster has caused no little speculation
among members of the city council and
a great number of the members applied
at the city clerks office yesterday for
| typewriter copies of the statue. The
principal argument introduced in the
| confusion that might arise when vot-
| ing for several candidates. Members
of the city council and legal fraternity
! as well anticipate little trouble in fol
| lowing the intent of the law
| The same method as that employed
| when voting for a United States sena-
/ tor, is believed to be the most expedi.
| tious and satisfactory method. that is
| when the cOuncilman's name is called
| he shall rise and designate his prefer.
| ence following with the word yes"
| Another way that has been suggested
! is TO read a list of the candidates as
| each members name is called the
member signifying his preference, thus
| following the yea and nay" intent OF
| the vote.
Of course the method of DECLARING
| nv oil
| class of politicians, but it will save con.
! siderable time for defeated candidates
| when figuring out who failed to keer
| their promise.
| 1t is reasonably sure that no action
| will be taken on the petition Of the
Peoples Telephone & Telegraph Com.
| pany although there is a strong likeli.
| hood that considerable will be said OF
the subject. One member of the boarc
of aldermen expresses himself as
strongly opposed to granting the fran.
chise, arguing that the Peoples Com.
pany is not a local issue and that be-
fore the board decides to give away
rights in its streets to outside corpora.
tions it would be well to investigate
what is being considered and what may
result ultimately in the form of a 10.
cal company.
Another member Of the board /,
anxious that the new company be-
granted a franchise, with certain re.
striCtOns.
Opinion is divided as to what should
be done about the matter but all mem
bers of the board are practically unan-
| imous in a desire that the method and
standing of the Peoples company he
| thoroughly investigated before the
| franchise is voted on. 1t is not unlike
| ~ that a committee will he appointed
! tomorrow night to investigate the mat
| ter thoroughly and draw up such re-
strictlons as in their judgment are re-
| quired to meet the case at issue
i L.. III. Il. L