Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-10
ELDERKlN'S POSITION.

At the special meeting OF the council
last night Mr.. Elderkin, republican alder
man from the eighth ward, took the po-
sition in a brief but we'll worded and very
pointed address that the appointees OF
the mayor ought to be confirmed. unless
objections were urged against them on
the grounds of personal unfitness. Mr..
Elderkin's remarks were a credit to him.
self and the political party that elected
him to represent in part the interests of
this city on the board of aldermen. His
action in supper of the nominees Of the
mayor, based on the fact that the inter-
ests CT the city are suffering from an un-
reasonable and !~eprehensible deadlock,
viii meet the general approval of the re-
publican party. In refusing to be a party
to a scheme to throttle the mayor in the
performance Of the duties delegated to
him by law, the alderman from the eighth
ward has not onay exhibited the courtesy
due from one official to another but has
set an example of fidelity to the interests
Va ~ - NA0l go - Aoiic''-
ed with propriety by other members Of
the city council
In the opinion Of the average citizen
and axpayer the farce that is being
played in the city council has gore far
enough, and the curtain should be rung
down upon it. If any alderman na AGNES
that it is the duty Of a mayor to person.
ally confer with members Of the council
as to. the appointments he may see fl.
to make, and be governed by their sug-
gestiors and advice, he iahors under a
mistaken idea. The law makes it the duty
of the mayor to assume the responsibility
of naming his assistants in the executive
department of the city government,
without reference to the city council. The
power rests in thai body, however, to re-
fuse to confirm his honor appointments
when in its judgment they are inimlcal
to the public welfare, This veto power is
vested in the council, as it is IN the may
or in legislative propositions, to be used
when a check must be placed upon an ac-
ton tha. is unwisely taken and which
threatens the interests Of the people.
The veto power when exercised is U.s.
ually accompanied by an explanation
giving the reasons for it's use. 1t would
be an innovation that would excite sur
prise, were the president of the United
states. or the governor of a state, or the
~, q ci+r Il, QrhIf "a Yi'I r1En the
veto power without the courtesy Of an ex-
PLANTATION. In refusing to confirm a pres
idential appeintee the senate of the
United States invariably gives its rea-
sons. though it may be lone in executive
session. The president is not left in the
dark as to the reason why his appointee
was rejected.
But it appears that the precedent es-
tablished by other legislative bodies, and
by officials endowed with the veto power,
is ignored by the city council of Butte
Not only are the appointees of the mayor
promptly rejected, but no member of that
body has as yet seen fit TO offer a word
of explanation for voting against their
confirmation. So far the mayors noml-
nee for city clerk and his nominee 70,
chief of the fire department have been
rejected, and it is generally understood
that a majority of the aldermen have
entered into an agreement to pursue this
course to the end. If this course has
been agreed upon in dvance of definite
information as to the names that may be
submitted by the mayor, It eliminates
from the controversy the question of per
sonal character ard fitness, and bases the
opposition to his honor upon something
else.
AS no explanations are offered, The
public is not advised as To the reason,
why a majority of the members of The
city council have decided To pursue tli;.
course. All that the taxpayers whC
placed these gentlemen in office know /!
that night after night they quietly turr
down the appoiatees Of the mayor as
fas, as they are submitted for conGrma.
ton. and then lay back aial wait 70,
the next victim.
In the meantime conditions in the city
government are becoming chaotic. For