The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-04

The snap reorganization effected by
the Langstaff faction of the poor board
two weeks ago was yesterday over
turned, and a complete set of new Of
flcers installed. There was no end Of
excitement while the thing was being
done; for a time there was presented
the novelty of two sets of officers at
tempting to do business at the same
time.
Reese G. Brooks was elected presl-
dent; c. j. Gillespie, secretary; Edwar /
Farr, collector; E. NJ. Vernoy, treas
urer; John f. Scragg, solicitor; DR..
Morgan j. Williams, DIR. Herman Bes-
sey, Dr. NJ. II. quinn, DR.. p. +. Gun
ster and Dr. j. ID. Garvey, outdoor
physicians. The selection Of Hillside
Home officials was postponed until
next meeting.
At the previous session, when Mr..
Brooks was on his way to Florida for
short visit and a vacancy was exist.
ing in Mr.. Terppe's place, Messrs.
Langstaff, Murphy and Fuller made
an attempt to effect a reorganization
Messrs. Paine and Shotton protested,
and when it was seen by them that
their protests went for naught they
bOltcd from the room for the purpose
OF breaking a quorum. While they
were gathering up their hats coats
and overshoes and hurrying to the door
MIR. Fuller, as chairman, was rushing
through the formalities of electing Mr..
Langstaff chairman. Mr.. Shotton was
disappearing through the door as
Chairman Fuller was declaring MI.
Langstaff elected.
CLAIMED AN ELECTION.
Holding that there was a quorum
present when the vote was taken and
that a majority Of those present voted
for Mr.. Langstaff, the Langstaff peo-
pie claimed he was duly elected and
installed him in the chair.
Mr. Brooks, who was Mr.. Langstaff S
opponent for the chairmanship, came
back from Florida post haste with a
determination to undo the work of the
Langstaff people, and he did it. Thurs
day afternoon Judge Archibald appoint
ed in Mr.. Terppe's place F. j. Dick
ert, and when the regular meeting
opened yesterday afternoon he was
found lined up with the Brooks people.
Mr.. Langstaff was on hand early and
took his position at the president $
desk. He called the meeting to order
and directed the secretary. w. S. Lang
staff, to proceed with the reading of
the minutes Of the last meeting. The
secretary's minutes set forth that with
quorum present majority had elect
ed w. S. Langstaff president. 1t also
made mention of the fact that Messrs
Paine and Shotton had bolted the meet
ing and broken a quorum, making it.
necessary to adjourn without transact
ton of any further business.
When the secretary concluded the
reading of the minutes, the fun began.
Messrs, Brooks, Shotton, Paine and
Dickert cOntended that the proceedings
under which Mr.. Langstaff presumed
to act as president were irregular.
while Messrs Langstaff, Fuller ana
Murphy took the opposite stand.
Mr.. Brooks opened the ball by char
acterizlng the whole affair as school
boy trick, without reason or precedent
and so clearly irregular that it could
not under any possibility stand a test
of law.
MIR. FULLER EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Fuller went on to explain from
his standpoint how the thing was reg
ular. There were at least four mem
bers present during the election and
three of them voted for Mr.. Langstaff
The rules of the poor board, he con-
tended only required majority of q
quorum to elect and not majority Of
the members elect.
DIR. Paine answered him, that even
admitting this, Mr.. Langstaff did not
receive majority, for the chair has
no right to vote except on a call of the
ayes and nays and there was no such
call.
Mr.. Fuller answered back that DR.
Paine was wrong. According to Smulls
legislative handbook, the speaker of
the house of representatives can vote
on any question and these were the
rules to be followed by the poor board.
Some further time was consumed in
this sort of debate and then Mr.. Brooks
moved that the minutes be not ap.
proved.
Mr.. Langstaff refused to entertain
the motion. Mr.. Shotton appealed from
the decision of the chair, but Mr.. Lang.
staff would not let the secretary nut
the motion on the appeal
Mr.. Langstaff interjected the remark
that he was duly elected president and
proposed to act as such. If his election
was illegal it could be ascertained by
taking the matter to court. Until court
decided against him, he intended to
act as president.
Mr.. Shotton advanced as a further
q - Z
tention, thai the previous meeting
went into the matter of permanent or
ganization without first approving the
minutes of the preceding meeting.
PROCEEDED TO ACT.
"Well if they won't act as officers
we'll get officers that will" said Mr..
Brooks jumping to his feet. DIR. Paine
was elected secretary pro tenn, and Mr..
Brooks chairman pro TEN, the Brooks
quartette alone participating in the
election.
Mr.. Brooks standing at his desk,
proceeded to conduct business as tenn
porary chairman, while Mr.. I.angstaff
seated at the desk on the platform.
endeavored TO carry on business as
permanent president.
Gan who support the appeal from
the decision of the chair viii please
rise TO their feet" said ChairmeIl
Brooks.
"a there are no objections to the
minutes they will stand approved as
read" declared Mr. Langstan from
the presidents chair.
Thus the two presiding officers con-
tinued for some time, Mr.. LangstaTf
trying to go ahead with the regular
order Of business and Mr.. Brooks car
ryins on the business Of reorganization.
Mr. Brooks was named for perman.
ent chairman by Mr.. Shotten and voted