The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-05
FORTHWITH"
Does it Mean Immediately or Some Other
Time ?

Since the joint convention of the city
council, Monday evening, adjourned
without electing a street commissioner.
for which it was held, there has been
more or less doubt expressed about the
legality of such action. For that mat
ter several points which came up at
the meeting of the city council have
been discussed with a great deal of Sc
GIOusneSs.
me doubt regarding the legality of a
Joint convention held to elect an official
When the city council fails to perform
mat DUTY in concurrence is created over
the Interpretation of the rule for such
proceeding as outlined by the city char
ter Inc rule says that in the failure
ol an election by concurrent vote, the
ofhcer shall be elected by ballot in Joint
convention, which shall be held forth
with. The doubling ones think the elec-
tloh should have been made. Others in
tefpfet the rule to mean that the Joint
convention shall be held forthwith and
aiter It IS convened it can do as If
pleases. 40 ~
City Solicitor Arthur P. Rugg was
SSsheu MS opinion on the point by The
ply man he hesitated about express
ing any opinion, because he NAV no
asked to rule on that point by the c,+v
council itself. Although he would nor
give dennite answer he said enough
TO indicate that the Joint canvent,0n
was well within it's province when If ad-
JouTned without selecting an of1cIa1
Sald ne: suppose the convention hal
lolei uhIlI the men Were worn our. nm
e 81 nature would no longer stand the
journ?" i'' ilot du-
The tilt which occurred in the hoard
Oh aldermen in reference to the ioipt
convention in which President Henry
ramon sustained a question of order
raised by Alderman Philip ]. O'C,onnaII
mat the body could not adjourn untiI II
itSu proceeded to the common connect
airai,l, 10 hoId Joint convention. was
discussed considerably since the meet
ing. Some authorities maintain that Al
herman O'Connell was right. while 9TH
efs say the board of aldermen could
nave adjourned and not violated tba
pIoNSloh OF the charter which saws the
convention is to be held forthwith. AL
lltfilan OConnell and his support ers
MAINTAIN that forthwith means inrne-
,u'atelN, ana that no other motion or
business even motion to adjourn
should come in before. CARRYING oi,t tba
reg ulfenents of the charter Those who
Hoiu contrary opinion claim that n
Ilotlon 70 adjourn being in order at anv
lnne could be made, and if the board
went into joint convention imrnediatalV
after coming together after adjourn
ment' that fulfilled the requirements Of
the rule, inasmuch as such action womb
pc lotthWlth' as far as the business
session of the board is concerned
Whatever claim is right. rnembars Of
the city council are smiling over the
TACT that the aldermen could not accom-
pllsh their desire in spite of the point
OF order. Had one of the republican al
dermen appealed from he decision Of
the chair, and when the question was
submitted to the board five republi-
can aldermen voted not to sustain the
chairman Alderman O'ConnelTe noi,,t
would have been disposed of and the ad-
)ournment which the majority desired
would have been accnmnlishd