The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-07

spring some trap to capture the place.
The division would stand eleven Dem
ocrats to ten Republicans with the
council intact. and, as Mr.. Grier and
Mr.. Godshall were absent the Demo-
cratic majority would remain the
same. The Democrats however. un-
derstood that the Republicans counted
on one of the Democrats to support
Mr.. Keller for chairman, and they
were expecting that an attempt would
be made to capture the place for Mr..
Keller BY having Mr. GrifIlths resign
the chair and then go into the cleo
ton of his successor before the resig-
nations were offered.
The Republicans understood that the
Democrats proposed to capture the
place for Mr. Calpin by having the
election take place Immediately upon
the designations being presented. Then
the councils would stand seven Demo-
Gratis as against three Republicans, if
the resignng members refraned from
voting as they might be expected to
do. If they insisted on voting, the di-
vision would be ten Democrats as
against nine Republicans. Even with
q backslider or two the Democrats
y,
as they had promises of support. so
It was reported from several of the
accused councimen of Republican ten
dency.
ELECTION POSTPONED.
But after a lot of jockeying Il sort
of mutual understanding was reached
that the election of II chairman would
not be attempted and the meeting was
proceeded with.
All the routine business was finished
up before there was any hint of the
all important matter for which the
meeting was specially called.
Chairman Grifiths arose and after
brief period of hesitancy said:
Gentlemen Of the Common Council We have
now arrived at the serious part OF the meeting
Several OF your members are compelled to re-
sign in pursuance to an agreement entered into
with the Municipal league. 1t is not necessary
for me to deal with the details OF the aIlir.
Our local papers tool, care of that What !
want TO say is this: | thank You heartily Tor
your courteou, treatment and support during
the eight months | have occupied the chair Our
meetings have always been pleasant; not sin
gle incident has taken place that could he
called n breach of dccorum. 1t is unfortunate
that this thing has occurred. but as YOU all
know there is the liability always that SOM
thing will crop up sometime in any mans life
that-that. well. that is regvettnbe. We are
now about to receive the designations. The
sooner done the better and so on. As n favor
| ask you to let Mr.. Keller take the chair tc
receive the designations. Gentlemen. | bid you
adion
Mr.. GrinIths ispol;e feclingly all
through his address and as he stepped
from the platform his countenanca
betokened no small menta! pain.
His resignation was granted by tie
Democrats by silent assent. Mr.. Kcl-
ler took the chair and then one after
the other the eight designations We're
read in the following order: Charles
T.. Wenzel. II. II. Reese. ~. NJ. Wat
kins, j. J. Grier. NJ. V. Morris. II. T..
Morris, Charles r.. Godshall, w. ".
Gritt'ths.
RESERVATIONS READ.
Clerk Lynett's usually robust voice
was lowered to Il feeble melancholy
pitch as he read the resigna tions. and
there was q deep silence throughout
the whole proceeding among the men,
bers, save when q. motion to accept 6.
resignation was being Put, and voted
upon. AS IN the select branch the
voting was low toned and participated
in only by two or three members at q
time.
AT the conclusion of the meeting tho
retired members received hearty hand
shakes from their more fotunate
brethren. Tt was extremely cmbarrass
ing all around as the most that could
be exchanged was well good bye,
Old man."
A joint resolution was passed fixing
Tuesday, December Is. as the time
for holding the special election to fill
the vacancies.
The board of revision and appeals
meets this afternoon, and ii is prob
able that designations of Nqessrs.
Thomas, Norris and Eeese will be
forthcoming.