The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-05


man. with he announcement that. If
they were not, the board would appoint
the committees Under such a threat
/ peremptorily refused, and still, per-
emptorily refuse to change the COM
mittees.
So that the issue-the plain issue
without the possibility of mistake-is:
Will the board sustain the mayor in
the exercise of a right never before dis
puted, or will it disorganize the city
government and Introduce dicord SIM
ply to crafty the peculiar ambition of
two or three of it's members to be char
men of certain committees?
Your action in setting aside the ar
rangement of committees made by the
mayor, and thus putting him out of
touch with the board is not only un-
precedent, revolutionary, and not based
upon consideration of the public inter-
est, but is based solely and exclusive
ly Upon the pitiful and unrnanly whine
Of disappointed aspirants for chair
m~anShipS. You are welcome to present
that spectacle to the public to whom
you are responsible, n with the result
/ am not at all concerned.
Notwithstanding the evident n no.
torious antagoniSm to the supposed
wishes of the mayo manifested by a
majority of the board from the begin
ming, l. nave nOpeQ anu USSlTeu 10 nave
and to preserve harmony in the ad-
ministration. That hope seems vain,
n 1 abandon it. All responsibility
except such as strictly and technically
attaches to the chief executive officer
of the city is henceforth upon you.
I shall as such chief executive, leave
no doubt about my authority.
I nave nothing to do with making
laws or ordinances for the city-you
have nothing to do with the execution
of them.
Higher authority than yours declares
me to be 1.-The chief executive officer to
whom all others shall be subordinate"
I intend to be what the law says I am,
and you may take notice thereof ord
govern yourselves accordingly.
ALDERMAN HARRISS' REPLY.
The Mayors remarks were punctuat-
ed by applause from the spectators.
Thepe was clapping of hands, yells and
waving of hats.
After the applause died away Alder
man Harriss said he wanted tc say for
himself that it was not true that he
had made a threat when he and Alder
man VonGlahn called at the mayors
residence.
Mayor Waddell reminded him that
his written remarks as read stated that
they strongly minated" and the
word threat was not used.
Alderman Harriss acknowledged that
there was IN intimation but NJ threat.
He said as for what he had further to
say in reply to the mayors emarks
would be said in writing-that he would
take the same privilege as the mayor
in writing out what he had to say.
ANOTHER ORDINANCE AS TO THE
COMMITTEES.
Alderman Harriss offered the follow
ing additional ordinance, and upon a
call for the ayes and nays, it was also
adopted by a vote of Z to 2, to wit:
THE Board of Aldermen of the City
of Wilmington do enact:
Section 1. That all of the standing
committees and all other committees
necessary for the better government
Of the city of Wilmington shall be ap-
pointed by the board of aldermen of
said city.
Section 2. That the standing COM
mittees shall consist of the following:
COMMITTEE on Lights.
Committee on Finance.
Committee on Fire Department.
Committee on Markets..
Committee on Ordinances.
Committee on Police.
Committee on Public Buildings.
Committee on Sanitary Affairs.
Committee on Sewerage.
COMMITTEE On Streets and Wharves.
Committee on Waterworks.
Section 8. That each of said stand
ing committees shall consist of not less
than three members of the board of al
dermen, and the members thereof shall
be elected by the board, and said men,
bers of each of sal committees shall
elect one from their number as it's
chairman.
Section 4. All avs or ordinances in
conflict herewith or repugnant hereto
are hereby repealed.
Passed this the 3rd day of April, A.
D. 1901"
On motion of Alderman Harriss, the
meeting at S:35 p. m. adjourned.