The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-05
UNFORTUNATE CONTROVERSIES
THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OVERRULED
MAYOR WADDELL LAST NIGHT.
Ordinance Adopted Upsettfng all
the Committees He had Appointed on
Monday Nfght-The Vote was z to 2,
With One Alderman Absent-The
Mayor Gives Them a Piece OF His
Mind.

The board of Aldermen held a special
meeting last night at S o'clock, in ac-
cordance with a call Issued by Mayor
A. NJ. waddell at the request Of three
members Of the board.
Mayor waddell presided and the fol-
lowing were in attendance. Aldermen
C. l. Spencer. j. T. Maunder, H. P.
West. w. c.. VonGlahn. George Har-
riss. E. F. Johnson. E. P. Bailey, Louis
n. Skinner and C. C. Parker. Absent,
Alderman W. z. Mann.
The board was called to order at s
p. m, with a large number of citizens
in attendance as intensely interested
spectators.
The Mayor stated that yesterday af-
ternoon Alderman Harriss called on
him with a petition from three alder
men for a meeting of the board to be
called for the purpose of repeating the
ordinances or resolutions establishing
the various standing committees of the
board.
The mayor said a quorum was pres
ent, and he felt that it was his duty to
remind the board that since the recess
taken on Monday his board is legally
in continuous session till next Monday
night. He remarked that how a special
meeting could be held pending a regu-
lar meeting he was at a loss to say.
However. that was a matter for the
board.
What is the pleasure of the board?"
asked the mayor
MULTIPLICATION ORDINANCE
Alderman Harriss then arose II
read the following ordinance which he
submitted for PASSAGE:
'"The board of aldermen of the city
of Wilmington do enact:
Section 1. That all ordinances here
tofore passed, if any there be, giving
the mayor the right and power to ap-
point committees for the urpos of
carrying on and conducting the bust
ness affairs Of the city of Wilmington,
be, and the same are hereby repealed.
Section 2. That all appointments of
committees heretofore made, either by
the mayor or board of aldermen, or by
the mayor and board of aldermen, be
and the same are hereby vacated, set
aside and declared null and void.
Section 8. That this ordinance shall
US III lOTCe lTOuH anu d1lS LIZ passage
Of the same.
Passed this the 3rd day of April, A.
D.. 1901"
derman VonGlahn.
The mayor inquired of Mr.. Harriss
if there are such ordinances referring
to the appointment 81 committees as
the ordinance offered by him proposes
to repeal.
Alderman Harriss replied that he
was not aware of any such ordinances
but if there are his ordinance would re-
peal them any a
Mayor Waddell called attention to
the act of the General Assembly in 1899,
repeating the acts of 1895 and 1897, and
declaring all acts and parts of acts
prior thereto in full force. These acts
date back to 1866 and were passed in
different years. One of these acts de-
clares that the government of the city
is invested in a mayor and board of
aldermen and one declares that it is in
vested in a board of aldermen. Both
are still in force but it was for h
courts to construe which n of them
takes precedence over the other. The
mayor remarked that he was not h
legal adviser of the board. but he de-
sired to explain that no where in the
charter can be find any authority for
the appointment of committees, but he
presumed that it was a matter of
detail under the general statues. He
said the ordinance offered by Alder
man Harriss speaks for itself, and if it
is adopted it deprives the mayor of his
privilege of appointing the committees
These committees are not to be APP
pointed. but have been already appoint
work already one that was a matter
for the board and not for him. Il
await the pleasure of the board he
added
Alderman Harriss explained that the
members of the board regard h COM
mittees as unnecessary and they want
such committees. but there was objec-
ton to their appointment by the mayor
because he had made himself chairman
of the four pricipal committees.
Alderman Johnson raised the polnt
order tina this special meeting OF
the board was not legal; that as the
at it's regular meeting on Mon
iay took a recess, that regular meeting
g still in session, as a matter OF law,
md that while. a regular meeting is In
session h board has no
light or authority to- hold a special
meeting in the meantime.
Alderman Spencer said he would like
hear from h city attorney, and
Alderman VonGlahn requested the
,ity attorney to give his opinion as to
whether it is competent for the board
10 call a special meeting pending a reg
ilar session.
City Attorney William j. Bellamy
aid the question was one more OF par
usage than it was one or
Law. He stated that the legislature has
been called in session pending a recess