Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-08-30
SEIDELL
Won His Point
Easily.
No More Smoking Dur
ing Sessions.
This Was Decided by a Vote Of
Ito z. ;.

1t would seem that the question or
smoking in the Council chamber dur
ing sessions has been settled finally
The decision is that there be no more
smoking.
Shortly after the recess meeting
of the body had convened Friday eve
ming, it was noticed that Mr.. Sawyer
was smoking long, Jackson Square
cigar.
'Mr. Sawyer, wish to call your at
tention to the fact that smoking is not
allowed during the sessions Of this
body" said President Seidell.
by what authority?" replied Mr..
Sawyer. ~
by the authority you have given me
as your chairman"
II don't understand that we ever
gave any one member Of this body
power to lay down arbitrary rules for
the regulation of the other members.
You might as well presume to say
that we shall not take off our coats
during the sessions, or that we shall
all wear white neckties when we at
tend meetings"
1T ought to be sufficient to say that
it would not be in keeping with the
dignity that should be maintained by
this Council" replied President Sci
dell.
Il want to say" rejoined Mr.. Saw
yer, that i have had the honor of be-
ing present mt sessions of the United
States Senate and of Congress, and
the members smoke there without re-
straint. l have even seen members
of these bodies so drunk that they had
to be removed from the rooms and
taken home"
AT this stage of the controversy,
President Seidell called Vice President
Gauthier to the chair. and prepared
to make more elaborate defense of
his position.
Mr.. Gauthier came to the chair
promptly, and his first act was to
make both combatants sit down. They
obeyed, doubtless remembering the
manner in which Mr.. Gauthier once
ordered one jeremiah Amundson to
subside and be good.
President Seidell did not resume the
chair, but went to seat near that
of Mr.. Sawyer. Chief Durkin at
once placed himself in readiness to
call the riot guns into action, if any
attempt were made by Messrs. Sci
dell and Sawyer to come together in
any other manner than by words, but
they kept the peace we'll, considering
that they were both visibly very angry.
After the passing of the payroll or
dinance, President Seidell arose and
revived the discussion on the smoke
question by presenting a motion to the
effect that there be no smoking during
the sessions of Council. He stated
that he had been trying to break up
the habit ever since he became chair.
man.
Mr. Manderbach seconded the mo-
tion, adding that he didn't believe II
looked well to see the CounciImen
smoking during the sessions and also
that it was objectionable to him. "I
quit smoking, two years ago." he said.
because 1t didn't agree with me and
when I sit in room filled with smoke
1t makes my head ache"
Vice President Gauthier said: "Tbis
looks like small business. We came
here to transact business, and it's a
shame that our time is to be taken I'm
by such trifling subject Wedon't care
what Congress or the United States
Senate does We're talking about the
City Council Of Akron. It's shame
that one member of the Council should
be so inconsiderate of the wishes of
the others as to continue to smoke.
AS parting fling, Mr.. Sawyer said.
"If the Councilmen Of the city of Ak
ron never do anything worse than
smoke during their sessions they viii
have no reason for feeling ashamed of
themselves"
The vote on the motion was decisive
being IL to 2, as follows. Ayes
Amundson, Gauthier. Martin. Mander.
bach, Merz, Piske, Rice, Seidell, Shook
Warner, Wilhelm. Nays--sawyer
Ormes. Absent-Hill, Jacobs, Koons.