The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-24
GEO. A. SHEETS ELECTION
is CLAIMED BY FRIENDS
Through Clever Maneuvering Seven Of Thirteen
COunCimen Present Voted For Hin.
Attorneys Assert Rule Of That Body Requiring Eight Votes In
valid as Conflicts With Statutes

lau manner of charges had been made
against Mr. Sheets, and thal lnasmucl
as none of them had ever been proFau.
De- saw no reason why the detective
should not Doe given an opportunity b.
clear himself So he voted aye.
When the vote was announced Dry
President C0turell the general impress
sion was that Mr. Sheets appointment
had been killed. and Cottrell so al-
nounced the result smiiingiy.
But according % opinions by Attor-
ney General Breeder. Assistant Attor-
ney General White and other prluineu-
attorneys. the majority OF one secured
last evening was an that was aec-s-
sary TO confirm the appointment Ilelr
position is as follows.
The statutes provide that q council
can transact business with quorum
of that body present They also Dra-
vide that "a majority of quorum is
sufficient 20 transact an business.
There are but two exceptions, one Zee
iatlNg lO the passage OF ordnance and
the other 90 the assuming ~ LabUI-.
ties 10y the city. In both those iu-
stances the statutes expressly state
that an Affirmative vote of "a majority
of the members of the council is neces-
sary TO pass them. There IS no refer
ence made 90 appointments.
Therefore the contention OF eminent
attorneys, including the attorney gem
graI, IS that Che election of Sheets. lp
having received a majority OF The votes
OF those present at the time the ape
po.ntment was submitted is perfectly
legal and viii successfully Withstand
the most searching scrutiny of the
highest tribunal OF the state, the SUE
pTeme court.
Scheme Originated a Year Ago.
But for the fact that Councilman
Hewlett took a European trip last year.
AZ the time when the attempt was
made 10 confirm Mr.. Sheets as chief 0t
police, which however. failed. she same
scheme that was so successfully worked
last evening would have been maneu-
yered.
When Chief Paul resigned it was
hoped that the appointment of Mr
Sheets could be e1ected in a manner
other than that praciced lasr evening.
Every pressure possible was brought lo
bear upon the different members of the
council TO vote for the detective Hul
az no time was 10 considered certain
that the generally supposed necessary
eight votes were to be relied upon.
Several times it was thought thaf
Councilmen Sharp and Fernsuom
could be depended upon, but just -
often lt was thought tRey would -
support Nr. sheets' - 10 h0r,
eight votes .-.-.s1
mayor and 'Ais|ftiends j.
game Hfs fndors
They were waiting unt1 a. Grll1 af
the COUNCIL when there would etula mas
Jority present that would vote Tor Str
Sheets. The 0ppOrtune time came las-
evening Councilman Robinson W
out of the city and Councilman Feru-
sJr0m was guaranteed az home
councilman sharp, at lhe last mos
ment, was induced 20 vote for SEeefe
he knew there were not eight presal
who would east their vote iu the ar
fImauve, and felt safe in ansWerine
aye when his name was called aftar
the communication of the mayor had
been read.
Councilman Hewlett had the same
feeling, and voted with the six members
of the council who were in the scheme
And so the alleged confirmation ~
Mr.. Sheets was effected.
That Mayor Thompson has been watt
ing for just such an opportunity IS
presented itself last evening Us indie
Gated by the fact that the date of the
letter of appointment OF 1Ir. Sheets
had been raised. Tx was written 0r
typewriter but the date OF yesterday
had been inserted in ink. showing I'D
the minds of those who happened t0 u0-
uce the letter carefully. that t had
been written some time ago and held
in reserve.
The purpose was to await q time
when there would be a majority OF
those present who would vote Tor lr
Sheets and fl came last evening
through the absence OF C8mcTmen
Robinson and Fernsr0m. and tie pres
sure brought to bear upon CounciImeu
Sharp and Hewlett 10 cast their vote
as they did.