Evening journal., 1904-05-27
Warm Discussion
City Council adopts
Resolution appointing
Committee to Make an
Investigation
Split in the Democratic
Ranks Brings About
adoption of Measure.
Caused Considerable
Surprise

NA r. ADC
Had a bomb exploded in CITY Coun-
ell chambers last night IL would have
caused no greater CONSERVATION to
some Of the members Of that body than
did resolution presented bv Council-
man Taylor OF the Seventh ward.
The resolution called attention 20 the
wide criticism Of the actions Of the
Board OF Assessment, Revision and
Appeals IN revising the assessments
made on taxable property I'M this city.
by the tax collectors and assessors for
the coming fiscal year. And also pro-
vided for a committee OF five mem
bers OF Council to make an investiga-
lion In the matter.
The committee named In the reso-
luton is composed of Messrs Cannon,
Lynch, McGovern. Taylor and Sim
mons. Three members Of the COM
mittee are Democrats and two Re-
publicans
Resolution Was a Sumner.
The resolution came as surprise to
some OF the Councilmen. MIR. Taylor
moved that it be adopted and the
question Immediately arose as TO
whether such a procedure was In ac-
cordance with the rules and reeula-
uons governing city Council. Section
five Of these rules provides for the an
pointment OF all committees by the
president Of the body As the COM
.mittee was already named In the reso-
lutlon President McNulty declared that
the motion was not in order unless
rule No. was temporarily suspended.
Mr.. Taylor then moved TO suspend the
objectionable rule and the motion was
seconded by Mr.. Spence
Mr.. Cannon thought the rule should
be suspended with entirely so that II
Council desired 10 appoint a committee
| II could be at liberty to do So Mr..
Simmons thought the rule was a bad
one and also favored its suspension.
Reflection on President.
Mr.. McCanerty took exception to the
motion. He said IL was reflection
on the president OF the body and FOR
one he would not favor such n pro-
ceeding. He further said he did not
like to see things done I'm such a
"slip-shod" way.
Mr. Lynch. who is one OF the mem
bers OF the committee named In the
I
OF the resolution until II was presented
and had not been consulted regarding
his pleasure in regard to serving on
the committee. He said however that
he would not shirk his duty and
thought that an investigation should
be made.
Motion to Lay Over Lost.
Mr.. Kane, who is one OF the main-
bers OF the Board OF Assessment, Re-
vision and Appeals. said that the board
had used every honorable means to
make a just assessment. He made a
motion to lay Mr.. Taylor's motion over
for one week so that the councilrnen
could acquaint themselves with the
facts I'm the matter and be better able
to vote on the question at the next
meeting Of the body. The motion was
seconded by Mr.. Willis. but was lost
by vote Of eight to five. Messrs. Nc
Govern, Lynch, Reilly. O'Nein and
Cannon voting in the negative with the
Republican cOuncilmen. Mr. Taylor's
motion to suspend rule No 5 was
then adopted. Messrs. Kane, McCaf-
ferty, McNulty. Zebley and willis op-
posing the motion. The adoption OF
the resolution followed.
Harman Gives Opinion.
Before action was taken on Mr..
lTaylors motion to suspend with rule
No. 8, Mr.. Kane asked city solicitor
Harman who was present, for his
opinion on the question. The latter
said that he saw no reason why Coun-
ell could not pass the resolution IL it
saw fit to do so. He had no idea OF
such a thing coming up and had made
no preparation TO meet the emergency.
Mr. Kane asked the city solicitor II
the report Of the committee named in
the resolution, when presented, would
have any effect on changing the deci-
sions of the Board OF Assessment. Re-
vision and Appeals. The latter replied
by saying that the assessment-hoard
was created by an act of Legislature
and City Council had no power to
change assessments after they had
been fixed by the board.
Il only wanted TO ask you the ques-
tion" said Mr. Kane. so that the DEM
ocratic members of this body who
favor the resolution could see the tran
they are being led into"
No Discrimination Used.
President McNulty called Mr.. Nc
Caferty to the chair and took the
! floor. He said that the criticism OF
the Board of Assessments. Revision
and Appeals was mainly due to the
assessment made on the property Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
No attempt to discriminate between
fast and marsh land was made by the
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