The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-12-23
THREE MORE CITY
OFFICES WILL BIZ
SUBJECT TO SUIT
Contention is Made That There
Was No Quorum of Lower
Board Last Night.
Physician, Marketmaster land
License Inspector.
INVOLVED IN CONTROVERSY
INVOLVED IN CONTROVERSY

Prospects are bright for three more
city Offices to be involved in litiga-
ton, besides the treasurship. City
Physician Harry Williamson Market
master Charles Bell and License In
spector Robert Hicks decline to con-
slider the election last night valid.
and as the new general council.
which comes in the first of the year
Is composed mostly of new material
associated with those, who did not
like the trend OF affairs last night.
developments are anticipated with In
terest.
The odd thing about the situation
Is that neither political party was
satisfied with the result of the cleo
ton. The Republicans do not enjoy
seeing a Republican majority turn
down DR.. Harry Williamson for DR..
w. J. Bass, a Democrat; while the
Democrats, who got the city physic-
ian, a sanitary inspector and wharf
master out of a deal In which the
Republicans had everything their
own way to start WITH. are sore at
the way License Inspector Robert
Hicks was traded OF.
All the other old officers were re-
elected.
II seems that the Republican eau
cused and then the slate was broken.
The first slate was replaced with the
present one, and members of the gen.
eral council themselves say they did
not vote for the men OF their choice
in every instance. Mayor Smith
wanted wade Brown for license in
spector and the councilman he APP
pointed in First ward, Mr.. Clayton,
declined to be party to the deal and
remained away from the meeting
last night.
That the whole AFFAIR was a deal
for division of Offices is apparent
from the fact that both party organic
ations were averse TO turning out the
men already in office. especially since
they have all given satisfaction, and
neither party gained in Offices.
. Nobody. not a party to the deal
seems to be pleased over the joint ses
sion CT the general council last night.
Indeed. 1t is much questioned wheth-
er 1t was sure enough joint session.
Seven of the ~ members of the low
er board, three Republicans and four
Democrats, remained away. The
nice point made is that a joint ses-
sion is a session of the boards and
not OF individual members of the
general council; wherefore II requires
not only the presence of a majority
of the general council, but of each
board as we'll; so that 1t can be said
there was quorum of both boards
present. There wasn't a quorum OF
the council board present last night.
This point is supported by the
opinions of former mayors of the city
and many attorneys who have in
|vestigated the subject. 'slhho
Mayor Smith believed there was a
quorum and he was backed with the
opinion of City Solicitor Campbell.
President Hannah. OF the upper board
who presided, accepted this interpre-
tation of the law to guide him. but
on election of the license inspector.
he refused to declare the election, be-
cause the leading candidate did not
receive a majority Of the votes OF all
the members. An appeal from the
chair carried.
Councilmen Hold Out.
Members OF the lower board of the
general council who remained away
from the meeting last night say they
do not regard the election as legal.
and will refuse to recognize the Off
cials. They say 1t is not their place
to take 1t to the courts, but one mem
Der inferred that the incumbents.
who were not reelected. might seek
to prevent the newiy-elected officials
from taking charge of the Offices
January /.
One member of the council this
morning said: 1--WE. the majority
Of the members of the council, do
not believe that the election was
legal last night. This is after advice
from attorneys, and we believe that
the city solicitor did not put the right
interpretation on the charter, which
we believe means that a majority of
each board must be present to con-
stitute quorum. We will not recog-
lize the officials elected last night,
and IL the present officials desire TO
take it to the courts. 1t may assume
something of the condition of the
| ,ity treasury muddle."