Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1909-11-27
ANOTHER EMPTY SCRAP
OVER THE LIBRARY
Council Tangled Up Over
Mayors Rulings
But 1t Wound Up By No
Appropriation Being
Made.

Made.
The City Council at its last meetinf
got badly tangled up on parliamentar,
law. OF course it arose over the Car.
negie Library. The library has taker
the place of city lights as the cause o.
ENHANCEMENT in that honorable body
A meeting that doesn't have a FIVE K
fifteen minutes verbal battle about tbs
library appropriation is very apt TO b.
q meeting that has been hastily ad
journed to permit the members to &c
to the theatre or some other enter
tainment
At the meeting Wednesday night AL
derman Allen re-introduced his reso-
luton calling for an appropriation
every month. without limit of time, OF
SIS for the maintenance of the library
You are not in order" promptly
declared the Mayor. Neither you nor
Alderman Eldridge has right to in
troduce a resolution or vote on one
apropriating money for the library OF
which you are trustee"
Alderman Allen insisted that this
ruling was absurd. I'VE are not de-
riying any pecuniary benefit from the
office of trustee of the library, said
he. "It Is purely an honorary one.
We are not personally interested in
it in any way, any more than any 9TH
er citizen. We are simply acting as
the representative of the entire public
and not In an individual capacity. |
hold that your honor's position is not
tenable. If We have no right to vote
on this matter then Your Honor has
no right to vote in this Council on
matters pertaining to the public
schools, as by virtue of your office you
are a member of the Board of Educa-
ton. There would be just as much
sense in that ruling as in this"
Alderman Hawkins and Eldridge
seconded Aid. Aliens. resolution. Aid.
Eldridge stated that he was opposed
to the city taking over the library, but
under the existing conditions he be-
lieved it should be supported.
Orerruled By Mayor.
Aid. Allen then went into details as
to the responsibility and liability Of
the city to the library. He insisted
that Council should act and establish
the library on permanent solid foun-
dation. The designations of the trus-
tees were before Council and he fav-
ored their acceptance and the appoint
ment of new board by Council.
Alderman Eldridge at this juncture
withdrew his second as he stated he
had doubts as to his right to vote.
Mayor Fielder then overruled the
motion.
An appeal from the decision of the
Mayor was at once taken
Alderman Eldridge stated that ne
believed that with a full board the
appropriation would be made without
the votes of Aid. Allen and himself
and he was willing to wait until then.
The appeal by Aid. Allen from the
ruling of the Mayor was taken viva
voce. All voices were In favor of the
appeal, Aid. Eldridge apparently not
voting.
Mayor Fielder then ruled that it took
four 70 make a majority and that hura-
9besshad not voted. therefore the mo-
ton had not been sustained.
Alderman Allen was manifestly de,
cidedly irritated by this decision. He
was on his feet at once.
Il insist that this council is govern
ed by the majority rule" said he
Three voted to sustain the appea
from the ruling of the Mayor. One
did not vote at all and none votet
against it. hold that the appeal wai
sustained"
Il hold that it was not" said th'
Mayor imperturbably Il hold that
takes four votes to make a quorum
and there were not four voting"
Alderman Allen then moved an ap
peal from this ruling of the Mayor.
Again Mayor Fielder overruled hi
motion, declaring it out of order.
There isn't any sense in such pro
ceedings as this" declared Alderma
Allen. Under such a ruling as thl
the right of Council to do business ca
be held up at any time
Mayor Fielder smiled somewha
grimly and held to his ruling thi
there was no quorum voting an
therefore the Mayors previous rulin
still stood good. sz
III OyerruIed the Mayor.
Alderman Allen then appealed frol
the ruling that there was no quorul
present for the transaction of sue
business as related to the library
The vote stood: Ayes: Poole, Allel
Hawkins; Eldridge not voting. Nay
Mayor Fielder.
| Mayor Fielder then stated that tt
| Continued on Fourth Page.)