Evening journal., 1909-08-05
DEMOCRATS FIX
UP THE MINUTES
Council Members Getting
Records in Shape For
Court Review
MAKE THEM UP IN
THEIR OWN FASHION

city Council was in session for three
hours last night fixing the minutes OF
that body for all the meetings since July
!. At none OF the July meetings were the
minutes read and in order TO see that
they had been entered according to tie
ideas Of the Democratic members OF Coun-
ell the meeting was called for last night
The real object OF the meeting was re-
ported TO be that the Democrats were got
ting the records in favorable shape TO be
submitted to Superior Court In September.
In some instances the changes made
we're so different from tho way the min
utes read that It caused Councilman BEN
son of the seventh ward 70 ask the quos-
ton whether Council was making new
minutes or just correcting the old onos.
Mr. Benson made this remark during
the time the minutes of July 1 we're be-
ing read
Councilman McGovern. Of the Eleventh
ward. said they (the Democratic mem
bors) were only trying 10 get the minutes
straight and on record as they occurred
on that evening
The notes OF the proceedings Of the diff
ferent meetings held during the month
taken by T.. c. Hardesty were compared
with former Clerk Lewis minutes and
where the former d'd not agree with the
latter. Mr.. Hardcstys notes were substl-
tuted and mado part OF tho minutes.
All reference in the minutes to the writs
that were served upon the members Of
Council was ordered stricken from the
minutes.
A resolution providing the substitution
Of Mr.. Hardesty's notes for Mr.. Lewis
minutes where they did not agree, was Of
ferod By Mr.. Kane and was adopted ;he
Democrats alone voting for the resou-
tion. This action resulted in all the testi-
mony taken at the several hearings In the
contest not included in Mr.. Lewis min
utes being made part OF the minutes.
Clerl; McGovern began by reading the
minutes OF July /. The rules of Council.
adopted at this meeting. did not appar and
thcy were recorded according to the mo-
ton made at that meeting.
1t also developed that the minutes did
not show Dr. Almonds and Mr. Aliens
contest petitions. ON motion Of Mr.. Me-
Govern these petitions were paced on the
minutes.
The minutes Of this meeting showed that
500 was authorized for the Washington
Heights celebration. This note was climi-
mated as Il was claimed that the motion
appropriatlng the amount in question was
passed az the last meeting night In June
The minutes did not show what action
Council had taken with respect 20 the
surer Ross that he had appointed w. s..
Lcdnum as his clerk.
Mr. Kane said he had moved that the
communication be received and the ap-
pointment confirmed which motion was
carried. lie moved last night that his
correction be made i'm the minutes.
In the minutes Of July s a discussion
arose over the wording OF tho minutes
with respect to the petition Of Councilman
Walter Rash for bill Of particulars in
the contest proceedings brought against
him. The minutes showed that the peti-
ton had been offered and on motion oi
Mr.. Benson was ordered received and fled
Mr. McGovern said that on that meeting
night he later made a motion that th'
petition Of Mr.. Rash be laid upon Tho
table which fact did not appear in th'
minutes Gu his motion this correction
was made.
For the meetings OF July i2, 10, 10, 1e 10
p. %. IS and IS. tho greater portion Of th'
minutes kept by clerk Lewis were strickei
out and the notes of Mr.. Hardesty sub
stituted. Thus all the evidence heard il
the contest hearings was spread upon thu
minutes and all references to wrlts wa
| eliminated.
Council adjourned 10 meet this evening