The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-26
BROW Ming IS
GIVEN A
JOLT
PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL AT
TEMPTS TO APPLY A Gag"
Republicans Sit Down ON Him, Dick
son, in a Clever Manner Reply
ing TO a Personal Attack

The first tilt of partisan nature
IN the present city council was started
last evening at the council meeting
by President Browning, when. In an
tlcipation Of an opinion from the CITY
attorney which was In the hands OF
the recorder, passing upon the rlghI
of Mr.. Browning to retain his seat as
presiding officer, the president OF the
council announced that he withdrew
all standing committees formerly ap-
pointed by him.
In announcing the withdrawal OF the
committees. Mr.. Browning stated that
he was doing so for the purpose OF
leaving the legally declared president
free to select his own committees,
The Republican members OF the coun-
ell. however, thought they saw mig
ger in the wood pile or. as Council
man Dickson shortly afterwards put
it. President Browning had something
up his sleeve"
The opinion of the city attorney was
that when Mr. Browning was elected
president of the council II was for his
full term of office as councilman, four
years. and that he is the legal holder
Of the position at this time.
Strictly partisan lines were drawn
between the Republican and Demo.
cratic members of the council. The
vote was six Republicans against four
Democrats. when the council refused
to sustain President Browning. de-
clarlng out of order Councilman Dick
sons motion that the committee for
merly appointed by President Brown
Ing and concnrred in by the commit
tee OF the whole. he retained
Animated words followed on both
sides and President Browning became
personal in his address to the council
after he had called Dana TO the chair
The president said that the motion
Of Dickson was out of order and would
not be considered at ALL that there
we're no committees before the coun-
ell because he had withdrawn them.
and that he would proceed to name
his committees. He also contended
tnat ii was a rule OF the council that
the president has the right TO name
the committees. and that If the council
desired 10 change the rule 1t would
require q two-thirds majority vote to
do so.
Councilman Austin appealed from
the decision of the president. a strict
party vote Browning failed to he sus-
tanned the Democrats voting 30 SuS-
tain the presiding officer and the Re
publicanS voting against him.
Councilmen Flygare and Pecry of
the Democratic side OF the house in
s.nuated that Councilman Dickson and
others Of the majority side were dis
courteous to the president In depriy-
Ing him of the right 10 appoint his
committees at that time
Retorts from Dickson. Dana and
Austin were tn the effect that the ma
1ority had yielded a number OF com
miltee positions to favor the minority,
and that they felt they had been more
than fair all the way through They
took exceptions to Browning's at
tempted gag" rule. believing that the
majority OF the council should have
the affairs OF the city in hand. and
conduct the business of the council,
as they were held responsible In city
affairs
To foil the majority In It's determi-
nStlon TO retain the committees for
mer)y appointed by the president.
Councilman Peery made motion that
the matter be referred TO the city at
torney for legal opinion Austin i'm
medlately made a motion that il be
not referred to the attorney. This
question brought forth a more heated
discussion than the previous one. Aus
tin commenting adversely on the for
Tner opinions of the city attorney, re-
ferring particularly to the advice OF
the attorney in the revocation of the
Frye franchise. which involved the
council I'm muddle. President Brown.
ing, sweating under the collar. took
the floor and assailed his colleague.
DR., Dickson. of the Fifth ward
In paying his respects to Council,
man Dickson. Mr Browning stated
that there was a certain councilman
that aspired TO the presidency of the
council. who had been the mover of
the proposition TO get a legal opinion
on the question as to whether the
present president could legally re-
main, and that because his plans had
been thwarted and his wings clip.
ped" he was disgruntled. Continuing
further. he said.
There Is one councilman in the
Fifth ward who imagines that he con-
trolls the whole ward and that the 9th.
er councilman is mere flgure-head "
Dickson's reply was most courteous.
but carried some rich irony which
struck home with force.
When the amendment was carried
by 6 to vote. the matter was drop
ped. the Republicans gaining a COM
plete victory and thwartinG what they
considered an attempt on the part Of
the president OF the council TO enforce
gag rule and foIst upon the council
an entirely new personnel In the COM
mitteos