Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-07
old COUNCIL DIES.
new BODY BORN
MID FLOWERS
New Board of Aldermen Rein
states Gottfried Dries as
City Hall Engineer.
HIS REMOVAL is HELD
TO HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL
Galleries Crowded as New Of
fciaIs Take Seats and
Begin Work.

With the pomp and ceremony GUS
tomary on such occasions, the Com
mon Council of 1910 last night adj
journed sine die after the presentations
had been made to the councilmen in
behalf of their friends and associates
by various aldermen. The Council OF
1911 then took their seats. and during a
session of the adjourned meeting dis
posed of the first business of the year.
The Council chamber looked like a
flower garden, and the many ladies'
that were present made it seem as
though a reception was in progress.
The new Council confirmed the ap-
Francisco as inspector of a and gas
meters, the temporary appointment of
w. T. Dempsey as stenographer in
the office of the city clerk, and the
temporary appointment of b. j. Kelly
as assistant sealer of weights and
measures by City Sealer Sullivan. This
met with some opposition, but was
finally carried. The new Council also
Tescinded a motion of last years Coun-
ell which declared the position of cleo
trical engineer vacant, and reinstated
Gottfried Dries as electrical engineer
of the City Hall.
Tho reinstatement of Mr.. Dries
was not accomplished until after
Alderman Congleton, leader Of
the Republican minority, and
other Republican aldermen had been
defeated in their fight to lay the nat
ter on the table until the courts would
have decided the case.
Majority Leader Reynolds introduced
the motion TO rescind the motion
passed by the old Common Council to
Gust Dries ard to reinstate him. Alder
mar Congleton was on his feet i'm
mediately and made an amendment to
lay the matter on the table. lie stated
that the matter was still in the courts
and that there had been no opinion
from the law department explaining
the status of affairs. Alderman Grice
n Whitfield supported him and urged
the Council to wait until the writ of
certiorari, which Mr.. Dries had OBJ
tanned from the chief justice, would
nave been argued in February. They
explained that nothing would be lost,
as Dries would have to be compen-
stated by the city If the court should
decide in his favor.
Removal Not Legal.
At this moment City Clerk Connolly
announced that he had an opinion from
the law department on the matter
.which-he desired to read. The opinion,
which was signed by Herbert Boggs,
city attorney, stated that, accord
ing to the charter of the city, mo-
tions to appoint and to declare posi-
tions vacant would have to have Il
majority vote of the thirty-two mem
bers of the council and called attention
to the fact that the motion to Dust
Dries received only 10 votes, and not Ii,
which would be a majority of the our
ell. The opinion further states that
for this reason no successful defense
could be made in the case and that MI.
Dries was entitled to his position. The
am endment of Alderman Congleton wal
lost. with s against % votes. The
original motion was then carried by the
same vote.
Alderman Congleton declared himself
not satisfied with the action and re-
gistered a protest to be entered on the
minutes OF the council. His protest
was that the council OF 1911 could not
rescind a motion of thec council of 1910.
There was another clash when a
communication was read from City
Sealer Sullivan, notifying the council
that he had appointed b. ]. Kelly
temporary assistant sealer of weights
and measures. Alderman Congleton
opposed a procedure of this kind be-
cause 1t did not come from the COM
mittee IN weights and measures. His
objection was o%verruled, however. and
the temporary appointment was con-
frmed. The city sealer has a right to
make such a temporary appointment
for not longer than sixty days until