The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-12-26

position OF the nelson maCCef the Dig
crowd dwindled away. The routine
of the meeting was unimportant and
adjournment was taken few min
utes later. -
The vote for Commissioner Mel
sons suspension followed a period
of florid lime kiln club speech making
in an atmosphere surcharged with
intense feeling and open and undis-
guised bitterness. The lie was pass
ed between Aldermen Heritage and
McGhee, when the latter alleged Mr..
McGhee had stated to him that he
did not consider the charges against
Nelson serious. Heritage contrast
ed McGhee's attitude with speech he
had just concluded advocating Nell
sons suspension. Mr.. McGhee de-
MED he had ever indicated to Alder
man Heritage that he did not consid-
er the charges against Nelson serious.
Mr.. Heritage declared he had and
there the matter ended.
The Nelson matter was taken up
when City Clerk Bickford read the
charges against Nelson. Those read
by the clerk were supplementary to
those presented to the council at its
executive session of Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Alderman Heritage demanded that
the original complaint be produced
and Assistant City Attorney Giblin
produced it few minutes later.
Alderman McGhee moved that Mel
son be suspended pending hearing
of the charge against him January
6 and Alderman NOLAN supported his
motion.
Alderman Heritage said he wanted
an opinion from the city attorney as
to whether or not the council had the
right to suspend the accused COM:
missioner until he had an opportunity
to be heard in his own defense. :
g. A written opinion from City. Az. A
torney Morgan was read by Assistant
City Attorney Giblin- to the effect that
it was Mr.. Mqrgan's belief the coun-
Gil would be within it's rights in sus-
pending Nelson pending his hearing.
President Boylan read Section 30 of
the city charter referring to remov-
ais, which is as follows:
"Any elective or appointive officer
provided by this charter may be re-
moved from his office by the atfiirma-
tive vote of two.thirds of all the
members of the council; but no such
officer shall be removed except for
cause, nor unless he has first been
furnished with copy of the charges
against him and has had reasonable
opportunity to be heard in person or
by the council in his own defense.
The council shall have the power to
fix the time and place of trial OF
such officer (who shall be given at
least ten days notice thereby, to
arrange the mode Of trial to compel
the attendance of witnesses and the
production of papers, to administer
oaths and to hear the proofs and
arguments. If such officer shall neg
lect, after due notice, to make an
swer to such charge, the same shall
be cause for removal without further
notice. When any such hearing is
ended the council shall forthwith pro-
ceed without debate to vote vive
voce, on roll call, upon a motion de-
claring such officer removed
Among such causes shall be contlnu-
ed absence by alderman or by any
member of a board from the meetings
of such board, or neglect of duties by
any officer"
Alderman McGhee then secured
recognition. He made a talk, the
substance of which that Commits
sioner Nelson had gotten out OF
touch with Mayor Murphy's admins
tration and should therefore resign.
Attorney Mcmahon, responding or
behalf of Nelson, said he supposed
Mr.. Nelson was being tried or
charges of misconduct as a city Of
fetal and not because he was out Of
touch with the city administration.
After more speechmaking along
the same line, in which little was
said, despite the fact that some Of
the speeches were lengthy, the mat
ter came to vote.
On the motion for suspension AL
derman Heritage was the first IL
vote:
"NO, with a big NJ" responded Mr.
Heritage.
"Aye, with a big A. Responded
Alderman Harvey.
Aldermen Keller, NOLAN, McGhee
Coffey, Lundstrom and Presiden
Boylan voted in the affirmative.
| Despite the fact that he has bee1
suspended from Office by the council
Nelson's friends declare he will 81
at the next meeting Of the police an
fire commission. He has been ad
Ivised to do so upon the authority Q
his attorney that the action Of tn
council in> suspsnding him is illegal
u* 49, 49,