Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-20
COUNCILROW
LIKELY 7 D
CD BEFORE
PEOPLE
Proposition To Be Put to Wood
ward That Mayor and All
Members Resign.

so acute has become the breach
between Mayor James c. Woodward
and the City Council that definite
plans are under way for a referendum
Of the whole matter to the people in
the fall election. Declaring the sit
uation to be hopeless, a number Of
Councilmen are banding together to
take up Councilman Thomson's plan
and make a formal proposition to
Mayor Woodward that he and the
whole Council resign and run for re-
election, permitting the people to
decide who is right in this clash of
policy.
The situation grew serious Friday
as a result of a reopening Of the
fight between Mayor Woodward and
the Council over the $1,000 crema-
tory contract Council Albert Thorn
son, of the Fourth Ward, had sug-
gested the resignation plan Coun-
cilmen Thomson, Claude L. Ashley, Of
the Fourth Ward; ". D. White, of
the Ninth Ward; c. c. Mason, of the
Tenth Ward; George H. Boynton, of
the Sixth Ward and c. D. Knight,
Of the Second Ward, stated positive
~ they were ready to resign and
run on that issue.
4 number Of other Councilmen and
Aldermen stated privately that they
felt like resigning for good.
Good Joke, Says Mayor.
Mayor Woodward said the plan was
a good joke. He declared that the
very same plan was proposed by the
new charter, demanded by a mass
meeting Of more than 5000 people,
but that Council was as deaf as a
post. He said that fifteen members
of Council would have the privilege
of seeing what the people thought of
them in the fall elections.
While Mayor Woodward had tenta-
lively agreed to the $3.50, 600 crema-
tory contract, 1t was passed up by the
Aldermanic Board Thursday after
noon in a way that the Mayor dis
approved Alderman J. H. Harwell,
friend Of the Mayor, used his Alder
manic prerogative and held up the
matter for two weeks by moving a
reconsideration When the contract
finally reaches the Mayor his disap-
prevail is expected,
Officials Of the Destructor Company,
of New York, which is building the
plant, are very much worried over
the turn Of affairs. The incinerator
is almost complete, but the company
has not received cent Of pay from
the city.
The issue now is one of fine legal
points. The usual plan is for Coun-
ell to authorize a contract and the
Mayor TO execute it, In this instance.
Council has accepted a proposal of
the Destructor Company by resolu-
ton. The point is that Council feared
the Mayor might refuse to execute
the contract and they would be
blocked, If he disapproves the reso-
luton passed he can be overridden.
Fist Fight in Council.
Alderman Harwell said the Mayor
had pledged his good faith to execute
the contract so long as no reference
was made to the old contract, de-
clared Illegal by the State Supreme
Court. But he asserted that the
Mayor would veto Councils present
action and the whole matter would
again land in the courts.
A real fist fight was enacted as a
sequel to the recent clash of words
between Mayor Woodward and AL
derman James R. Nutting in the
Council chamber just before the con-
vening Of the session by Reporter
James Meade, of The Constitution,
and Alderman Nutting.
Alderman hitting entered the room
and demanded Of Reporter Meads
why his report of the Woodward con-
troversy was SO fun of misstate-
ments. Alderman Nutting raised his
finger at the reporter, but they talked
In low tones and there was surprise
in The chamber when Mr.. Meade
struck the Alderman a heavy blow
on the nose. Alderman Nutting vas
iostled against City Marshal James
Fuller. but regaining his balance. he
struck back at the reporter, blood
streaming from small wound on
the nose. Immediately they were
separated.