The Alaska daily empire., 1917-04-21
City CounciImen Verify Actions Taken at a Special Meeting
 Recently.
WILL PROBE CHARGES
Chief Harding Demands Inquiry and Council Will Take Matter
 Up on Monday.

The large number of persons wllo crowded the council Chamber at last nights session in anticipation of an evening of fun and excitement were forced to return to their homes disappointed as the meeting was as quiet and peaceful as the prevar- fable "old womans tea party" with the exception of one flare up at the start over the question of approval of the minutes of the previous session when the committee appointments of the Mayor had been made. At that point it was found neces- sary to appeal from the ruling of the chair and put and pass a motion to the effect that the minutes be chang ed
 The meeting convened with all members present and the minutes of the adjourned session of April II were read. The Mayor stated that the minutes of the special meeting would be read if any councilman de sired, but that he did not see the necessity. It was moved and car ried that the minutes be read, which was done.
 Minutes Are Corrected The question being on the amend ments or correction to the minutes. Councilman Morgan introduced a resolution reading;
 That the minutes just read of the adjourned meeting held on April II, 1917, in all respects be approved, except as to the appointment of the committee on fire protection and wa ter supply, the committee on streets lights, sewers and wharfage and the committee on health and police pro lection That said three last men toned committees are illegally con stituted inasmuch as that Mayor Elm cry Valentine is not member of the Common Council of the City of Juneau, Alaska, and is disqualified to be member of either of said com mittees that said minutes and ac tions are disapproved and action of Mayor Valentine in continuing the time for appointment and election of city clerk and magistrate and city wharfinger until after the report of the city auditor heretofore appointed be and the same hereby rescinded and said minutes disapproved."
 Mayor Is Overruled
 The Mayor objected and held that this was not the proper time but that the resolution should come un- der unfinished business. Mir. Morgan stood pat and the Mayor refused to put the motion for the adoption of the resolution. An appeal form the ruling of the chair was taken and the body voted to overrule the May or The Mayor was then asked to put the motion. which he refused to do. Councilman Raymond was sel- ected to do so and the motion was carried
 The fCouncil then proceeded to regular order of business and com munication from Street Foreman w D. Kesselring asking for leave of absence for two weeks was read and the request granted. A communica tion from the Seattle Chamber of Commerce was read relative to the calling off of the tourist party this year and the city clerk was author ized to answer it.
 Chief Demands Inquiry A communication was read from Chief of Police Warren s. Harding stating that since Mayor Valentine has seen fit to make charges against him in public meeting and before an audience of the people of Juneau, he demanded that an immediate inves- ! tigation be held. Councilman King moved that an executive session of the council be held on Monday night for the purpose and asked that the charges be filed with the council or the city clerk. The motion was car ried Mayor Valentine informed the council that the charges would be on hand at the proper time.
 Mayor Gives His Side
 Councilman King then moved that the action of Mayor Valentine in vetoing the action of the council at the special meeting be overruled Mayor Valentine asked permission to |i state his reasons for making the veto and did so substantially as fol lows: He stated that the men had not been legally elected as the ordi nance prescribes that the city offic ials shall be elected at the regu lar council meeting by ballot. ant that the motion to elect by word o mouth was irregular and further more that officers cannot be elected at special meeting. These objec tiOns applied to all elections witl additional reasons. that the city at torney was elected without receiving the report of the special investigat ing committee. that the city does no need regularly paid city attorne. and that an abler man had applied for the position and agreed to worl for half the salary; that the offic'