An Attempt

There was a full council present last Monday night. There was nothing in the general atmosphere to indícate that inything unusual was likely to occur. t did occur, however, when the clerk i-ea3 a communication from nis honor, the mayor, as follows . Gentlemen :- Believing it my duty as mayor, is to do that which in my judgement is for the best interest of our city, and believing as I do, that, although the charges against A. M. Clark, Pres. .f the board of public works for "Misconduct in Office" were on investigación bef ore this council not sustained by a majority vote, but being lost on a tie, is not such vindication as your honorable body and citizens of Ann Arbor have a right to demand. and will certainly not give confidence in tho ac■used. I do therefore, by virtue of the jowei' vested in me by section 84 of the harter of the city of Ánn Arbor, with t? e consent of the common council, remove A. M. Clark from the board of public works. W. E. Walker, Mayor. Unusual as suoh a proceeding was r.o great surprise was shown. The President asked what should be done v.ith the Mayor's message, 'l'here was a silence for a few motnents, each seeming to wonder who was to be the mayor's spokesman on the council to take the lead ia placing that body in line v.ith the mayor's views. No one said a word until finally Aid. Brown moved ihat the communication be lald on the vable. This was seconded and the motion carried with only four dissenting votes. Just how long this communication will He on the table is a question, and information as to what will be the lactics of enemies of Mr. Clark to swing the council into line is awaited with interest. That the claim which it is aid the mayor had made that he could -Ind no suitable person who woulrï accept a position on the board of public works as at present constituted is absurd is shown by the following communication from a number of our very best citizens representing both parties. It rather knocks the claim oí the mayor into a "cocked hat." It is as follows: Ann Arbor, May 16, 1895. ]Ion. Warren E. Walker; Mayor of Ann Arbor: üear Sir: - The statement having jeen made in one of the newspapers of the city that for certain reasons you are unable to find anyone that will accept the appointment as a member of the board of public works. We, theunderigned citizens of the city of Ann Arbor, jeg to inform you that any one of our number will accept the aforementioned appointment and to the best of our abilitj discharge the duties of the offioe. Yours very respectfully, Moses Seabolt, George Wahr. W.D. Harriman, W. D. Adams, G. F. Állmenlinger, Ambrose Kearney, Henry S. Dean, Ottmar Eberbach, Edward Duffy, J. Laubengayer. The mayor also sent in the following Jnessage to the council. Having reoved Mr. Clark - because nis apponnts wonld not vote for him in the '■ent investigation, he now wants to get rid of Mr. Bullis against whom no charges were preferred. This is his 1 -heme to accomplish his ends. Here - what he says : Gentlemen: - I will also suggest to your honorable body to iramediately -nvestigate the feasibility and advisability of reorganizing the board of pubworks. The board to consist of one íaxpaying elector from each ward, '"■vhoee duty shall be to look after the Interest of his ward. Thero shall also be one appointed from the city at large vho shall be the ehairman of the board and shall exercise the same functions the board as does the president of ihe common council- but he shall have no vote only in case of a tie. All - of said board shall be appointed 'y the mayor with the approval of the ;-Émmon council and may be removed ''y the same authority. All members jepreseuting wards of even number as rnd, 4th, 6th, and also the member at arge will be appointed on years of even 'late and all representing' wards of odd 1 amber on years of odd date, all to hold until their sucessor shall have ooen duly appointed and qualilled. V. E. WALKEB, Mayor. It seems to be the general opinión of 'JOth demócrata and republicans that -cheme to reorganice the board is a nero pretense to induce the council to agree to the removal of Mr. Clark. The proposed plan is one so full of objections that we have, so far, not found a te man who favors it. Later.- The Mayor ca) led a meeting of the councU last evening to have it ke action on the proposed reorganiza"ii of the board oT public works. A howed two-thirds of the counoil ed to any change. Thus ends an other fiasco.