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Show MATTERS MUNICIPAL. When the fevered and breathless reporter dashed into the sanctum of the News city editor with the information that through the intrigues of the malicious Republicans, Mayor Morris would bo called to Washington as a witness in the Smoot case, and that during his sojourn the acting Republican Re-publican mayor would submit appointments to be confirmed by the council, wild and uncanny con sternation prevailed. Quickly grasping his ornate quill, the city editor edi-tor volleyed his uncontrollable indignation. Such costly epithets as "nefarious," "iniquitous," "shameful" and "trickery" were uncoiled with pitiless abandon. The beautiful designs crisped and parched on the wallpaper. It was a cruel joke. The unkind Republicans at the joint building who strung out the cub reporter, re-porter, should be summarily dealt with, and the loss of the beautiful assortment of city editorial epithets should be sufficient cause for a suit for damages. Also, it is a pity that the city editor, in the first, lurid blaze of his ire, did not pause to consider con-sider that even had Mr. Morris gone away and had .the acting mayor appointed Republicans as department de-partment chiefs, the situation would have been precisely the same upon his return as it is at present. pres-ent. The mayor needs eight votes now in order to spread his appointive pinions, and th'e same eight votes would bo just as effective six weeks hence, notwithstanding what had happened in the in terim. Allowances should be made, however, for a sudden and severe emotional strain. The mayor's latest strategy in the struggle fn, B patronage was to hold up the department payrolls B evidently with the intention of forcing the majo-. HI ity to compromise, or, by declaring the positions B of subordinates vacant and thereby stopping the B municipal machinery, compel the heads of depart- B ments to accept his appointments. B A better policy would appear to be to have a B test case in the courts, decisive of the appointive B powers of the mayor. This could appropriately bj B done In the case of the mayor's one appointment B of a subordinate, that of the clerk of the board B of health. If the matter be taken into the courts m and the mayor's contention is substantiated, it B would mean that the garbage man and the grave B digger would be independent officeholders and on B an equal official basis with the heads of depart- K ments under whom they are now serving, and B would be obliged to furnish a bond to the city, it B seems improbable that the court would decide that B all subordinate officers should be appointed by B the mayor, carrying with it the decision that B laborers under the head of a department should B be taken out of his control and made independent B of the agent of the city. B It would hardly seem likely that to court a B decision of the judiciary is the real program. It B appears more probable that the plan Is to put up B a warlike front with the hope of frightening two B of the Republicans into the idea that the mayor B is master of the situation. These are Preece and B Hewlett, but as they are both Mormons, it is B hardly likely that they would risk Gentile anamad- B versions by deserting. So the mayor will be forcpd B to go to Mr. Kearns' henchmen for concessions. H but their hope for comfort there must be distant, H as the three offices the Democrats most desire, H superintendent of waterworks, city engineer and H health commissioner, are the ones which the H Kearnsites are most insistent upon retaining. B |