Jules Crepeau's resignation letter to Council in 1930, demanding a 7,500 a year pension for life. He'd be run over by a City Constable in 1937, dying from complications the next year.
Hmm.
Here's the first part of the debate that took place on September 29, 1930, at Montreal City Hall, over my grandfather's resignation. The opposition filibustered, I guess you can call it. This 'session' has it all: drama, humour, anger, innuendo, indignation, thinly veiled threats... and under it all, a big cover up. Everyone must have known the REAL reason my grandfather was pushed out. Did it have to do with the Laurier Fire, I have to wonder? Houde brings that tragic event up during the debate, totally out of context, but that you can read in the next post. This was a long session. Or was it just that my grandfather knew too much and was part of the wrong clique. Houde is quoted as saying he wants to clear City Hall of cliques in a French tabloid of the era.
This is from the Montreal Gazette. Bravo to the reporter, who seems to be having fun. Very amusing and very interesting to me, as I write my play Milk and Water about Montreal in 1927. I have my grandfather Jules Crepeau and my husband's grandfather Thomas Wells, debate life and business while they wait to deliver water to a dance club where the Prince of Wales may be showing up.
My grandfather is Director of City Services. My husband's grandfather is President of Laurentian Spring Water. (Irony: I found a card of condolence sent by Mayor Houde to my husband's grandmother upon the death of Thomas Wells in the early 1950's. For the purposes of my story, I will have him unliked by the Mederic Martin administration, because he always criticizes Montreal tap water, which is bad for the city's reputation and tourism.)
Also, I can't help but notice that even these small time municipal politicians (whom my grandfather taught everything they knew, according to an era article in the Gazette) were more eloquent, clever and quick-witted than our top politicians these days, who are all bland and stage-managed to the nth degree.
Here it goes:
It was a hot session. A dozen usually placid aldermen lost
their tempers and their ruddy complexions paled in anger. The major lost the
main span of this false teeth in the middle of a sentence, caught them on the
fly and pocketed them nonchalantly. But nobody lost his voice. His Worship and
Ald. Schubert of St. Louis ward put on the main bout, and the alderman asked
Ald. Bruno Charbonneau, the pro-mayor in the chair, to have the mayor expelled
from the Council Chamber for bad behavior.
And the pro-mayor threatened to
clear the chamber to stop clapping in the galleries where, for the first time
since the present administration has been in power, manifestations hostile to
the major and his men were apparent.
…
It was late in the afternoon when the question of Mr.
Crepeau’s resignation was reached. From the huge audience, which had sat or
stood through a lot of business, it found uninteresting, came a rustle of
excitement.
Etienne Gauthier, the city clerk, read Mr. Crepeau’s letter to the Mayor.
At once, Alderman Savignac proposed the motion to accept the
resignation.
It was seconded by Alderman LaMarro.
“Explain” roared several of the opposition aldermen.
“No explanation,” said Alderman Bray to Alderman Desbroches.
Hubbub commenced. Alderman Monette was on his feet. “I would
ask the chairman of the Executive to bring Mr. Crepeau before us and have him
say whether this resignation was voluntary or forced. He is in the wary of
somebody –sure. Here he is with 42 years of service, and to get rid of a man
with that length of experience and in good health, the city will give 5,000
dollars for doing nothing and then 7,500 a year for all the while Mr. Crepeau
lives –
“That’s cheap,” chirped a backbencher.
“I want Mr. Crepeau to reconsider his resignation.” Ald.
Monette went on. “If I can get a seconder I would make an amendment to that
effect.”
“After that speech, “ said Ald. Bigar ironically, “is he for
or against the resignation?”
“I want him to reconsider that resignation,” replied
Alderman Monette. “Oh, I know we will be beaten, but quality counts.”
Ald. Schubert thought a man with 42 years of service was
entitled to a pension. “But this is a bargain, “ he commented, reading the
conditions put in Mr. Crepeau’s letter. He wanted to know the reasons behind
the whole affair, and he thought there was a provocation at the bottom of it.
“I want an explanation, “ he repeated. “It is all very well for the chairman of
the Executive to say there is no explanation, but I do not believe that the
chairman of the Executive was elected by the people to come here and do as he
wishes with the people’s money. If there is just reason for this resignation, I
want to know that reason, and if there is none, then you will have to stand the
consequences. Clapping broke out in one of the galleries. Constables squelched
it.
It was Alderman Trepanier’s turn. The mystery of the whole
business intrigued him. “The mover of the motion has no explanation to offer,”
he said. With a smile he added. “It may be that I speak somewhat in the desert,
so far as the Council is concerned. But I do not think that will be the case
when this comes before the public of Montreal. The Mayor of Montreal has said
lately in the papers that he controlled
the majority of this Council. I understand he does. He has just at present, I
should say in all justice to the situation, the majority of the Council by the
throat –
Cries of “oh, Oh,” came up and there were protests from all
parts of the chamber. Some of the Houde Aldermen were on their feet.
“Withdraw!” they shouted.
Alderman Bruno Charbonneau was in the chair, Mayor Houde
having taken his place in one of the rear seats among thealdermen. He ruled
that Alderman must withoudraw.
“I will withdraw the words ‘by the throat’ said Ald.
Trepanier, calmly. “And I will pay a tribute of esteem to the extreme loyalty
to the Mayor of the majority of the Council, which his worship can force to
pirouette on any question he likes.”
Another roar. More cries of “Withdraw.”
The Mayor was up, arm in the air. “We well know who are
those where who pirouette” he yelled.
Ald Trepanier said he would withdraw “pirouette.” He
contested the right of the Mayor to come to Council and ‘to impose” the resignation
of an old employee like Mr. Crepeau. “What is the reason?” the alderman asked,
again and again. “I am not of the select who take of the weekly free lunch at
the Place Viger. But we have the right to know who are the aldermen who signed
the petition to the Mayor demanding that Mr. Crepeau resign or be put out.”
The Savignac motion, he continued, paid homage to a man who
was being forced to resign. A man who had behind him all the papers of
Montreal, papers which said that in acting in this manner the administration
was treading on dangerous ground. “It is the first time such a thing has
happened in the history of the city.” Alderman Trepanier went on.”With a silent
and almost mysterious majority in Council, and following a letter which was not
written voluntarily – I say it and I know that to be true- and following
conversations and intimidations and threats..”
“Oh Oh, “ shouted protesting aldermen. But he alderman stood
his ground and continued with a denunciation of the administration’s practice,
noting that the majority of those in council were under the control of the
mayor “who can play with the council as he wishes.”
Alderman Bray jumped to his feet. “Withdraw that word
immediately, “ he warned Trepanier.
“I withdraw it and
will say that he is a man who seems to be able to play with the council as he wishes, “was the retort.
More handclapping broke out among the public. Again it was
silenced.
“If he wants to withdraw, let him withdraw frankly, “
rumbled Ald. Bray.
“Point of order, “shouted Alderman Legault. “One alderman
cannot give instructions to another. He can make a request, but he has no right
to give instructions.”
Once more the clapping sounded.
This time the pro-mayor in the chair and Ald. Des Roches
were on their feet together. “Order!” shouted the Pro-Mayor, “or I will have
the chamber cleared.” That was what Alderman DesRoches had been going to say.
The chair accepted the amended declaration of Ald.
Trepanier, adding “It may seem to him, but not to others.”
“Now, “Alderman Trepanier proceed,”Two years ago, on the 40th
anniversary of the entry of Mr. Crpeau into the city service, the Council had
unanimously adopted a motion congratulating him, admiring his devotion and
integrity, and wishing him a long service in the same position. Among the
aldermen who voted that motion were Ald. Mathieu, Ald. Bray and Ald Biggar, he
said.
And today here were the same aldermen, and more with them,
forcing the resignation of the same official. He forsaw it would cause fear
among all the permanent employees of the city. In this particular case, too ,
the legislators had deliberately given to the employee holding the post of Mr.
Crepeau and standing such as to make him the defender of the people in the sittings of the Executive
Committee.
“We may be ridiculed and crushed,” the alderman conclude,
“but the day may not be distant, when the feeling of reprobation among the
people may be voiced, and we shall see once more in the saddle an
administration which may not have always been perfect, but which was free from
taint of autocracy and kaiserism we see here today.”
And Ald Trepanier sat down. Alderman Lamarre rose and asked
sarcastically, “May I ask whether that speech was made in preparation for
elections?”
“Maybe,” replied Ald Trepanier.
“Or is it a speech specially reserved for Le Canada?” Ald
LaMarre pursued. He was ignored.
“Ald Trepanier may be intimate with those who conspire to
take away the powers of the aldermen,” was Ald Dupuis’ view.” He may be
intimate with those who amended schedule B, which gave us the right, the rare
prerogative of having a word to say in the hiring and firing of a major city
employee”
“Point of order,” snapped ald Trepanier. “I want the names
of those I am supposed to be intimate.”
“The Quebec Government” shouted Ald Dupuis, warming up.
“That Government has always tried to take away the powers of the aldermen in
Montreal.” He thought the council was exercising a right given tot it and as
for Trepanier’s speech: “I wonder whether that is not merely a farce, or for
the benefit of the gallery.”
“How could the mayor refuse the demand of the majority of
the aldermen in council?” asked Ald. Seigier. That majority had asked him to
get rid of Mr. Crepeau and the mayor acted. He thought the best thing was to
talk no more, but vote.
Ald. Legault was struck with the utter inability to give any
explanation of this affair, but Ald Deguire undertook to fill the bill by
saying : “Mr Crepeau has not our confidence; there is no explanation to that.”
And the willingness of the city to give him leave and a pension, showed that
“we have absolutely nothing against him.”
Ald Gabias gibed at the ‘interior sentiment’ which seemed to
be ruling all the Houde men in the moment. “One thing they seem to forget,” he
noted “is that we are here to represent the people of Montreal, and not to give
way to our personal feelings and to get rid of a man because we do not like the
way he wears his hat, or something else.”
“Are you aware that in 1928, the administration of that time
conducted a campaign to try to get rid of Mr. Crepeau?” chimed in Ald Dupuis.
“Never did such a thing happen” protested Alderman
DesRoches, stoutly.
The former chairman of the Executive said he was not
surprised at the motion, but at the mover of it.
“Ald Savignan lacks experience in city affairs, “ he began.
“Well, I don’t’ want to acquire it from you, “ interrupted
Ald. Savignac. “You got plenty of experience in the affair of Montreal Water
and Power.”
“Yes, I did” admitted Ald DesRoches. “And I have also something
you will never possess.”
Clapping in the galleries sounded again. The pro-mayor
frowned. Constables got busy and silence was restored.
Ald Des Roches thought that Ald Savignac should have
profited from the experience of Mr. Crepau, rather than lend himself to putting
the director of Services of out his position.
“I address myself to you, members of the Council,” he went
on, swinging round to face the alderman. “You have a right. You are exercising
it. But you have to take the responsibility.”
“Sure,” yelled one alderman.
Other dismissals had been made by the Executive, and they
would take the responsibility, but this was the Council’s. And there had been
dismissals aplenty. Foremen were thrown out and newcomers to the city took
their places – all this without the alderman for the ward being consulted. But
what was being done now was exceedingly dangerous. The administration was being
high-handed. There was the case of where a man earning 1,680 had been replaced
by another a 2,000, ‘the brother of Ald Savignac,” said the alderman.
“Let him keep to the motion,” protested Alderman Mathieu.
“I cannot therefore speak of the placing of the sons of Ald
Mathieu” replied Ald DeRoches deprecatingly.
He gave way to Ald. Dubreuil, who emphasized that “this is not
a dismissal. It is a resignation, asked for.”
“oh. Oh” jeered the opposition.
The north end alderman took up the question of the Crepeau
pension and leave pay and thought that was nothing compared with the 15,000,000
dollars which the city had to pay for Montreal Water and Power Company.”
“Point of Order,” shouted Ald Legault. “That purchase has
nothing to do with this, and anyway Ald. Dubreuil voted for that purchase.”
“I voted for the princinple.” Growled Ald Dubreuil.
The mayor at last entered the debate.
“There is one thing that struck me,” the mayor said, very
gently.
“That is that the alderman for Hochelago should have
objected to the employment of the brother of Ald. Savignac, a man who has seven
children and is infirm, having had both legs crushed by a tramway.”
There was a pause.
The mayor’s false teeth shot out, he caught them deftly, but
them in a pocket, as Alderman Legault interrupted.
“Point of order.”
“There is not point of order, “ yelled the Mayor, swinging
around to face the alderman.
“You are not the master of all this Council,” returned
Ald.Legault hotly.
“You neither,” retorted the Mayor.
“The Mayor will respect me,” Ald Legault insisted, to the
Chair.
“When you deserve it,”corrected his Worship.
Ald. Legault finally got a chance to explain his point. It
was that Mr. Crepeau, not the brother of Ald Savignac, was en causes. He was
partially upheld.
“I will try to discuss this question to the satisfaction of
all those whose virtue is recognized by everybody,” the Mayor continued in
honeyed tones. There was laughter. “I will do it before the public, and right
here I ask Ald. Savignac to accept my apologies for what has happened. But what
I find funny is that the Alderman for Hochelaga should forget that only a few
days ago he was in my office pleading for a job for his brother in law.” The
Mayor folded his hands.”Where oh where will virtue find a niche for repose?” he
asked.
“Point of order. Always on the same,” came from Ald.
Legault.
“Yes,” agreed the Mayor acidly. “We know that.”
“And now we have another
virtuous individual, the defender of the working classes, Mr. Schubert.
That alderman, he said, had voted for the purchase of Montreal Water and Power
Company, and the spending of 5,000,000 above the original price, with which the
city could do much these days.
Ald. Trepanier had asked for the names of the aldermen who
demanded the head of Mr. Crepeau. “That was done privately, outside of City
Hall,” the mayor went on. “And I would no more deliver the names than would Ald
Trepanier deliver the names of those who subscribed to his LaSalle Automobile.”
There was more uproar, with the opposition protesting.
“I am
merely picking up the glove.” Commented His Worship who proceeded: ”The gesture
we make today is rational and consequent. What attitude did we take before the
public at the elections last April? We condemned the transaction of the
Montreal Water and Power Company, and to be consistent by sending home all
those responsible in the highest degree for the situation that led so
regretfully to the purchase of the company under the conditions which held. We
had Mr. Crepeau and Mr. Terreault condemned by the population of Montreal. We
received a charge from the people. We have the mandate. We have the prerogative
of Council. Recently, twenty two aldermen said they had no confidence in Mr.
Crepeau who despite his forty-two years of service, allowed the perpetration of
that deal, and Mr. Terreault who employed himself in passing that odious
transaction condemned by the population.
“Now, you want the names of the aldermen who signed the
petition to me about Mr. Crepeau. Call the vote and you will see who they are.”
To be continued....next post
