The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-21
ANorHER MEETING OF COUNCIL.
A stale. Flat and Improbable ARah


The meeting Of City Council held last night
was inefflbly strpid, and the tlcket-holders,
as we'll as the patient souls who had waited
many weary minutes st the doors TO obtain ad-
uittanoe to the hall, have right to complain
that they did not get their moneys worth. ln-
deed the public, who look to the presen' parti-
coloreif Council for nothing better than the
Amusement to be derived from the autics OF
clown. or the queer moving and jibing OF .
monkey on Q pole. may we'll feel s1re that even
this grim joy has for onc, been denied them.
There was the usual crowd at the foot O. the
steps. Thele were the customary policemen
to admit but two ciiiz,ns ut time. There
were the selOc; fJw iu tic Interfere OF the ca2m-
ber. But PROBABLY tho kuow;n3 ones were
aware that there would be change OF pro-
eramme for this evening only and there
was no spark of Anxiety or excitement.
When the Mayor called the Council to order
the following were present: Aldermen Ged-
dings, Potter, Cunningham, Collins, I. ].
Mackey, Barrow, E. W. NJ. Mackey and Greene,
and these colored Aldermen: Holloway. Hamp-
ton, Brown, E. P. Wall, L. F. Wall, Small and
Thorne. ..-
The. Mayor said that the bill to declarejva-
can't certain Offices, for the ratification Of
which Council had met, was in peculiar con-
dition, as it was not in the form of an ordi-
nance as was required by the rules. No omotion
had been. made to have the title OF the bhl
changed to an ordinance, and it came before
Council simply as bill. He would ouly state
the facts and leave the decision Of what should
be done in the hands Of Council.
E. P. Wall (colored) asked whether the title
of the bill could not be changed to an ordi.
nance.
The Mayor said that this would be regular,
and Wall -"sweet Wall"-moved to change the
title to an ordinance.
This brought to his feet Alderman Geddings,
who said that the bill might be ratified, but the
ratification when done would amount to no
thing. It was too late nov to 90 through tho
form prescribed by the rules, and he there
fore moved to lay the bill on the tabls. He
would then move an adjournment OF Council.
The motion to lay on the table was lost
ayes S, noes 9.
Alderman E. ". NJ. Mackey said it was evi-
IDENTIFY the intention in reading the bill a third
timeS ordering its eugrossment and calling a
meeting for its ratification, that the form OF
changing the title should have been complied
with, whether motion for that purpose had
been made or not. The vote by which it was
enerossed might be reconsidered and the
necessary order given.
The. Mayor said it had not been done, he
supposed. through inadversence, and he only
wanted 10 see whether tbs dilemma could be
got over in parliamentary way.
A scattering discussion followed, during
which it became question whether Alderman
Geddings had risen before motion to change
the title had been seconded. Alderman Greene
said, With much vehsmence, "lt was not
seconded when the Alderman arose." Hollo-
way, colored jumped up and said with eqnal
emphasis, "I say that it was"
Alderman Geddlngs took the floor, and con-
tended that the title must be regularly chang
ed according to the rule'. The meeting was
held to ratiiy "a BILL and not Gan ordinance"
and he hoped the Mayor would hold Council to
that point. He said that the Council had made
itself the laughing stock Of the community.
and he did not wish to see the exhibitions Of
the previous evenings repeated. Let us ratify
the bill, he said, and 90 home.
The motion to change the title Of the bill to
an ordinance was carried, and Alderman Ged-
dings said he hoped that the clerk would be
ordered to have the bill printed and laid be-
fore Council at the next meeting.
Alderman E. ". NJ. Mackey moved that the
ordinance be ratified.
The Mayor said there vas another dilemma,
as it was customary that al bills should go to
the Committee on Engrossed Bills for e1amina-
tion and report.
E.P. Wall (colored.) That is not the GUS
tom tere.
Alderman Geddings. It has always been the
custom, and there is . committee on eneross
ed bills appointed by the Mayor for that very
purpose.
The Mayor. There is such a committee.
Alderman Geddings. They have not report
ed on THE bill.
Alderman E. W. N. Maosey. All the stand
ing committees have been discharged by
Council. We are without any committees.
Amotion that the bill be ratified was adopt
ed, and the Clerk OF Council said that he
would now, in accordance with his duty, sub
NIT the bill to Aldermen T.. Mackey and
Barrow, the Committee on Eugrossed Bills.
Alderman Geddings. They have all boon
discharged.
Alderman E. W. M. Mackey. think 30.
The Mayor. To avoid any misunderstand-
ing will appoint Aldermen T. j. Mackey and
Barrow as the Committee on Epgrossed Bills.
Alderman T. J. Mackey. I will serve with
pleasure.
The committee examined the bill, report
ed Aqorsaly, aud tho or finance to declare
vacant certain offices was ratified and signed
by the Mayor and Clerk OF Council.
Alderman Cunningham moved that Council
adjourn, subject to the call Of the Mayor.
This motion was temporarily withdrawn, and
Alderman E. W. NJ. Mackey introduced the fol-
lowing, which was adopted:
Resolued, That the jury list prepared by
Council, having beea posted, in conformity
with the law, for ten days, be and the same ls
hereby accepted as final, and that the Clerk Of
Council be required to transmit certified copy
Of the same to the Clerk ofth Court OF Gene
raj Sessions and Common Pleas.
Alderman Cunningham renewed his motion
to adjourn subject to the call Of the Mayor.