Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-09
SUPPLEMENTARY Usage,

The debate which was had at the meet
ing of the Board of Aldermen Tuesday
night, upon the question of allowing Alder
man Gleaves to vote upon the fire alarm
bill. excited considerable discussion yester-
day: We quote from our report of the pro-
ceedingS:
Alderman Gleayes having come in since
the vote on the fire alarm bill Vas taken,
said he wished to cast his vote on that
measure and to vote in the affirmative. To
this objection was raised by those voting
against the bill.
Alderman Gleaves then moved a recon-
Sideration of the vote by which the bill
failed to pass.
Alderman Cheatham insisted that Alder
man Gleayes had a right to vote on the
measure.
President McCrea called Alderman Eakin
to the chair, and then moved that Alder
man Gleaves be allowed to cast his vote.
The Chair ruled the motion out of order.
Alderman Cheatham appealed from the
decision of the Chair, which appeal was
sustained, the vote standing 6 to 4.
Alderman McCrea moved that Alderman
Gleaves be allowed to cast his vote.
Alderman PentecOst moved in lieu that
the subject be referred to a special commit
tee of three to decide upon the right of
Alderman Gleaves to vote, under the cir
cumstances, and report their decision of
the case 10 the Board at a special meeting
tonight.
Alderman Cheatham insisted that Alder
man Gleaves had a right to vote, according
to the rules of all parliamentary bodies.
Alderman PentecOst stated that if Alder
man Gleaves be granted the privilege Of
=. 1--n--nN H., H. -.-lN = 800
his vote TO the negative.
In lieu of all other motions, Alderman
McGavock offered a resolution authorizing
the calling Of an election and submitting
the question directly to the voters of the
city, on the first Saturday in May. The
resolution was adopted"
There can be really no question as to the
correctness of the ruling of the chair, that
Alderman Gleayes had M right to vote
under the circumstances, especially when
it was known that his vote would change
the result. Had he entered the room after
the roll had been called, but before the re-
suit had been announced by the chair, his
name should have been called and his vote
received. or, had he desired his vote on the
measure recorded, he would have been en-
titled to that privilege even after the an
llDtiilNtlAGllA VI Als 81 VI II hbbN- II NAAoAb
result had not been changed by the casting
of his vote.
Again. it was held by some of the men,
beers ofthe Board that Aid. Gleaves could
have moved a reconsideration of the vote
by which the Mayors veto was sustained,
but such is not the case. Only a member
who has voted upon the prevailing side has
4 right to move a reconsideration. Under
the circumstances, the proper course to have
been pursued by the friends of the bill was
for one of them to have changed his vote to
the negative before the result was announ-
ced. seeing that the bill lacked but one
vote of having the constitutional majority,
and knowing that Aid. Gleaves would have
voted for the bill had he been present. then
the member who had thus changed his vote
could have moved a reconsideration after
Aid. Gleaves' arrival, and thus the bill
could have been passed over the Mayors
veto. It is to be regretted that
this was not done, for as
the matter now stands, tie
vote of two members Of the Board out
weighed that of the seven members who
favored the resolution, and this, too, when
twentv-seven out of the thirty members OF
the two Boards had voted in favor Of the
bill. In this connection, we wish TO do an
act of injustice with reference to Aid. Pen
tecost. He was reported in our columns to
have stated that if Aid. Gleayes' vote was
received, he would claim the right to
change his vote to the negative, tins neil
traIiZed said vote. In this Aid. Pentecost
was correctly reported, but he claims that
| he did this in order TO prevent the bill
eng passed illegally, and says that he is =
warm advocate of the measure and VI l
| favor its adoption ly all fair means.
The question will come before the Board
of Common Council tonight, and a lively
time may be anticipated.