Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-07-03
The Municipal Troubles in Petersburg.

The readjusters city council Of Petersburg
met on Saturday, and elected full set of
city officers, making dual government in
the subordinate municipal department. The
question as to who are the legally elected Off
GERS will be submitted TO the courts to-day.
The council probably met minute before
tho usual time, O'Clock: at least it is so
stated by the democrats. The readiusters
lirst elected a temporary chairman, who
took his seat before the arrival of the regu-
larry elected president, Mr. Hugh r. Smith,
who entered the council room to discover, to
his regret, that his chair was already filled
and would not be yielded to him upon de-
mand. After the election of a president of
the council, Col. J. P. Minetree, the major
ity, rcadjusters, went at once to work to
elect wholly new set ofofficers, protests and
objections being showered upon them thick
and fast by the democrats
When the readjusters had finished the cleo
ton of officers, Mr. f. w. Couch, one of their
cormcilmen, rose to tender his resignation as
member Of the council Mr.. Couch, on
May 18th last, was elected city treasurer, his
lncumbcncy Of the office to commence July |,
Mr.. Couch therefore held a city office, viz !:
that of member of the council, and a State
and city officer combined, to wit that of
treasurer of the city ofPetersburg.
When Mr.. Couch had resigned, the nu-
merical status ofparties was thus Dem
ocrats I, readjusters II. Immediately fol-
lowing the resignation of Mr. Couch and be-
fore Il motion had been put to elect his sue
cessor, the democrats deliberately arose and
withdrew from the meeting. By this action
they left the eadjusters with twelve MEN,
bers present in the council, one less than u
quorum as the democrats claim. The rules
of government Of the council by which the
democrats acted required thirteen members
to constitute aquorum. But one Of the first
things done in the afternoon by the
readjuster council was the adoption of new
rules Of government of the council. One
section of these rules provides that ina
jority of the members of the council shall
constitute quorum" They elected a sue
ccssor to Mr.. Couch and a few minutes after
wards adjourned under resolution to meet
again on Monday evening.
The city at night was patrolled by u
double force Of policemen, the democratic
force under the command Of Capt George
w. Raves, with headquarters at the station
house; the readjuster force, with headquart-
ers at the Jail, under the direction of Capt.
A. 5. Gilman, who was elected chief of police
by the readjuster council The police COM
mittee appointed by the readjuster council
served formal demand upon Capt Eaves to
surrender to them the police headquarters
and appurtenances thereof. Capt. caves
coolly refused to comply
The Hastings court room was packed at
night by members of the bar, politicians and
spectators TO hear the argument in the case
Of E. w. Couch, who resigned his Office at
the meeting of the council to enable himself
to qualify as city treasurer Senator Ma
hone was present, and subsequently became
one of the surities on Mr. COUGHS official
bond. Judge Mann decided that Mr.. Couch
was legally ableto qualify, and hesubsequent-
ly gave bond in the sum of $4,000. The
case will be appealed to the Supreme Court.