Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-11
CITY COUNCIL.
a called meeting of the City Council was
held last night.
THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

was called to ORDER
The clerk read the resignation of John K.
Lsmbdin, esq, as Alderman from the Third
ward, which was accepted and resolution
adopted ordering an election to fill the va
cancy on May 23d.
Mr.. Leadbeater, from the Finance Com
miltee, then proceeded to give the reasons
for the called meeting of Council. Two
members Of the joint Committee on Finance
and Light had objected to the hasty man
der in which the contract with the Schuyler
Electric Light Company for lighting the
city had been signed. He gave history OF
the Joint committees procedure in the mat
ter-how g meeting had been held Tuesday
night, when it was supposed the subject
would be referred to the next regular meet
inc of Council, and how another meeting
hed been held Thursday night the matter
of electric lights again brought up and the
chairman OF the joint committee (Mr Mar
buryl authorized TO sign the contract with
The company The dissenting members Oh
the committee, he averred, were not OPP
posed 10 electric lights, but to the very
hasty manner in which the committee mad
acted The papers in The case had all been
prepared, but this minority did not think
the committee had power to make such
COVENANT NltuOuu bhO o'ResSA - 49,
its bearings before Council for its approval
or RI lection. so as to render the latter re
sponsible should any grave mistake occur.
He thought it incumbent upon himself to
enter into no spasmodie action, and to walt
uatil the next regular meeting of Council.
The President (Mr. Marbury) took excep.
ton to the term "hasty proceedings" used
by the speaker, and alleged that Council at
previous meeting by q resolution had
authorized the Joint committee TO act In the
matter and sign the necessary papers. They
had conscientiogsly performed their work
according TO the letter and spirit of that in.
strument had examined the various cleo
trio light systems, approved of the plan OF
the Schuyler Company by a vote OF 6 to >.
and, as chairman OF the Joint committee, he
| had been authorized by q vote Of to 2 tc
sign the necessary papers. He regarded the
called meeting Of Council; work OF super
orrogati0n.
Mr.. Burke thought Council should act
upon such subjects, but he had understood
that purpose was apparent at the last
committee meeting to push the subject
through lest Council should kill it when re-
ported to Inc respective boards, and that
consequently Mr.. Marbury had been en-
| DUhGICu W siSu tuC COHlAuCts LIZ "pp Nv
opposed TO electric lights, but was averse to
hssty action in so mportant.a mnttsr.
Mr.. Mckenzie supposed it was understood
that the committee would submit its work
to Council.
Mr.. Agnew said that from his knowledge
of electricity ne coud not vote for the
Schuyler system.
Mr.. Marbury-"If you can't yon are not
l,,;., In fhap nrndupal
proposition submitted By the Thompson
Houston Company some time ago Offered
through company OF which Mr.. Agnew
was q director for lighting the streets with
electricity. When the member said he
couldn't vote for the Schuyler system, ii
look ed as though he was not a disinterested
party.
MIR. Aenew replied that he was not inter,
ested in any system the proposition the
President had produced was made some time
ago, and at resent he had nothing to do
with it.
Mr.. Leadbeater introduced q resolution
providing that bsfore the committee signed
any contract for electric lights with any
company that the papers and bond should
be fret raforrod TO. thu O:ty Council for itn
action.
The President said the resolution was out
of order at called meeting.
Mr.. Agnew didn't see why 1t was, ana
MIR. Burke the resolution never having been
formally ready called for its reading, and the
| President again said il was not in order.
At this iuncture Mr.. Mckenzie had long
description of the lighting OF Winchester by
the Schuyler system read from newspaper.
Mr.. Burke insisted on having the resou-
| ton read and appealed from the decision OF
the chair, and upon vote being taken
Messrg Agnew, Burke. Bryant, Mckenzie
and Lesdbeater voted against the ruling OF
the chair.
Before the resolution was read, however,
Mr.. Marbury sent for the original paper
which, be insisted, empowered the commit.
tee to act as they had done in the premises,
and while waiting for the Messenger to re-
tnrn with it Mr.. Burke again demanded that
MIR. Leadbeater's resolution be read.
Mr.. MIarbury asked tho member if he
couldn't have the courtesy to wait until the
other paper arrived After short interim
Mr.. Marbury received the resolution, and
after reading it to The members allowed that
offered by Mr. Laadbeater to be placed be-
fore the board.
Mr.. Bryant said he didn't think any COM
mittee had the right TO make such con-
t act.
Mr.. Leadbeater stated that that was the
ground upon which the dissenting members
of the committee based their action. and
was proceeding to show the danger Of en-
tering into contracts without searching in
quiry, citing, as an instance, the disastrous
cons, qnences Of trying to use oil gas in this
city, when he WAS called to order by the
President vino alleged shat he was not
speaking TO the question, as the board was
discussing electric lights not oil gas.
Mr. Leadbeater apologized for seemingly
straypg from the subject before the Alder
men.
MIR. Burke called for vote on the resoln
tion which tho President finally ordered
under protest, still declaring it out of order.
The vote stood; Ayes Messrs Agnew Burke
Bryant and I,aadbeater-4 Noes, Messrs.
! Mckenzie and Mr.. President. The Presi-
dent declared the resolution adopted, and
IN, ", I'D 10 talr tho hoard adjnurne6 hut sinh.