Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-22

ID City Council made another effort
last night week to elect a chair.
man of the finance committee. Fifty
one ballots were taken, but Mr.. O'Neill
would not vote for Mr.. Ohorly, and
consequently there was mn election.
Balloting occupied most OF the time be-
tween :. 30 and l2 O'Clock.
Prior to the meeting all Of the Demo.
cratic members except Mr.. O'Neill held
u conference, but. not having the sup
7 port of the member from the First
ward, they were unable 10 formulate ary
a effective plans.
W The members all being in their seats
ut s. 90 O'Clock, the meeting was called
q to order by President Leitch, who
stated the purpose for which it had
| been called. There was n silence of
"a several minutes, which time thu mem
& bers evidently occupied in msditafion.
# AS nobody appeared inclined to take
81 the initiative, President Leitch inquired
IA the pleasure OF Council, whereupun
& Mr.. Smith moved that balloting for
a chairman of the finance committee be
q resumed. The motion prevailed and
A the chair named Messrs. Healey and
H Robertson as tellers.
Ii Mr.. Fisher asked who were the nomi-
nees. and in reply President Leitch
stated that the only nominee before
Council at the last meating at which
any voting was done was MIR. Oberly.
We're there not four or five voted
for at thar meeting?" inquired Mr..
Fisher "Were not Mr.. Heaey. Mr..
Cannon, Mr. Leary and Mr.. Zebley
voted for?'
But there was only one candidate, -
Mir. Leitch explained. Several others
we're voted for ON one or two tickets
but Mr.. Oberly was the only candidate
for chairman.
'Theo, l nominate Mr.. Robertson, "
Mr.. Fisher remarked, after which
"a President Leitch ASH ed il there were
n any more norf1l nations
IA MIR. Smith did not like the idea of
calling for additional nominations.
"We are here to elect,' he saiu, "aud
not to nominate The nominations
closed on one candidate. - To which
a President Leitch replied: II think
not"
Mr.. Smith called for the minutes
hearing on the matter, and while they
we're being conveyed from the office Of
the clerk Mr.. Fisher made few re-
marks, in which be said that the only
nominations we're for members of the
finance COMMITTEES, and he was under
the Impression that there had been no
nominations for chairman OF the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Smith took exception to Mr..
Fisher's statement. lie said that
Messrs. Oberly, Leary aud Zebley had
been nominated for members of the
finance mmittee, and that the first
name mentioned was the nominee for
chairman.
'"Tnen We will refsr to the record, -
said President Leitch, The minutes
having been scrurinized, Mr.. Leitch
announced that tbev did not show that
the nominations had closed,
The first ballot was then taken, the
result being that Mr.. Oherly received
6 six votes, Mr.. Robertson g. and there
was one blank, it having been cast, evil
IDENTIFY, by Mr.. O'Neill. Mr.. liealey
called for tho second ballot, which was
the same as the first. except that Mr..
Zehley received one uf the votes which
had been cast for Mr.. Robertson. On
the third ballot Mr.. Zebley receiv cd
two of Mr.. Robertson's votes The
fourth was the same as the second,
while on the fifth Mr. Obsrly received
6, Mr.. Robertson |, and there were {
blanks.
Mr.. Healey. seeing that matters were
at a stand still, made a motion that
Council take recess for 20 minutes.
Mr.. Robertson objected, Oh the ground
that the ma iority had already been pro.
crasting long enough. /" 1t is matter
of history" he said, "that Nero fiddled
while Rome burned. | think that as
the people of the city delegated to the
majority portion Of this Council the
conduct of its business, it is bad policy
for them to fiddle while the city's in
terests are at stake. +"
The motion was lost, Mr.. O'Neil
voting with the Republicans against it.
On motion of Mr. Fisher, the sixth
ballot was ordered, the result being
that MIR. Oberly received votes, Mr..
Robertson 4, Messrs. Fisher and Zebley
each and blank ballot.
Still the situation was practically
unchanged, and Mr.. Kane moved thai
Council take recess of 10 minutes
MIR. O'Neill announced that he would
support the motion. at appears tc
me-" he said. that some of the mem
bers are troubled with very prevalent
disease, enlargement of the head. They
want few minutes TO see il they car
do anything for the disease, and on
that ground / will vote for the recess.
That applies to whom it may concern. .
With Mr.. O'Neill's support, the
motion prevailed, and most of the
Democratic members retired from the
room, the recess being occupied princi
pally in lounging about and talking in
groups. Mr.. O'Neill remained in the
loom and he was approached by John
+. Callahan and several other Demo,
erats, who endeavored, but without
success, to make an impression upor
him.
The Is minutes recess having ex,
pired at 9. 20 o'cluck, the body was
again called 10 order by President
Leitch, and immsdiately, on motion o
Mr.. Smith, the seventh ballot wat
taken, the vote being as follows: Mr..
Oherly, g.; Mr.. Robertson, A Mr.. Wat
SOL. /; MIR. Zebley, l; blank. l. Sue
coeding ballots resulted as follows:
Eighth-Mr. Oherly, 6; Mr.. Robert
Hon, B.; Mr.. Morris, 81 blank, 2.
Ninth-Mr. Oberly, 6; Mr.. Robert
son, 8; Mr.. Fisher, / Mr.. Watson,
Tenth Mr.. oberly, 6: Mr.. Robert
Son, q; Mr.. O'Neill, /; Mr.. Zebley,
Mr.. Watson, / blank, 9,
Eleventh-Mr. Oherly. 6 : Mr.. Robert
son, 3; MIR. Watson, blank. 2. One
of the tickets bore the names of Messrs.
Leary, Kane and Zehley.
Twelfth-Mr Oberly. g; Mr. Robert
son. 81; Mr.. Fiaher, 2; Mr.. Watson,
the Leary- Healoy Zebley ticket, J.
Robertson, 3; 4 vsrs. Watson and
Zebley and the ,Lsary. llealey -Zebley
tirket | earh hlnnk