Evening star., 1899-07-01
CITY COUNCIL ORGANIZES
New Officials Take Charge Of Affairs in
Alexaudria
Mayor Simpson Delivers an Address
and Takes Oath of Once
Subordinate Positions.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. July 1.-The organ
ization OF the new city council.
which is to direct the legislative
affairs of Alexandria for the next
two years. was effected at noon today.
Much interest was shown in the occasion
and the space reserved for spectators was
crowded On the desks Of several new
members flowers in beautiful designs had
been placed by admiring friends.
The first business before both bodies was
the choice of presiding officer. William
II. Marbury was reelected without opposi-
ton as president of the board of aldermen.
In the common council however. there was
a sharp contest between Hubert Snowden.
who has been president of the board for
several years, and John H. Strider. On the
first ballot Mr.. Snowden received seven
ballots and Mr.. Strider eight. with one
blank cast. On the second ballot, however,
Mr. Strider received nine votes and Mr..
SnOwden seven. Mr.. Strider was therefore
declared elected. and was duly sworn in.
d. r. Stansbury was chosen clerk without
opposition, and j. Chris. Gill was elected
messenger.
There was close contest in the upper
board over the election of clerk. R. E.
Knight. VIM. L.. Hoy, Frank G. Grimes and
VIM. F. Carne were the candidates. After
nine ballots. in which honors were even
between Mr.. Carne and Mr.. Grimes, it was
decided to postpone the election until the
first regular meeting There was no cleo
tion for clerk, and this was also postponed.
Mayors Address.
After the boards had chosen their officers
a joint session was held in the common
council chamber. A committee was named
to notify the mayor that council was ready
to receive him, and Mayor George L. Simp-
son shortly thereafter appeared and took
the oath of office He made a short ad-
dress. in the opening Of which he referred
to the value of friendly and harmonious
relations between men, and asserted that
the honors bestowed on him by his fellow
townsmen had not failed to endear them to
his heart.
He briefly discussed the functions belong
ing to the legislative bodies. ernphas sizing
the Importance of harmony and stating the
belief that good relations would be main
tanned between all concerned in the man.
agement of municipal affairs. Such con-
ditions. he said. were absolutely necessary
to good government. and where they failed
to exist disorder and strife would be found
and the public good subordinated to pri-
vate ends.
The mayor made complimentary refer
enee to the gratuitous service rendered the
city by those holding seats in council. Their
duties were sometimes arduous, he said,
and their reward the good will of fellow
citizens He dwelt at some length upon the
insidious influence exercised upon the local
government by corrupt and scheming indi-
vfduals in every community.
Such people, he said, were the greatest
enemies of the public good. Always in the
minority and always defeated in a fair
fight, said the speaker, they We're yet fire.
quently successful in their interference in
public matters because of their constant
activity.
The intimation was strong that such an
element existed in this city and the may
or warned his hearers against it's inf1u-
ence.
Aldermen and COunciImen.
The recently elected members of the board
of aldermen who took their seats today
are as follows:
First ward, ]. NJ. Hill; second ward, Will
liam H. Marbury; third ward, Thomas L..
Clark; fourth ward, William H. Sweeney
]. N. Hill succeeds R H Havener, VIM.
H Marbury follows himself, Thomas j..
Clark succeeds L. NJ. Davis and William H.
Sweeney follows j. Clinton Smoot. The re-
naming four members of this board are
B. Dobie, first ward: Theadolphus Ballinger,
second ward; j. r. NJ Curtin. third ward,
and J. 7. Sweeney, fourth ward
In the common council the recently elect
ed members taking their seats today are:
First ward, Harry r. Burke, Hubert Snow
den, j. Fl, Trimyer and 7. Alton Moore;
second ward. John H. Strider, Henry
Boader. William G. Latham and William
Desmond; third ward, John T. Harrison,
Fred Paff. George A Appich and B. b.
Smith; fourth ward, Theodore H. Ffckhn,
E. E. Lawler, W. H. P. Kelley and Frank
t Evans. In the first ward H. r. Burke
is the only new member, G. n. Moore retir-
ing In the second ward Joseph s. Beach
and J. Fred Birrell are followed by VIM.
Desmond and Henry Boader. George A.
Appich and Fred Pan. from the third ward,
follow John II. Greene and Louis Brill. In
the fourth ward L. e. Uhler and J. NJ.
White retire, being succeeded by Frank E.
Evans and E. E. Lawler.