Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-09-09
CITY COUNCIL.

l.
Council last night-that is, no business
was transacted although quorums were
present in both boards. 1t appeared
that the provisions of the city charter
had not been complied with in calling
the meeting, as by that instrument the
power of converting the City Council is
vested only in the Mayor and the Presl-
dent of the Board of Aldermen, neither
of whom had participated in calling the
meeting.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Several members were present in the
Alermen's chamber and shortly after s
o'clock Mr.. J. T. Sweeney requested
President Marbury to call the board to
order.
Mr.. Marbury said no business was
before the board and furthermore the
assembling of the Aldermen was lille
gal, from the fact that it had not been
done in legal manner.
Mr.. Sweeney said the assembling OF
the members was useless trouble IN
less done in 8 legal manner. He had
been told that the en- ire proceeding was
out of order, and upon examining the
law had found it so. The speaker had
supposed that communication would
have been received from the Mayor con-
vering Council, but none being on the
clerks desk, and as only the Mayor or
the President OF The Aldermen have
the authority to call meeting of both
boards, and neither having done so, he
regarded the assembling of the Alder
men Illegal in toto. He read from the
city charter to substantlete his conclu
sion, and said it was useless to discuss
the matter any further, especially on
mon Council had the undisputed right
TO ca | meeting of his board at the re
quest of four members, but he had DO
authority to convene the City Council
i. g., both boards. Mr.. Marbury had
said he had had nothing 10 do with call
ing the meeting, and there was nothing
for the memD rs to do but adjourn.
An interval of several minutes fol.
lowed, during which peri, CT silence
reigned, until Mr. CuIrin rose and
moved an adjournment.
Mr.. Hill wss averse to adjourning.
A committee OF gentlemen, appointed
by the Business Mems League, were
in the building, aud desired to make
certain proposals to Council regarding
contem plated street improvements
They had gone to some trouble in o.
der to be present, and he hoped Coun.
Gil would show them proper courtesy.
1t would BE- an inconvenience to these
gentlemen TO compel them to come at
some other time.
Mr.. Marbury ssil the plans the com.
mittee would present had been pub
lished in the newspapers, and members
of Council were familiar with them.
MIR. SnowdeD. from the Common
Council, entered the chamber, aud
stated that he had been appointed by
the lower board to ascertain if the Al.
dermen were in session, as it had been
suggested in the Common Council that
there was some illegality concerning
the call.
Mr.. Sweeney replied that the same
question had been raised in that board
Mr.. Marbury said the Aldermen were
not in session.
Mr.. Hill again urged that the pro-
ceedings of the Aldermen be allowed
to go on. 1t was an oversight on the
part of the members who had asked
for the meeting in not having present.
ed the application to Mr.. Marbury.
Four members of the Aldermen who
desired the meeting were present and
ready 10 sign a call.
Mr.. Marbury said physically he was
not in q condition to listen to the plans
which would be presented by the COM
mittee nor the DEBATE which would fol
low. he therefore declared the assembly
adjourned, and those present left the
chamber.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The storm muttere0 and tightening