Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-12-11
DEADLOCK
IN COUNCIL

! W dS lIdu HttNtt'A''
The proceedings were held up for
over two hours by a stubborn dead
lock, with the members on one side
and the President on the other whC
refused to put Mr.. Patton's motion.
! The proceedings had hardly begun
when Mr.. Patton renewed his motion
of the last meeting which was un-
| seconded on that occasion. namely,
I that the Borough proceed to procure
an established grade.
| Mr.. Kemmer seconded the motion
but President Vastine declined to put
| the question, explaining that the
motion was only Il part of a scheme
looking to the payment of Mr.. Africa 5
bill and that he as Pre- Iident Of council
had right TO refuse to put any ques-
tion which ne considered detrimental
to the borough. Those favoring the
motion vigorously contested the Pres
ident's position and declared that the
members should be given an oppOrtu-
that no other business should be trans
acted even if they had to remain in
session until morning.
Mr.. Patton was especially emphatic
on that point. He reminded the Pre-
sidcnt that he was one of a committee
appointed to wait upon the borough
nl tn no
looking to a uniformity of grade and
that Mr.. Gearhart had informed them
that legally speaking the borough has
no established grade. He affirmed that
he was not working in the interest of
Mr.. Africa or any one else. He called
attention to the deplorable state Of
affairs existing in the borough, the
lack of uniformity in the matter Of
grades, which on the pavcments
amounts TO positive pitfalls and stated
that sooner or later an accident will
occur, as the result of which the bor-
ough may be mulcted i'll heavy dam
ages. He protested that the President
which had been duly made and second
ed. In order to hold his point he had
remained standing
President Nastine declared that the
present was not the time to take action
and requested Mr.. Patton to sit down.
The latter declared that he had the
L, l,,I .
until the question was put.
Thus the time passed, periods of
silence ia which council resembled u
Quaker meeting alternating with noisy
periods, when hot-headed words were
spoken that would not look well in
PRINT and the members to express their
= o. 4;~,a-f,,p+ tho dosEe with thoir
clenched fists.
In addition TO Patton and Kemmer,
Dougherty, Montgomery, Brandt and
Sechler were in favor of the motion.
Messrs Lloyd and Swank were non
eommittal, while Mr. Davis made an
address defending the President :
position
J. Murray Africa appeared before
Council and asking the indulgence OF
5Ir Patton who still held the floor
stated that he had come at the request
Of several members to answer what
ever questions might be suggested with
re ference to his survey of the borough
and to soc what obstacles lay III the
way oi the payment of his bill
The President asked him by what
at thoritv h had mnie il survey OF
the borough Mr.. Africa stated that
he had been duly employed and SEEM
ed satisfied with the authority. He
would like to have his money, and in
tiInated in pretty plain terms that II
his bill were not soon paid he would
proceed to collect it by law.
Mr. Patton aked Mr.. Africa if his
map included top and bottom grade.
He replied that it does not, but stated
that ne has all Fhe information neCeS-
sary III order to give a top and bottom
grade and that he would furnish the
same at no additional cost to the bor-
ough.
The dead lock continuing at 9:l5
O'Clock MIR. Africa arose and left the
council chamber in disgust
BY this time one hour had passed.
Mr.. Patton still had the floor, and he
killed time as best he could by walk
ing about, and tugging neryously at u
cigar.
Notwithstanding the bitter TRADE
of criticism and cCnsure hurled at him
the President remained obdurate de-
claring that he would remain in the
chair until morning before he would
put the uestion.
Another hour passed and the unique
proceedings of tho early part of the
session repeated themselves with Mr-
Patton still pacing up and down the
floor, and each side still declaring that
it would never give in.
Important business was pending IL
form of paying bills for labor, etc,
This made it especially desirable that
the dead lock should be broken. But
it was not to be so and labor went
unpaid
The President sent out for his over.
coat and leaning back in his chail
closed his eyes. lie might have been
doing When he opened his eye.
many of the members had vanished
and those containing did not constitute
a quorum.
Holding Change of Schedule Back.
4