Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-06-28
City Council.

were submitted, as we'll as that OF the
operations of the light department OF
the city. The Common Council passed
tie ordinance providing for advertising
for bids for furnishing electricity to the
city, but it was laid over in the Board
of Aldermen.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Vice President Curtin presided in the
Board of Aldermen in the absence OF
President Sweeney.
When the ordinance providing for adj
vertising for bids for furnishing electric
ity to the city was received from the
lower board,
Mr.. Balenger asked that it be laid
over in order TO afford him time to ex-
anime into il more closely. The ordi-
nance, he said, was volumnous and he
was not prepared to vote for il from the
fact that he was not thoroughly familiar
with it.
Mr.. Hill said the matter had been be-
fore Council for about two years. Alex
andria was now about 25 years behind
the times. The city is not in a position
to install an electric plant, aud Others
should be allowed to do so. He saw no
good reason for laying the ordinance
over.
Mr.. BalIenger replied by saying this
was the first time the ordinance had
been read in the Aldermen since he took
his seat as a member. At any rate he
was not prepared to vote for it aud
moved to lay it over
Mr.. w. II. Sweeney called attention
to the fact that the ordinance merely
authorized Council to advertise for bids
for furnishing electricity. When the
same shall have been received members
would have the opportunity to vote for
the acceptance or rejection OF the bids.
The speaker hoped Mr.. Ballenger would
withdraw his motion, as should the
board concur in the action of the Com
mon Council and Council receive salts
factory bid the work OF installing an
electric plant could not be commenced
before fall, as the advertisement for bids
would have to be published for 30 days.
There was a desire TO have the plant
constructed before cold weather sets in.
Mr.. Ballenger acknowledged the cor
rectness of all Mr.. Sweeney had said,
but still insisted upon being given time
to post himself before voting. He de-
sired to see electricity 10 common use in
Alexandria, and was in no wise opposed
to the movement being made toward that
end, but, at the same time, wanted to
vote intelligently. The committees to
whom the ordinance had been referred
doubtless understood its provisions, bu:
| he was not so familiar with it.
Mr.. Fisher agreed with Mr.. Ballenger.
The ordinance, he sail, had never been
before the present Board of Aldermen
before. In fact it was a new ordinance
Mr.. w. H. Sweeney said it was sub
stantially the old ordinance which had
been before Council at times during the
past two years, but, in Difference to
members who were not prepared to vote
upon it, he was willing to let the Ordl-
nance lie over
A vote was finally taken upon con
curing in the action of the Common
Council which resulted as follows: Ayes,
Messrs. Hill, Burke Marbury, Curtin
and w. II. Sweeney. Noes, Messrs.
Ballenger and Fisher. 1t being sup
posed that it required six votes to pass
the ordinance, Mr.. Burke changed his
vote in order that he could move re-
consideration.
Mr.. Fisher claimed that it took an
equal number of votes to reconsider as it
did to concur in the action of the Com
mon Council.
An appeal was made to the chair, but
no one seemed to be sufficiently posted
to controvert Mr.. Fishers assertion, and
the debate became animated.
Mr.. Fisher said a resolution looking
TO the same end of the ordinance under
consideration had been referred to his
committee general laws, and he did
not want it to die in the committee room.
lie, like Mr. Ballenger, wanted time to
consider, and said he would eudeavor to
have meeting Of his committee and
present a report on the resolution at the
next meeting of Council provided the Or
dinance was laid over for two weeks.
Mr. Burke said he had no desire to
rush the ordinance through.
Mr.. Fisher said he would vote to lay
the ordinance over provided the members
assure him he would be given an oppor
tunity to submit a report on the resolu-
ton referred to his committee before a
vote on the adoption of the resolution
was taken.
The members were not disposed to en-
ter into this agreement and a vote on a
motion to lay the ordinance over for two
weeks prevailed, only Mr.. Fisher voting
il the negative.
After a large number of papers which
had been received from the Common
Council had been read and the action Of
the lower board concurred in,
Mr.. Hill said that since the ordinance |
providing for the electric franchise had |
been laid over, be bad ascertained that |
it had in reality been passed by the first |
vote taken, it requiring but 8 votes, not |
6, as had been supposed.
Mr. Fisher raised a point of order
the matter had been disposed of.
1t was finally agreed to let the matter
rest until next meeting, and the board |
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board was called to order shortly
after o'clock.
The AndiiOr's and Treasurer's annual