Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-21
LIVELY joint SESSION OF COUNCIL
Members Favorins Mayors AppoIntee
Express Themselves Fully in Re-
gard to the Body's Action Last
Week and Carry Their Point in
Sweeping FashIon-c. r. Fellows
Again Elected to School Board.

with only three members absent
the city council, in joint session, last
night confirmed Mayor Buxton's re
appointment of Mr.. III. d. Holmes TO
succeed himself as member of the
board of police commissioners. six
OF the nine members who voted
against the confirmation last weol;
were with the majority ut the finish
last night, and there wore only two
nays on a motion. to confirm
In some ways this probably was
the most interesting joint meeting
ever held by the council. 1t was char.
acterizcd by heated speeches and ar
snments. and WAS furnished with n
sensational finish when one member
broke his walking stick over the Head
of another.
Although Is was not genoro,,v
known that the mayor would again
send in the name of Mr.. Holmes. tho
cQlln eilnlen .fayoringg MIR Holmes knew
before the meeting was called to or
uer That the name would he sent in,
ana were confident that the appoint.
ment would be confirmed In order
To make the result dOubly sure. how.
ever, Alderman ii. u. Walker. who
was Ill and confined TO his bed, was
sent Tor When Mr.. Walker pale
anu weak. walked into the council
chamber, the matter was practically
settled. Tho vote at the last session
was to against confirmation. All
clEht OF the men who voted for con
firmation were present last night. and
In addition there were Aldermen Hos.
kins and Walker and Common Conn.
cilmcn Ford and Kctchum. who were
absent before and who stood for con.
Irritation. Councilman II. Lee Davis
T.. Morgan and w w. Washbnrn were
absent, and Mr.. Morgan was one of
the the nine who had voted against
confirmation.
The Mayors Message.
After the matter of selecting q
school trustee for the First district
had b,cn disposed Of, Clerk Hudgins
read the following message from tho
mayor
September 90, 1907.
TO the City Council.
Newport News. Va
Gcntlcmcn:-I respectfully return
herewith for the further cousidcra.
ton of your honorable body the nomi.
nation of Mr.. II. u, Holmes MS n mem.
her of the Board of Police Commits
sioncrs as successor tn himself for
n term of three years beginning .Ju.y
1st, 1907. At the last joint meeting
of the council. confirmation of the an.
pointmcnt of Mr.. Holmes was refused
The number of votes against CON
hrmation being less than a majority
oil the combined vote of the two bran
ches of the council On that account
! am moved to rcsubmit the same
nomination; and for the further reason
tlat from reported expressions of the
members on the floor of the council
am of opinion there must have been
some misrepresentation concerning the
cause assigned for the refusal to CON
firm.
with reference to the alleged claim
OF Mr. Holmes against the city, |
ma upon investigation. the facts to
be rs follows: II is claimed that the
mother of Mr.. Holmes was injured by
fall on the sidewalk, occasioncd by
disprOportionatc grades. AT her re-
quest and in her behalf Mr. Holmes
brought the matter to the attention of
the city attorney and asked that in
Hniry he made and a report on the
right of Mrs. Holmes he rcmuneratcd
by the city to the extent of $3.50. 90.
large proportion Of which amount
was represented to be expended for
medical and other expenses incident
10 the injury. The city attorney. after
investigation of the facts. reported
same in letter to committee of
your body, suggesting that Il might be
advisable to compromise the claim.
me committee. upon consideration of
this claim. refused to make any al.
lowancc. Here the matter has rested
and no further steps have been taken.
No suit has been instituted as vet
against the city on this account. and
If suit is brought 1t must necessarily
ne by and on account of the person
injured And It is perhaps not rep
rehensiblc for citizen. even though
he be an officer. to bring to the atten.
ton of the city for fair settlement a