Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-06-30
City Council.


finance committee to whom hac been
referred resolution which provided for
so appropriation by the city ofa sum
sufficient to make the salary OF the
superintendent of public schools vi, 2OV
year. The committee submitted
report making the salary 81, O5O per
annuu. Tie report was submitted to
the Common Council and AMENDED to
conform with the sum provided for In
the resolution, and the amendment was
adopted. Their action was concurred
in by the Board Of Alderman by a unani-
nous vote.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
President Curtin and Messrs. Hill,
Brill, Msrbury, Bsllenger, aud Field
were present.
The president presented the resigns-
ton of Mr.. W. II. Sweeney as mem
Der of the board from the Fourth ward.
The resignation was accepted, after
which Mr.. Bsllenger introduced The
following resolutions which we're adopted
by unanimous vote.
Resolved, That the Board OF Alder
man, in accepting the resignation of w.
h. Sweeney as q member from the
Fourth ward, does so with regret, real
izing that he has been q useful member
and one who has labored faithfully In
the interests Of the city.
Resolved further, That the members
of the Board of Alderman tender him
their best wishes with the sincere hope
that abundant success will follow him
in the position he has been called to
I'll as superintendent of the public
schools of the city of Alexandria.
The report of the finance committee
as amended by the Common Council
providing q salary of 81, 200 year for
the superintendent of public schools
WAS subsequently received and the ae-
ton OF the lower board cOncurred in by
unanimous vote, after which the
Aldermen adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Fourteen members of council we're
present at the called meeting last night.
The president stated that the meeting
had been called at the request Of three
members for the purpose Of fixing the
salary of the superintendent of schools.
After short delay the clerk read the
report of the insnce committee recon-
mending that the salary of the superin-
tendent be made $1,000.
Mr.. Brumback moved that the report
be amended so as to read $1,000.
Mr.. Harrison seconded this, saying,
the position was worth $1,000.
Mr.. Marshall asked if Capt. Sweeney
was a member of the committee making
this report. Mr.. Burke replied that while
he WAS he had not been present at the
meeting when the matter was considered
| Mr.. Marshall then asked II Capt
Sweeney, being a member of the commit
tee, did make the legality OF the repor
aud councils action on the report ques
tionable. He Was not opposed to tn
new superintendent or the report but be
lieved council should exercise prope
care. He also said he had seen it ststet
10 the papers that Capt. Sweeney hat
rendered his resignation as a member o
the Board of Aldermen, but he Wonl'
like to know if be had actually re
signed"
The Chair replied that Capt Sweene.
was a member OF the upper board ant
that information 10 Mr.. Msrshall's in
quiry could be obtained from that board
President Curtin of the Aldermen
who Was standing without the bar, state
that Captain SweeneY's resignation hs
not been acted upon by that hoard.
The Chair then stated that Captain
: Sweeney was then still member OF th
City Council.
The members of the Aldermen, wit
were in the Council chamber, then pro
ceeded to their own chamber.
At this point Mr.. Spinks moved tha
Council adjourn, aud Mr.. Lesdbeater i
seconding Ibis motion got permission
state his reasons for so doing. He sal
that such precipitate action following
the election of new superintendent wa
hardly courteous to the retiring officer
who had served the city long and wei
The matter should beput oil until reg
\ ular meeting.
Mr.. Bumback spoke at length i
I favor of settling the matter OF oDce, say
ing no one wss more fond of Dol. KEN
per than he; but that in his opinion th
state law made it necessary to fix tb
salary before July /. This same la'
\ also made necessary an increase in "a
airy, and no purpose would be accom-
: plished by delay. He read from th
code In support OF his position.
The Chair took a different view, be
= IievIng that Council could fix this salar
. any time before the new superintendent
qualified and this, of course, could be d.
lsyed.
- Mr.. Spinks asked leave to wllhdrs
his motion to adjourn as he had ju
> Learned that Ospt. Sweeney bad resigne
4 from the Board of Aldermen.
At this point Alderman BslleDger 81
peared at the bar and reported that II
! Aldermen had received and accepte
Is the resignation of Capt. Sweeney.
81 Mr.. Brumback hoped final 6lspos
ton would not be delayed and conIiuI
, ing asked Why Council had met unless
was to pass the resolution.
The Chair said the meeting had bee
called at the instance of the gen!lems
from the Second ward and against IL
|, advice of the Chair. While he Wss
. favor OF Capt Sweeney he could see n
= necessity for haste. He asked how man
:. cities in the state had taken action an
4 how many had not.
= Mr.. Smith read from e letter fro
Mr. E0olaaion Snnerinkfhdent of Pol