Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-09-02
DEADLOCK IN THE ALDERMEN.
Upper Board of City Council Unable to
Elect President-Forty-thr Ballots
Taken During Yesterday and Last
Night.

Night.
An adjourned meeting OF the Board
of Aldermen was held last night when
81 ballots were taken in an attempt
to elect president. A tie resulted every
time, until finally recess was taken
until Tuesday, the Goth instant, at S
O'Clock.
Mr.. Hill, the vice-president OF the
former board, hold-over member,
called the members to order and the
baloting which had ceased after twelve
ballots had been cast at noon yesterday
was continued.
Mr.. Brill nominated Mr.. Marbury
and Mr.. Field Mr.. RalIenger. The
vote resulted as follows: For
Marbury, Messrs. Hill, Brill, Marbury
and Fitzgerald. For Ballenger, Messrs.
BaIenger, Field, Ogden and Summers.
The second third, fourth, fifth and
sixth ballots showed no variation, and
Mr.. Fill observed, in aspirit of pleasan-
try, that should the board fail to elect a
president, it would be incumbent upon
him to preside during the next four
years.
At this juncture Mr.. Brill moved to
adjourn, but this motion was lost by
tie vote, the members who had supported
Mr.. Marbury voting aye, and those
who supported Mr.. Ballenger no.
The seventh ballot showed no variation,
and Mr.. Ballenger withdrew his name
and nominated Mr.. Field, Mr.. Brill
nominated Mr.. Hill.
The eighth ballot resulted in another
tie, Messrs Hill, Brill, Marbury and
Fitzgerald voting 70: Mr.. Hill, and
Mcssrs Ballenger, Field, Ogden and
Summers for Mr.. Field.
The ninth and tenth ballots showed
the deadlock to be rs firm as ever, when
Mr.. Hill rcnominated Mr.. Marbury,
and Mr.. Ballenger Mr.. Field.
In nominating Mr. Marbury Mr..
Hill called attention to his years OF SER
vice as an Alderman; also to the fact
that he is the son Of a former faithful
public servant who in by-gone years
had presided over the Board Of Alder
nj eli and had literally died in the har-
ness. He hoped the members would
support him and break the present
deadlock.
The eleventh ballot WAS without result.
the supporters Of Mr.. Hill on the pre-
vious ballot supporting Mr.. Marbury,
and the four who had voted for Mr..
Field again casting their ballots for
him.
Mr.. Field nominated Mr.. Summers,
but he declined, as did also Mr.. Ogden,
who had been nominated by Mr.. Bal
lcnger.
The twelfth and thirteenth ballots
showed no changes.
Mr.. Hill had stated that he believed
it WIS within his power to declare re-
cess, but he would not do SO without
all the members agreed.
Mr. Ballingcr questioned the acting
presidents power to take such step,
saving quorum might not be present
at the meeting following recess
Mr.. Ogden spoke to the same pur-
pose.
Mr.. Hill said were u recess declared
the board could BIZ called together at
the request OF five members.
Mr.. Ballinger was opposed to what
he termed Mr.. Hills arbitrary ruling.
4 Mr.. Hill said he believed the mem
bers OF the board would find he was
acting legally, and il he was not he
wanted to know it. He said he de-
sired each member to examine into the
questions which had been raised, and
if it we're found that he was exceeding
the powers vested in him, he would
step down and out. A number OF
spectators, who we're without the bar,
applaudcd at this declaration.
Mr.. Ballcnger moved that the board
proceed with the balloting, and the
fifteenth, sixteenth seventeenth and
eighteenth ballots showed no variation
nor shadow of turning.
Mr.. Field subsequently Withdrew his
name and nominated Mr.. Summers,
and the nineteenth ballot showed the
same deadlock, Mr.. Marbury still re-
cciving the votes of the four members
who had been supporting him, while
the others voted for Mr. Summers.
The twentieth and twenty-tirst ballots
showed that the friends of the candl-
dates were still as firm as Gibraltar
Mr.. Summers withdrew his name
and Mr.. Ogden renominated Mr.. Field,
but the twenty second ballot resulted in
the same tie-four to four.
Several motions to adjourn were
voted down, and the balloting proceed
ed, the twentythird ballot resulting
in the same tic.
Mr.. Fitzgerald was finally placed in
nomination by Mr.. Brill, and the
twcnty-fourth, and twcntyffth and
twenty-sixth ballots showed the mem
bers had no intention OF changing
their vote
| Mr.. Fitzgerald then withdrew his
name and Mr.. Brill nominated Mr..
Hill. The twenty-seyenth ballot re-
suited Hill 4, Field 4, as did the
twenty eighth. twenty-ninth and thlr-
tieth and thirty-irst ballots.
Mr.. Marbury desired the acting
president to declare a recess for week
or ten days.
Mr.. Hill said he thought he had a
right to declare recess, but he pre-
ferred that all the members agree
with him in the exercise of such an
act.
Mr. Field moved that Il recess be
taken until Tuesday, September 70, at
: ID. III.