Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-15

MIR: YATES RESIGNS.
Plans of Majority to Elect Success
sion Last Night Miscarry and Body
is Thrown Into Confusion.

There was an unusually stormy
melting of the Common Council last
night, which finally eliminated in six
members leaving in body, thereby
breaking the quorum.
The trouble arose over the resigna-
ton of Mr.. Yates, from the First
ward, which was a surprise to a
number of the members Of Council,
but. had been known for several days by
the President, Mr.. Brumback, and GER
tain other members. Those gentle
men who were aware of the fact that
Mr.. Yates resignation would be
handed in last night, it appears had
carefully refrained from imparTing
the information to either Mr.. Spinks
or Mr.. Burke, of the First ward, or
TO Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Birrell, Mr.. Mar
shall or Mr.. Bryan.
Additional trouble was caused by
the fact that Mr. Swan of the Fourth
ward, who had announced his purpose
to resign last night on account of
having removed from his ward, as
published in the newspapers several
days ago, not only failed to tender his
resignation, but was present at the
meeting and actively participating in
the effort of the majority to elect a
successor to Mr.. Yates Immediately,
without giving the people of the First
ward o. the representatives in Coun-
Gil of the First ward, an opportunity
tc recommend some one to fill the va
cs.nty. ','
AS soon as the resignation was
read, a motion was made by Mr..
Smith to lay the resignation on the
table in order that Mr.. Yates might
be given an opportunity to reconsider
If he desired to do so. This motion
was defeated by vote of eight to six;
Messrs. Spinks, Burke, Smith, Birrell,
Marshall and Bryan voting to lay the
resignation on the table, and Messrs.
Lambert, Williams, Monroe, Brock
ett, Harrison, Swan, Chauncey and
President Brumback voting against
it.
Considerable discussion and debate
then followed, which was participated
in generally by the members, until
Mr.. Williams moved the previous queS
tion and on the roll call, the resigna-
ton of Mr.. Yates was accepted by a
vote of II to O.
Mr.. Smith then moved to postpone
the election of a successor to Mr..
Yates until the next regular meeting
of Council, in order that aspirants for
the position might have an opportun-
ity to see the members of Council and
that the members from the First ward
might agree upon candidate.
During the discussion of this motion,
Mr.. Birrell propounded number OF
questions to Mr.. Williams and MIR.
Brumback, which elected the informa-
ton that both MIR. Brumback and Mr..
Williams had had previous knowledge
of the fact that Mr.. Yates resignation
would be presented, and that this
knowledge had been impaired to GER
tain members of Council, but not to
others. -"
Mr.. Burke, from the First ward,
stated that he had heard nothing of
the resignation until few minutes
before Council met. and that he was
confident that very few people of the
First ward had heard anything of the
matter and he believed that the people
should be consulted and an oppor-
tunity given to prospective candidates
to present their names. Mr.. Spinks
from the First ward, coucurred in the
statement of Mr.. Burke and further
recommended that a. special election
should be held to fill the vacancy
Upon vote on the motion to postpone
the election until the next meeting Of
Council, Messrs. Spinks, Burke, Biz.
rell, Smith, Marshall and Bryan votec
for the postponement and Messrs
Lambert, Williams, Monroe, Brock
ett. Harrison, Swan, sChauncey an,
Brumback, voted against. tit $50
Mr.. Birrell then. asked the Chai
how many votes were necessary TO
the elecMon TO sill 1.-THE vacancy, o.
which the Chair ruled that q rnajorit