Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-05-26

now constituted. ms zoe peilis -
tlieu of the old state tax which the
new state law abolishes.
AS Capt. Bryan explained these
rates mean no increase, but are lden-
tical with those in force last year.
A letter was received from the
Mayor stating that he did not wholly
approve of the ordinance granting a
telephone franchise and had not sign
ed it: But as Council had been Sc
overwhelmingly in favor of this
franchise, he had not vetoed but hao
allowed it to become law without
his signature.
Council then took up the majority
and minority reports of the ADJUST
ments of the ward lines to take in
the new territory.
AS has been stated, the majority re-
port provides for the extension of the
Third and Fourth wards, and the mi
nority report for the forming of a
Fifth ward.
Mr. Brumback spoke in favor of
the minority report, but thought that
a Fifth ward would carry out the
ideas of Mr.. John M. Johnson, who
was perhaps more familiar with the
conditions surrounding annexation
than any member of Council. 1t would
also fulfill the wishes of the residents
of this section. Mr.. Brumback also
called attention to the present inc
quality of the population in the
wards. He said the First and Second
wards contained about 3,l00 people
each; the Third ward nearly 5000
and the Fourth ward about 4,500. He
believed that the city should not add
to the. Third and Fourth wards but
should take from them. He also said
that the city was redistricted in
1908, and that the law provides that
it should be redistricted every 10
years thereafter, and that Council
had neglected this duty.
Mr.. Brockett favored the Fifth
ward of equal size, and believed that
the representatives of each ward
should be reduced to one Aldermen.
and two members of the Common
Council. He further stated that it
would be good idea, in his opinion,
if every member of the Council would
resign and have special election cal
led this summer to elect an entirely
new body.
Mr.. Bendehim explained the entire
situation at length, and said that a
census of the wards would have to be
taken before the ward lines could be
revised properly.
Mr.. Brumback moved to non-concur
in the action of the Aldermen in
adopting a majority report mad refer
ing the entire matter back to the
committee: with instructions to redis-
trict the city.
Mr.. Brumback's motion was lost by
a vote of to s. Those voting aye
were Messrs. Leadbeater, H. R. Burke,
C S. T. Burke, Brumback, Brockett
ard Harrison. Those voting no
Messrs.. Marbury, Wattles, Desmond,
Bales, Bendheim, Bryan, Lawler and
Smith.
The ordinance was passed by the
same vote later.
The chair announced that the ordi-
nance had been returned to him sign
ed by the Mayor, and Mr.. Bales at
once moved that Council go into an
election and fill the vacancy from the
Third ward.
Mr.. Brockett objected to this, say
ing he could see no reason for this
undue haste. This was the first time
during six years that he has served
in Council that the Mayor had seen fit
to sign and return any ordinance on
the night of its passage, and he felt
that on account of the changing condi-
tions Council should be given little
time to consider the matter.
Mr.. Bales's motion prevailed, and
Mr.. Bales nominated Mr.. August J.
Pohl.' Mr.. Brockett nominated Mr..
Arthur Herbert.
Mr.. Harrison asked Mr.. Bales if Mr..
Pohl was voter in the Third ward.
Mr.. Bales said that he could not an
swer this.
Mr.. Bendehim gave his views of the
subject at length.
Mr.. Brockett asked if the election
of Mr.. Pohl would be legal.
Mr.. Brumback seemd to think
there was serious question of the
legality, and thought the matter
should be investigated