Albuquerque Morning Journal

COUNCIL ENDS DEADLOCK: ALL MEMBERS REPORT

Aldermen Booth and Simms Re-elected at Insistence of Mayor; Councilmen Begin Disposing of Matters,

The deadlock in the council ended when all aldermen answered the roll call at last night's meeting. Mayor Henry Westerfeld was present.

The councilmen established the status of Albert C. Simms and W. H. Booth whom part of the council had previously elected to membership, and then began disposing of the business that had accumulated while they were at loggerheads. One night was not sufficient for the task, however, so the council adjourned until tonight.

Mayor Westerfeld insisted that Mr. Simms and Mr. Booth had not been legally elected so the council ballotted on them. Mr. Booth received the vote of the entire council while the vote on Mr. Simms was four to two. They took their seats at once.

The mayor wanted to expunge from the minutes the meetings at which the four aldermen, who made up the faction, elected Mr. Simms and Mr. Booth. Alderman G. D. Hammond declared that he had no right to change the minutes, holding that that was the council's right. Building Inspector E. A. Bowdich, acting city clerk, read the minutes of the two meetings.

Minutes Corrected.

Mayor Westerfeld advised the councilmen that they would correct the minutes, omitting reference to the two elections, if they wanted to turn a wise trick. The councilmen could then legally elect Mr. Simms and Mr. Booth, he said. The mayor then declared nominations in order.

Alderman Simms then moved that reference to the two meetings, which the mayor wished to be expunged, be stricken from the records. Aldermen Booth and Hammond seconded him. The motion carried.

The council did not take up the matter of electing a successor to city Clerk Thomas Hughes. Alderman G. Gibson asked the mayor if he had accepted the city clerk's resignation and the mayor said he had not. No election can be held, of course, until the resignation is accepted.

The mayor notified the councilmen of his appointment of Fred Russell as chief of the fire department. The appointment was a recess one. The council confirmed the appointment.

May Settle Dorris Case.

The council was notified that attorneys for T. M. Dorris, who sued the city for $50,000 because of the death of his son who was killed by a fire engine, were willing to compromise. The case was tried at the last term of court and resulted in a mistrial, the jury being unable to agree. A committee consisting of Alderman Gibson, Gilbert, Tingley and City Attorney W. A. Keleher, was appointed to confer with Dorris and his attorneys.

Charges that Building Inspector Bowdich had refused to approve plumbing installed by him although he had passed similar work and that he had approved plumbing in one case which did not conform with regulations, were made by J. M. Vickrey.

The council as a committee of the whole will make an investigation.