Running, Yes, but in Circles?

"Hey, hey, ho, ho, backroom deals have got to go!'' the group chanted.

Council members wrapped up their administrative discussions and began their meeting one hour and 37 minutes after it was scheduled to begin.

No apologies were given.

Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D) said she understood the audience's frustration, but said not everything can be done in public view. "We needed to deal with some administrative issues,'' she said.

'Big Apple' Is Taken ...

What's the official fruit of the District?

Chairman Linda W. Cropp wants to know.

She sponsored legislation Tuesday to work with local school children in a class exercise to come up with an official fruit of the District.

But she laid down some common-sense rules.

"No council members can be named as the fruit,'' Cropp said.

A Challenge at Lodge 1

While the council mulls fruit, the Fraternal Order of Police District of Columbia Lodge 1 is embroiled in the messy practice of democracy. For the first time in four years, someone is challenging longtime lodge president Louis P. Cannon .

Cannon is running for his seventh two-year term as head of the lodge, which has more than 10,000 members in 34 law enforcement agencies. His opponent is D.C. Police Sgt. Gregory I. Greene , who chairs the lodge's D.C. police labor committee.

The lodge is not a bargaining organization, but functions mainly as a social club with a bar and restaurant.