The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-24
Local Matte r..


The MAYORS MEssAaE.-Thc Mayor Of WASH
ington. yesterday afternoon, transmitted to the
two Boards OF the City Councils the following
sage, namely:
MAYORS OrFIcE, June %, 1851.
To the Board Of Aldermen and Common Couneii
CEsrLKmEN: desire to invite your attention to
the following subjects, in advance of the annual
report from this Office. shall lay that communi
cation before you as the reports Of the sev-
erai officers Of the Corporation are received.
The accompanying memorial from the President
and Directors Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company presents an application to this Corpora
lion for pecuniary aid, to enable them to furnish
said canal between dam No. and Cumberland
with an adequate supply of water at all times The
plan suggested is to raise fhcient supply from
the river Potomac by means of four pumps, the
total cost of which the engineer OF the work has
e stlmated not 10 exceed $4,000. To accomplish
this object the Canal Company ask a loan of the
bonds Of this Corporation TO the amount Of $25OOO,
TO be secured by a pledge Of the revenues OF the
work. However abundant or valuable may be the
resources of the region Of country which the canal
traverscs, capital and enterprise will shrink from
investments if the remotest apprchcn-
sion Of such difficulty as an inadequate supply OF
water 10 permitted to exist. In my Judgment our
city is too deeply interested in the full success
Of this work, by its past sacrifices and its future
prospects, to withhold the aid now asked for.
The questions for consideration would seem
to be az follows: IL the plan proposed practicable
has the Canal Company the right to pledge its rev.
enues for such object3 And, if so, would such
pledge be sufficient security? The plan has been
adopted by the board of directors of the canal upon
the recommendation of the distinguished engineer
of the work, after most careful examination. In
regard TO tho power of the company to pledge its
revenues for such object, herewith transmit to
tai nj n N a
would respectfully suggest that the opinion OF
the Corporation attorney be taken upon this point
The amount for which the current revenue is now
pledged for repairs upon the work Is about 3OO,-
0OO-an uncomfortable sum in view of the rapidly
increasing business Of the canal. pledge Of the
revenues subject only to the prior payment Of this
trifing sum, would undoubtedly furnish unques-
tionabe security. If the Councils shall determine
grant this aid the proprety and snfety OF which
| entertain no doubt, would recommend that it
be made upon such conditions will secure the
removal of those Instructions which now impede
navigation upon the canal in and below George
town.
would also invite your attention, at this time,
to the necessity Of reorganizing the office OF Col
lector. An examination of existing laws will clear
" show that more prompt and exact accounta-
bity is necessary to guard that portion OF the re-
venue which il received by the Collector. The in
tegrity of the officer has heretofore been our safe
guard rather than the efficacy OF tho provisions OF
the law. This course IL also rendered necessary
by tho large increase in the business Of this Office
Instead of attempting to present At this time
specific plan, have deemed it more advisable 10
suggest the appointment of joint committee,
whose duty it shall be 70 examine and report upon
the accounts Of the late incumbent and also what
changes are necessary in the existing laws Such
an examination to be due to the Corporation,
to the late incumbent, and his successor; whilst,
at the same time, IL may furnish wholesome and
ice.
/ also submit to your consideration whether it
would not be advisable to continue the late incum-
bent in the employment of the Corporation for a
short time, to enable him to close up such portion
of the outstanding business Of the Office as cannot
with facility be transferred to his successor
consideration, however, of the propriety OF this
might be embraced in the examination to be made
by tho committee which has been suggested.
beg leave to suggest that the bill entitled :" An
act to organize u Police System for the city
Of Washington" approved March IL, 1851, be
30 amended as to authorize the appointment OF
lieutenant Of police. After the first Of July the
| number of men under the control OF the Chief OF
Police will be forty-lve and with this increase
will arise more extended and arduous duties. The
Chief Of Police however devoted to the public SER
vice capable of physical cxertien, cannot remain
on duty through each entire night; and, in fact,
this is not required of the subordinate members Of
| the Guard, or ofthe police constables and yet it
il absolutely necessary that he, or some one hold
ing equal authority, should be present through the
night at the guardhouse to receive reports, issue
the necessary orders, hear complaints, and act
| upon such cases az may be presented. Again,
| il 10 necessary that the Chief Of Police should
| be at liberty to leave the guardhouse when Pc
| cuar circumstances may require it; and the
| result must be that, under the present system of
only one officer, the duties at the guardhouse or
that of general outdoor inspection and super
intendence must be partially neglected. An
| other advantage to be derived from tho appoint
| ment would be to secure q more faithful enforce
ment of the Corporation ordinances other than those
having relation to tho peace of the city 1t has
been suggested that these objects could be accom-
plshed by the appointment Of 500 other person
than the captain Of the Auxiliary hard to the Of
fee of Chief of Police.
ment and Corporation police. Blended together as
are the relations and interests of the Government
and Corporation in this matter it is certain that q
divided authority could not exist together. Occa-
would spring up jeaouses and collisions of au-
| thority, causing confusion and uncertainty of ac-
ion, and extending from the chiefs to the subordi
mates. Unity and efficiency of action by these two
! police forces can only be secured by subjecting
| them both to one controlling authority.
We have not the power to subject the Auxiliary
| Guard to the control of an officer of our own ap-
pointment, nor 10 it reasonable that should de-
sire to do so. esteem it fortunate circumstance
that we have theopportunity ofunitingour own COM
paratively uncomfortable force with that of the
| Government, and of placing them under the con-
troll Of officer responsible both to the Govern
ment and the Corporation. With the addition Of
| this officer, am satisfied from personal observa-
ton that the police system ofour city will be greatly
increased in activity and efficiency, and will fully
accomplish the objects of its establishment.
Respectfully,
| WALTER LENOX, Mayor.
| The message was appropriately referred in each
| Board.
| OFrIcERs OF THE CoRPoRATIoN.-The Mayor,
| yesterday afternoon, made the following nomina-
lions to the Board Of Aldermen, action upon which
was deferred until Monday next, namely:
Joseph Radclif, chief clerk; William E. Howard
second clerk; James NJ. Carlisle, attorney; jacob
Klciber, messenger.
| Commissioners Of the asylum.
Charles A. Davis, Theodore Wheeler, G. H.
Fumer.
| DR. George M. Dove, Physician to the Asylum.
Benjamin E. Cuttings, Intendant to the Asylum.
! Henry Martin, Inspector of Tobacco.
William M McCauioy, Sealer of Weights and
! Measures.
Jacob Klcibcr, Inspector Of Flour and Sailed Pro-
! visions.
| James A. TAFT, Commissioner of the western Sec