Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-11-27
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
(OFRoIAL PAPER or 77IE CYTYl

mittee having charge of the case OF Ms. Ann
Nash, were discharged, after desultory debate in
which Messrs. Houston, Miller, Pepper, and Basey
participated.
The bill regulating the proceedings of the Gas
Company 10 far a. excayating any portion of the
streets is concerned, &c, was taken up. This bill
imposes fine of from $40 to $40 for every viola
ton OF its provisions which are as follows No
excavation 10 be made without permission from
the Mayor, and then the route to be cxcavated
must be laid out by the surveyor. The excaya-
ton 10 be made under direction of the Commits
sioner Of the Ward A map Of all excavations to
be made by the surveyor and kept in bound
book in his Office. MI,
Mr.. Miller moved an amendment, that all the
streets lighted with gas, be lit up on every dark
night, irrespective Of the moon. Accepted.
Mr.. Magruder moved that avenues be. included
in the amendment. Adopted.
Mr.. Smith was opposed to the second section Of
the bill, as imposing too heavy burdens upon the
Gas Company. This section requires the route to
be selected by the City Surveyor. 1t imposes
tax upon the Company which the public would be
compelled to pay in the end. He moved to strike
out this section, and portion of the third
Mr. Pepper was in favor Of the passage Of the
bill as It was drawn. He regarded it as morally
certain that we must have litigation with the Gas
Company, sooner or later. fs.
Mr. Busey stated that Congress had given
to the company large amount of its capital.
Congress paid $4,000 annually to this Gas Com
pany, and laid, moreover, all the pipes on the Az
enue, and erected all the posts at cost of $40, 600
He thought, therefore, that the company could not
set up a claim to any great degree Of hberality.
Mr.. Smith read extracts from the charter of the
Gas Company, from which he drew the inference
that the city authorities had right to prescribe
the route of their pipes II this company was q
monopoly, get rid of it by chartering Others
Mr. Magfuder thought that two companies would
not be better than one we would then be at Il .
mercy of a combination Of monopolies.
The bill was then passed.
The petition Of John Frankenberger was re-
ferred to the proper committee.
A bill was reported appropriating $40O for the
Columbia Fire Company. Passed. n
Mr.. Pepper presented bill prohibiting the
driving of horse faster than walk across any of
the side, or intersecting cross-walks of the city.
Referred.
The use Of the Aldernen's room was granted to
the Perseverance Fire Company for holding their
meetings. until further ordered.
Mr.. Busey opposed the adoption Of the report
in favor OF changing the alley on the property Of
Mrs. Martha Stone, j. G. Brent, M. j. Mulloy, and
others, on Capitol Fill.
Mr.. Houston was in favor Of the bill, as it would
result in the improvement Of the property to be
affected by the change.
The bill was ordered to lie on the table,
ment of Board Of Health be made special order
Tor next Monday. evening. Granted.
Adjourned
$1,000 was appropriated for the purchase ola sue
ton for the Union Fire Company; S425 for the
purchase OF hose for the Franklin Fire Company |;
and S408 for repairing the apparatus OF the Co
! lmbia Fire Company.
Mr.. Bayne, from the Committee on Canals, re-
ported back, without amendment the bill from the
Board of Aldermen for the reduction of the wharf.
age on guano, slate, and oyster shells.
Mr.. Bayne said that, in reporting this bill, the
committee thought it proper to state the reasons
which had induced them to take this course
There Is but one house In the city engaged in the
guano trade, and by reducing the Wharfage aud
making the terms of the trade easy, others might
be induced to enter it. He thought that guano
was an article in which all are interested; for by
the reduction of the price of this article, the farm
ers aud others who use 1t will be enabled to make
corresponding reduction in the price of the pro-
ducts of their farms and thus every citizen of our
city would be benefited. BY the reduction OF tie
tax, competition might be caused in the business,
and thus the Corporation treasury would be bone
fted
Mr. 0rme opposed the passage Of the bill. The
bill would only benefit the agent for the sale of
gnano. Lumber and wood articles in which the
poor man is interested are taxed to the highest
figure, and guano should certainly be az high
in proportion as those articles. The agent Is max
ing fortune at the present rate, and reduction
would only help him TO make il inster.
Mr. Lloyd also opposed the passage Of the bill.
Thought that IL was setting bad precedent If
the Wharfage on this article was reduced, petitions
would pour in for the reduction Of the rates on
many other articles. The trade is monopolized,
and he Ia opposed TO all monopoes
Mr.. Walker said there could be no competition
IN this article The agents for its sale were agitn.
ting the question of raising the price to 500 per
ton and we are asked to reduce the wharfage here.
lie advocated its advance to 40 cents per ton.
Mr. Walker offered amendment TO the bill
raising the wharfage on guano to 40 cents. He said
he could show the justice Of the amendment.
Cities always charge an adequate tax all articles
passing through them. Gusno Is sold to farmers
to enrich their lands, and to enlarge their crops,
and consequently their profits There is no class
ofpersons who tax US higher than the farmers. lie
pays articles landed the canal, ten times the
AMOUNT that il paid on guano. 81
Mr.. Jefferson could not agree to the amendment;
thought the wharfage on guano should be reduced,
and thought the reduction was opposed through
personal feelings; said guano IL admitted into the
country free Of duty Il the greatest fertilizer
ever used The more fruitful the land around tie
city becomes, the better 1t win be for the city. He
was sorry that there ia a monopoly but said the
Corporation could do nothing TO prevent It,
Mr.. Walker said he was not influenced by per-
sonal feelings In this matter. The agent here Is
personal friend Of his, and IL was to the agent Of
the Peruvian government In Baltimore tina, be ro-
ferred.
Mr.. Clements. 1t is no matter 10 this Corpora
ton no may be the agent The questions that
should DO asked are: Is the tariff on gusno too
high' Is any other article landed on our wharves
at so low a rates What will be be the effect OF
reduction in the ratasY Tho farmer will not he
benefited. II win only benefit the agent The