Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-23
STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Various bills from the lover board " ere laid
before them and appropriately referred, or
otherwise disposed Of. They were as follows,
viz:
A bill appropristing 81 for the repairs of
the West Market; the bill relating to the du-
ties of sealer Of weights and measures, and
fixing the salary of that officer, with lower
boards amendment to the amendment Of this
board; lower boards amendment agreed to-
Also, the bill to change the hour for the
meeting of the Councils, the lower board hay-
log refused 10 concur in the amendment of
this board striking out 81 p. m, and insert
ing IN lieu thereof p. m.
Mr.. Borrows moved to lay the said bill on
the tsble-yeas ,, nays 3.
Mr. Clark prssented the petition of Martin
King and others, for curb-stons and pave
ment on the south front or squares 81 and
e04; referred TO the improvements committee
Mr.. Pepper presented petition from some
Ave hundred working mea of Washington,
against the employment of the convicts in the
penitentisTy in manu.a cturing, so as to come
in conflict with the labor Of citizens and tax
payers Of Washington; aud asking for the
anuulment Of all such cont, acts made by the
superintendent of Public Works in the District
Of Columbia
Mr. Pepper submitted joint resolution di-
reotiug the Distric; committee to ask Congress
togrant the prayer Of these petitions
Mr.. Bor:oss made a few remarks on this
resolution, holding that though h. should
throw no opposition in the way Of the adoption
Of the resolution, he conceived that the sign
ers Of the petition had made a mistake in ap-
plying to tbs CouDcils, rather than directly to
Congress, who alone had tho power to grant
their request. He conceived that the peni-
tertiary system at best had every where
proved failure, the point of reformation Of
the conduct having everywhere failed.
Mr.. Pepper then addressed the board at
length, against the employment Of convicts at
mechanics labor as being great evil and a
crying shame. lie vas for employing them,
instead, as clerks, messengers, &C., in the
executive departm ents at so cents per diem.
He thought ii was best that the petitioners
should come here to the councils for relief
The system al which the petition struck was
northern scheme. and be wished it kept
north, and not introduced among US The
penitcniiary contractors paid so cents per day
only for their labor, AMI therefore bid fair 10
break Oiher capitalists amorg US, who were
forced to pay their journeymen from 81 TO
so per diem.
The debate on this resolution was further
continued by Hessrs. Borrows, Pepper, and
Mr.. Fitzpatrick, who also advocated tie reso-
luton.
Mr. Hill made a few remarks against the
propTiety Of official interference in too many
city matters before Congress. He was for
having the two bodies come to a co.clus ion
upon what legislation by Congress they would
ask for, re trictins the number of the subjects
as much a. possible. He was for employing
the convicts so that they should not cone into
copfict with mechanics
Mr.. Houston desired some change in tho
phraseOlogy OF the resolutions but they were
passed Unanimously.
NT. PcTrer reported back from the im prove.
ments coIGmi'tee the bill TO supply deficiency
IN grading and travelling Massachusetts, ave.
nue. and l. streets, between Tenth aud Twelf h
streets west Passed.
Nr Fitzpatrick Introduced resolution in.
struciiDg the committee on police To report .
bill decreasing the rate Of licenses of retailers
Of groceries, spirituous liquors, &c.
Mr Fitzpatrick addressed the board in favor
CT the adoption Of his resolution
This resolution was further debated by Mr.
BOrroWs in its favor, and by Mr.. johnson
against it.
MI Borrows moved to amend the resolutions
by Masking It operative upon the licences
granted tor tie present year; agreed tc-yeas
10, psys4.
The question wa, then put on the amended
resolution; and it was agreed to-yca6 IL,
nays
SIR. Magruder introduced a bill fo- the re-
lief Of Nicholas Fuok, (rs:undiug owe. taxes
Paid by him. passed.
Mr. Msgruder reported back from he finance
committee be bill TO pay the assessors for
extra seryiees, paying each Of them $500
passed.
Mr.. NJ also reported back from the samu
committee, the bill to pay for certain print
ing, with a recommendation III at the board dc
not concur in the lower boards amendment
Mr.. NJ. further explained tho reason why
this adverse recommendation had been made
The tax sales were by tina charter to be ad.
vertised in one paper, and the law made liz
the province and duty Of the collector &c CHOOSE
which paper be pleased. He had made due
inquiry Of competent printers, ard the COM
mittee were salts ed that If published in TIT,
Organ at its rates al the he ad of its columns
il would cost nearly double as much rs TIT,
Intelligencer charges. The committee coulGi
never consent 10 tax the citizens for the pub
licaticn Of the tax Gales in mcre than onss
newspaper.
Mr.. Hill vas opposed to any legislation which
might take this advertisement from the Intel
Igencer, TO v hCEe proVrisiOrs the city wepe
long and deeply indebted, as be explained.
Mr. Clark cOnsitered the report OF the com
nittse extraordinary, as he had teen told by
DR.. Busey, clerk in The Organ Office, that
the cOst Of its insert z n that journal weuld
hot be moro than he!f he price charged hfy
the Intolligencer. lie was for giving the al
NellseheEt 10 inc VI san3 d the pE! CT having
the largest circulation.
Mr.. Magru6er had little confidence in the
opinion OF DR. Pussy relative TO the cost tf
printing; aud as for the question CT circul p
tion, il was proven to all that the advertise
ment of the list Of letters was given to ihe
paper having the Largest circulation, proof
being required on oath The Star, under this
stringen; law, had this advertisement, aid
there could be no question that that Journal
had an immensely larger city circulation than
any other in Washington. The gentlem L
mr.. Clark who had ben so exceedingly pub
lie spirited in this matter, had somehow or
other failed to move In the matter of getting
the advertisements transferred from the Intel
ligeDcer 10 the Star, though for more than a
year he had seen in that paper the proof that
1t positively had the largest circulation.
The debate was further continued by Messrs
Clark and Pepper, who argued in favor Of
concurring IN Inc lower Boards amendment
to give tho publication of the tax sales adver.
tisement ts the Organ. Amendment not con
CURED in-yeas 4, nays 10, as follows:
Yeas-Messrs- Evans, Pepper, Clarke, snd