Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-31
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
MospAr, July 30, 1855.

mUNDAls 0Uy ooi 1000
Present-Messrs Dove, Magruder, Bayln Miller,
Evans, Tretler Pepper, Houston, Busey, Marks,
A letter was read by the President from DR.. s.
]. Radcliffe, resident physician for the poor of the
Fourth Ward, In reply 10 the resolutions Of this
Board of the 23d instant; which was read and
laid on the table TO be published
The contents OF said letter were to the effect
that he had been called upon 10 visit man in the
ward Tor which he Is the physician, but as he UNI
derstood that the man was not pauper, and had
at the time physician attending him, that he de-
clined going to see the man, considering his pre-
rogatiye TO decide in such cases, and 1t las he
thought) being breach OF professional etiquette.
The Board being called to order by the presi-
ding officer, the above named gentlemen appeared
in their respective seats and taking into consider
alton the extreme heat Of the room, and the warm,
and at times, exciting debate which they have been
engaged in, since the late election, all appeared
i'calm as a summer morning" and seemed disposed
to proceed TO business, and let Shy cones be by
cones" and enter into the business for which they
are placed in their important positions by the
voice Of the people,
The Chair laid before the Board communication
from the Mayor, advising the Board Of the apprc-
val of certain bills and resolutions Of the 10Th
10th, and 27th instant.
Mr. Bnsey, on leave, Submitted a resolution
requesting the Mayor 10 furnish this Board with a
copy OF the cont-ect with Palmer 4 Ten Eyck, for
numbering tie houses; and also, with all the facts
concerning the same and whether the contract
has been fulfilled or mott 7" Read and adopted.
communication was received from the Mayor
enclosing communication from the Surveyor IN
reply to the resolution of this Board on the 18th
instant, In reference TO the drainage Of G street
north, and Twelfth street west which was read
apd on motion of Mr.. Miller, referred to the Com
mittee on improvements, with instructions to In
quire into the proprety Of raising the graduation
Of Twelfth street.
A spirited debate here arose between Mr. Nil
Ter Of the Second Ward, and Alderman Pepper Of
the Fourth. who, as one Of the. Committee on Ca
malls, reported an act making an appropriation to
repair breach in the canal near Twelfth street ;
which was passed.
Mr.. Houston, on leave, submitted Joint resell
ution to payA. j. Larner for services as clerk to
COMMITTEES on Eections;" which having been read,
Mr. Smith moved to ill the blank thereon with
$50 90.
Mr. Houston advocated the bill warmly, and
thought that 30 long as the committee had engaged
and received the services of Mr.. L., that It was
nothing more than just and right that he should
be paid, and thought the amount was little enough
for the service rendered. Mr. Fl. said that al
though he had opposed the employment of a clerk
to said committee he was in favor now Of dealing
fairly by the gentleman whose services had been
made use OF by said committee.
His views were opposed by Mr.. Miller, but sup
ported in an eloquent manner by Mr. Smith.
Mr.. Pepper also advocated its passage and said
that the compensation named was low enough,
especially such weather us this, and said, in the
course of his remarks, that he himself would not
cut stone for such an amount much more be pent
up in room with q committee of Aldermen, and
in such business. Gentlemen, he said, might laugh,
but he had Cit stone, and could do It again if ne
cessary.
Mr.. Miller moved that 1t be referred to the Com.
mittee on Finance; which motion prevailed.
Al this stage Of the proceedings the dstin-
guished 'itor OF the Evening Luminary" entered,
and too his seat at the desk next to the polite
and ct lcient Secretary of the Board; and, having
unro 4ed huge parcel of blank paper, with pen in
haI ID and a look denoting immensely of thought,
Proceeded to write In hurried and desperate man
her. AT no time since the debate on the great
Compromise measures in Congress have we seen
the editor SO intent upon noting down everything
that passed during the time of the session of the
Board as on last EVENING"
Mr.. Marks, on leave, submitted resolution, re-
guesting the Surveyor to communicate TO this
Board the cost of grading e street SOUTH between
Sixth and Seventh streets east which was adopted.
The joint resolution from the Board of Common
Council, in relation to Police Magistrates, was
taken up and read twice.
The question was then taken on the third read
ing, which, being taken by yeas and nays, was
negatved-yeas 8, nays Z.
YEAs-Messrs. Evans, Tretler, Pepper, Smith,
and Clarke.
NAYs-Messrs Dove, Magruder Bayly, Miller,
Houston, 'Busey, and Marks
Mr., Smith, of the Seventh Ward, here arose
and said that report had been published (joint
resolution in paper called the Erening Star,
basely misrepresenting him. and charging him
with wishing TO have friend of his from that
ward, or he himseis appointeda police magistrate
This the gentleman denied, and charged the editor
Of the paper, or lbs reporter, with falsehood in
giving publicity to such. Mr. s. said that, SO far
az be was concerned he would not accept Of the
Office were It rendered TO him but as the ward
was without such magistrate, he thought that II
the interests Of his constituency were worth any
conyideration whatever, that one should be APP
pointed; they had two police constables there,
but no magistrate; therefore the constables, he
thought were of little benefit without magste-
rial oelcer.
IN his opinion, an Alderman was er o6fcio, a
justice of the peace, and quoted act of 1902 to
sustain him In his views.
Mr.. Busey differed with the gentlemen from the
18th ward, and maintained, n an argument of great
force and sound reaeoning, that an Alderman pos
sessed no such power
Mr.. Pepper said that, IL an Alderman did possess
such power, that he should like to know it-and
Nv" iofy onVuiu NC nave betn CONVINCED OF the
fact at earlier day. he should have exercised his
authority ere this upon several persons with whom
he has come in contact lately and commit several
more with whom he had, at this time, the honor
of en- acquaintance.
This pleasant and serio-comico remark Of the
jocular Alderman, produced roar Of laughter
from his colleagues.
During this debate, the usually serene Alderman
from the 7th ward, pitched into truthful cotem-
porary Of the "luminary," and handled him with
out gloves; though, in his closing remarks, he
used him rather more teuderly, and seemed dis
posed to throw all the blame of the Stars" report
upon some miserable penny-a-liner" He also
said that although bis colleague, Mr. Pearson, had
nothing to do with the bringing forward Of this
resolution, that he would serve II appointed.
Mr.. Busey, of the Fifth Ward, maintained that
there was marked distinction between an Alder
man and regularly appointed Justice of the
Peace, and that no man who held the position Of
Alderman should act in such capacity
Mr. Magruder opposed the bill, and said that It
was got up through personal and political motives,