Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-10
CITY INTELLIGENCE


Several communications from the Mayor wer,
laid before the Board, read and referred. One con
corning the building of the new engine-honse fol
the Franklin Fire Company also, the monthly re
port Of the Inspector Of the Fire Department fol
the month of March last; also, one from the Cor
poration Attorney, explaining the necessity for I
thorough revision OF the laws governing the inspec
ton of timber; also the report of the Intendant O
the Asylum for the month of March last.
Also, communication from the Trustees OF the
Public Schools, asking for additional primary
school in the Third District, Fifth and Sixth
Wards.
Petitions were then presented from I. M. Brush
Henry Sitz, Samuel Armstead, and Peyton @
Beardsley which were severaly read and referred
Bill from the Board of Common Council making
an appropriation TO grade and gravel New York
avenue, and for cleaning cutters and alleys in the
First Ward, were passed.
A bill making an appropriation to pay the Sealer
of Weights and Measures the increase of salary
authorized by the act approved January 20, 1855,
was passed.
A bill amendatory of the act to organize the
police system Of the city of Washington, repeating
the existing provision of law requiring the police
magistrates to live in Wards for which they may
be elected, was read twice.
After discussion between Messrs Pepper, Bay
ly, Borrows, and Fitzpatrick,
Mr. Bayly moved the reference of the bill to the
Police Committee. Bill referred---yeas 8, nays 8,
as follows, viz
Yeas Messrs, Bayly, Borrows, Fitzpatrick, John
son, Reed, and Hill, (President.)
Nays-Messrs. Clark, Evans, Houston, Pearson,
and Pepper.
Mr. Rorows reported bill from the Improve
ments Committee approprating 1851 additional for
conveying water along Eleventh street west and
street north. Passed.
A bill making provision for the redemption Of
certain paving stocks, was then considered.
Mr. Hill addressed the Board at length against
this bill on the ground that its provision released
certain property from the tax for increasing
the width of the pavements on Pennsylvania avenue
six feet in accordance with the agreement on the
part of the city under which Congress regarded,
lighted, set new curbs, and caused trees to be
planted along the said avenue.
MIR. Pepper commended that the change of the
grade of Pennsylvania avenue without the previous
petition of the the property holders upon it made
it incumbent on the Corporation to refrain from
selling this property for arrearages of taxes, as
above explained. He conceived that Congress had
no more right in justice to change the grade of the
citys streets without the consent of the majority
of the property-holders Immediately interested,
than the councils had.
After further debate, the question was then put
on the third reading of this BILL providing that the
Corporation shall borrow 81 900 to pay the bal
ance of tax in question due from delinquent prop
erty-holders, between Seventeenth and Twenty
second streets, and charging the said sum to the
account of the First Ward; and it was read third
time and passed.
The lower Boards joint resolution postponing
the sale of property on Pennsylvania avenue, be-
tween Twenty street and Rock Creek, for
paving-tax due, was taken up and rejected, after
debate
bill in relation to surplus earth in First street
east was then passed
The lower Boards amendment to the bill amen
datory of an act entitled An act prescribing the
duties of the collector of taxes and fixing his COM
pensation," approved June g. 1853, was agreed to-.
Mr.. Clarke reported from the Public Schools
Committee an act authorizing the establishment of
additional primary school in the Third District
Passed.
The Board then went into joint meeting, a report
of which is under the head of the Council pro-
ceedings and upon the dissolution of that meeting
the Board adjourned.