Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-12-12
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
(OFRY0LAL PAPER OK WE OITYl


MN
Cry ExpESDIruRrs-T following paragraph
appeared In oursreport Of the proceedings Of the
Board Of Aldermen in Tuesdays paper; ~ tiF4
ssMr. Houston declared himself utterly opposed
to the creation Of any Office. For the last sum
mer there was not city of equal population in the
world so healthy as the city of Washington. When
we regard the tsautit ~ condition of many other
cities, he thought we should be extremely careful
how we increased the expenditures Of this city. If
this section passed, then the whole bill would fol-
low f lagRps kaf sNf9
The word "beautifap' in the above paragraph
should have been bankrupt which is anything
but beautiful, in the regards Of honest men and
good citizens. And this reminds us that many Of
the cities ofthe Union are at present in bankrupt
condition, brought about solely by the folly reck-
lessness, and Encouragement, ifnot corruption, of
those to WHOM their government has been in
trusted. For never before, In the history Of this
country, has there been so much individual pros
perity as there Is at present. The whole country
is literally teeming with wealth; the source of
widely directed enterprises abundant crops, new
ly developed resources and remuncrative prices.
Taxes in the cities are generally high, and are
cheerfully paid. There Is no lack of money for all
necessary purposes--but the mischief is, the peo-
pie of our cities called upon topay their money
for expenditures which unnecessary, pro6tless,
and inexpedient. And the Consequences is, as above
rupt notwithstanding their enormous revenues as
compared with former years.
This alarming state of things has led to the for
nation of reform parties in several Of the princi-
pal cities, who take the field with the broom of
economy nailed to the masthead, and q determi-
nation to sweep out the Augean stables whose ex-
travagance and corruption have SO long been i,i-
stalled These parties are generally successful for
the obvious reason that the protection of their
own property from waste is the most important
earthly subject that can occupy the minds Of men,
next TO the preservation of their liberties No
matter what their political predictions may be,
If they find their own political friends after their
accession to power becoming profgate or corrupt,
they will denounce them and displace them with as
little ceremony as IL they were ranked among their
political opponents.
We make these remaks at this time by way Of
caution to the party now in power in this. city.
They may rely upon 1t thatevery the City Coun
Gil is watched with eagle eyes by their opponents,
and that at the next election they will be called to
give strict account of their stewardship. The
recent reverses of the American party in Boston,
Salem, Lowell and other cities OF Massachusetts
has doubtless been caused by some official mis-
Management or financial folly. Let their fate be a
warning to our city fathers aud let them heed il,
we beseech them, before 1t be too late.
How IS IT?-The Board Of Aldermen some
months ago passed bill authorizing the trustees
of public schools to appoint superintendent of
public schools The Board of Common Council
amended the bill so as to give the Board of Trus-
tees the nominating and the Mayor the confirming
power. This amendment was amended by the
Board of Aldermen, SO as to give the appointment
to the Mayor, with the consent of the Board Of Al
dermen. The Board of Common Council has in
definitely postponed the bill, thus defeating the
object of the bill. large majority were in favor
pffb Of ,Iank -
schools, but differed in regard to the manner of
the appointments contending that the Mayor
was the proper person, others that the trustees
should make the appointment and one portion
because they could not carry out their particular
views, have chosen to join with the opposition to
the measure, and thus defeat an object which they
profess to have had much at heart. We regret to
witness such conduct on the part of the American
members of the City Council The members
should look to the interests of the city and its in
habitants and not to tho success of their own par
ticular views. The success Of the party Is more
important than the success Of any one mans opin-
ion, and it is q strange thing to witness members
OF the Council, VINO are members of the Board Of
Trustees contending that the appointment should
be given to the Board of Trustees or to themselves
These things are calculated to injure the party /;
and where there is no practical benefit to be de
rived from particular opinion, the individual en-
PERTAINING 1t should forbear and not SOW the seeds
of discoid in tho ranks of the party. We write in
no uDkind spirit but with hope Of preventing the
repetition of such occurrences in the future.
CoURT OF CLAMs.-The court met yesterday at
IL o'clock. The judges were all present
On motion by Hon. Mr. Rockwell, Thomas Lati.
mer, Esq, of Philadelphia, was admitted to prac-
tise, as an attorney and counsellor In this court
Judge Gilchrist (presiding judge) delivered the
opinion of the court in the case Of G. A. Magrr-
der, commander in the United States navy, deciding
TO take testimony.
This is a claim against government for the pay
of captain while the claimant served as lieu
tenant on board the frigste Columbia, Commodore
George Q. Read, from the 18th Of April, 1888, to
the 2sth Of June, 1910.
The case Of J. Alexis Port, Of the city Of Pue-
bla Mexico, the United States was called by the
court @
The claimant declares himself TO be Freuch
citizen, and asks from government compensation
for the loss of quantity Of tobacco which was cap
tured by the United States army, at Puebla, in
September, lS47, aud which was ordered to be sold
by Colonel Chds, who was then civil and military
governor of that city. The tobacco was purchased
by Mr.. Port, and resold by him at an advanced
price, the title having been warranted. The sale
was afterwards set aside, and the tobacco was Ia
ken from the possession Of the purchaser, who de-
rived his title through Port, and restored to tho
original owner. Port received back the amount
FIRST paid by him for the tobacco, and now claims
remuneration for the damages which he sustained
by the annullIng Of the first sale.
The argument in favor of the claimant was open
el by Mr.. Rockwell, who was followed in behalf OF
the government by the Solicitor, who had not con-
cluded his remarks when