Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-29
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

COUNCIL PRoCEEDISGs.-Boordo of Alder
,aen.-The Board was called to order at the
usual hour; President Clarke in the chair
The reading of the proceedings were dispensed
with.
communication was received from the
Mayor, transmitting a letter from Gustavus
Ober, executor of the estate Of Stephen j.
Ober communicating information that by the
will Of the deceased the sum of five hundred
dollars has been donated for the use and BEN
EFT of the poor Of Washington; but the be-
,ouest IL so indefinite that the executor il in
doubt how the funds can be appropriated le-
gally; but being anxious to comply with the
beauest, he offers TO invest the amount per-
manently, the income to be appropriated an
nually, in the purchase of wood for the door,
provided he can be secured against loss, by
the city.
The Mayor recommends that authority be
given to receive the bequest, and that power
be conferred to secure the executor against
loss in its payment to the corporation, and that
the money be invested according to the propc-
sal Of the executor referred TO the finance
committee, and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Pearson reported bill for the relief of
L. E. Skidmore, fined for occupying a stand in
the market without license passed.
Mr.. Dove presented a petition from William
Cook; referred.
Mr. Pearson, from the committee on claims
30 whom was referred the petition of Mary
Carol for yemission of fine, asked to be dis
charged from its further consideration; dis
charged.
Mr.. Buscy, from the police committee, pre-
sented an adverse report upon the claim for
the reward offered by Mayor Maury for the
detection and conviction Of incendiaries on
the 3lst OF May, 1853, and asked to be dis
charged from its further consideration, and
that the report may be printed with the pro-
ceedings. The committee was discha rged and
the report ordered to be printed.
On motion Of Mr.. Busey the afidavits and
accompanying documents were ordered to be
returned to the mayor.
Mr.. Busey, from the committee upoL police
reported a substitute in place of the bill re-
ferred to them, to prevent tapping of sewers
with drains from privies, and the bill substi
tuted was passed.
Mr.. Evans called the attention Of the Board
TO the Corporation law making it unlawful
FOR any person or persons to ride or drive
any horse, mare, gelding in or on any
street, avenue, or alley o. this city at a pace
faster than q moderate u 1t or gallon, or to
make any attempt or trial If speed between
two or more horses, mares, or geldings, or
other animals of the horse kind, in OF on any
such street, avenue, or alley, under penalty
Of not less than five dollars for each and every
such offence"
He had boen informed that our great thor
oughfares had been used lately as race
arrested and fined, but that according to the
decision Of the Corporation attorney the fines
could not &c enforced, because there was no
maximum sum fixed by the law. He under
stood now, however, that the Corporation
attorney thought that he had given an er-
roneous opinion, and had now decided that
fine of FIVE dollars could be collected.
He (Mr. E } did not feel himself sufficiently
skilled in parliamentary usages to draw up
bill to remedy the defect in the existing
Law but he hoped some action would be taken
In the matter by the Board, since men occupy
ing high positions in society were violating
the laws and setting themselves up in defiance
Of them.
Mr.. Dove could not see what the gentleman
was driving at If the Corporation Attorney
has reconsidered his opinion, and decides that
the law is a good law, and can be enforced
why there lie an end of the matter.
Mr.. Houston said other laws were violated
which inflicted as great evils upon the com
munity as did fast driving upon the streets;
the law requiring snow and ice TO be cleared
from the sidewalks was continually set at de-
fsnce. II all that was wanted was to insert
maximum fire in the bill, that could be done
IN fifteen mil utes. He thought Mr. E. could
draw up what was required in two or three
minutes
Mr.. Smith thought the Mayor had done his
duty In the premises; he had seen him on the
Avenue doing all in his power against racing
That day he (the Mayor had arrested a man
for racing and hghting and Selling him by
the collar, had taken him 10 the watch house
The second opinion of Mr.. Bradley he thought
was correct; be thought the parties could be
fined IS each. For himself, he must admit
that he liked sleighing. There was only one
objection he had to it, and that was that a
team with a mouse-cOlOred horse had run
completely around him between the United
States Hotel and the CAPITOL he didn't like
that,
Mr. Evans objected to this mode Of treating
the matter. He thought it should not be
trifed with.
Mr.. Pepper thought they should not come
here with rumoTS. He expected that there
would have been some recommendation from
the Mayor in regard to this matter This
very law had been in operation for two or
three years, and under il one or two thousand
dollars had been levied from carriers, dray-
men, &c. How lie it that the magistrates now
md out for the first time that the law is defec-
tive, and ask the opinion of the CORPORATION
Attorney? He had expected, from the cIamor
raised, that some communication would have
been sent them; but he guessed il would all
end in smoke. He would guarantee, that if a
common carter had been the guilty party he
would been fined ins.anter.
Mr. Msgruder moved an adjournment, and
declined TO withdraw his motion. He wanted
time to have an amendment perfected to keen
boys out OF the streets when there was snow
upon the ground He thought more damage
and evil resulted from the unrestrained license
permitted to the boys than by riding after a
fast horse.
Messrs Clark and Busey explained that the
reason why the Mayor had not sent a commu-
nication was, that he had sent one to the lower
Board some time ago.
The Board then adjourned
NATIONAL THEArRE.-The lovers of the lie.
ultimate as we'll as those who delight in no.
velty, will have an intellectual fe ast spread
on the boards Of the National on Wednesday
evening. A young gentleman named Booth
royd FairclOugh, has, within the last few
weeks succeeded in creating fttrore, in both
literary and dramat circles, in the principal
cities Of the east, by his delineations Of Shak
speare characters. The New York Herald.
who, though often severe, satirical and cut,