Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-08

Mr.. Miller reed 4 protest on the part OF himself,
against the act Of certain Aldermen on the 3lst
ult., Who II ID alleged, did not constitute quo;
rum, but who nevertheless adjourned over from
that day until the .7th Of january while nttibef
of Aldermen sufficient to constitute with those
present quorum were actually in the City Hall,
though not in the Aldermen's room.
Mr.. Miller moved that the names of the Alder
men who were in the Hail. though not in the Al
dermen's room. be recorded as among those who
we're present. He spoke of the act oil adjournment
MS a Chrstmss trick, and denounced II as injurious
20 the interests of the city.
Mr.. Houston characterized the protest as a most
extraordinary act, and repudiated the charge OF
those present on the 3lst being Engaged in any
trickery. As to the members being in the Build
ing, they mightas well have been in China for all
practical purposes. He was one of those who we're
present. and he did not choose to be represented
as engaged in anything like trickery He cast back
the term to the quarter whence 1t emanated.
Nc. Pepper stated that when he struck the steps
Of the City Hall on the night Of the 3lst, it was
precisely 4 o'clock by his watch. He met the gen
tleman and bis colleague ON the stairs, and was
surprised to learn that the Board had adjourned
He regarded the sudden adjournment as snap
Judgment, and therefore improper. He did not
like to have his name 90 before the people as be:
ing fined for absentee.
he for one had no objection 10 voting for remis-
sion OF the fines incurred but he protested against
the language OF tn paper presented, as offensive.
Mr. Busey objected to the language of the pro-
test, as grossly insulting to the members who were
alluded to in it. He did not allude to the express
sion" Christmas trick !" but to other express
sions. He should not vote to falsify the record,
which he should do, II he voted to record the
names OF absentees as present. He had no objec-
ton to recording respectful protest. but he would
not vote for any paper like that presented by Al
derman Miller. If the Alderman from the Second
Ward would modify the language of the protest
he would have no objection to receiving it,
The protest contained imputations upon the mo-
tives of the members present on the Slst. The
member from the Second Ward should be the last
man to complain Of rigid adherence to the hour
Of meeting, as he was always unwilling to grant
the fifteen minutes grace, now claimed by the pro-
test as matter of courtesy.
The Alderman from the Second Ward had stated
that the Corporation lost three or four thousand
dollars by the adjournment on the 3lst ult This
was not true The bill to which he had alluded
the bill to increase the rate of licenses in market
stalls-Would not have BEEN reported, as it was
only handed to him as he entered the hall, and he
had had no time to examine it. Besides, he would
state that majority Of the Police Committee were
opposed to it.
Mr. Miller expressed his willingness to withdraw
that part Of the protest which related to the re-
cording of the names Of the absentees.
He did not present this paper as merely per-
sonal matter. He thought it was matter which
concerned the interests Of the city. His motives
therefore, were not merely personal, but were in
fuenced by desire to subserve the general wei
fare.
He alluded again to the Adjournment on the 3lst
and asserted, that if the members present had had
no motive to adjourn, they would have been will
ing to wait a few minutes for the other members
to come in. We had no specified standard time,
by which to3 govern our meeting. Consequently,
he commended that fifteen minutes ought to be al
lowed to each member, as an allowance for the
difference in time.
With regard to the bill for increasing the IL
censes, he accepted the correction of the Alders
man from the 9Th. He had made no allusion to it
in his protest; and had only heard of it since he
drew up. that paper.
He thought IL this adjournment were to be con-
sidered as valid, there might be occasions where
persons acting from sinister motives might mate
rally injure the interests of the city. Three
bers might meet here and Immediately adjourn,
and thus prevent the passage Of important bills
for the payment of money due by the Corporation
Mr.. Busey stated that the gentleman had ex-
planned away all the Objectionable portions of his
protest. at the same time he desired the protest to
go upon the journal as he had written it. If he is
an honorable man he will make the necessary mod
ifcations in the paper, and withdraw the insulting
portions of it. He talks of courtesy, and at the
same time is unwilling to extend courtesy to others
He should be very glad to vote for the protest,
provided its language were unobjectionable.
The gentleman accused others of sinister mo-
the gentleman of sinister motives in attending the
lower Board? He was not member of that
Board Suppose he were to be accused OF trying
to procure the passage Of an act which would take
money out of the treasury--how would the gentle
man like that accusation.
Mr.. Magruder stated that Alderman Miller would
probably say that he was attending the lower
Board for the purpose of procuring the passage of
bill in which he felt deep interest Mr.. Miller
replied that he was. He objected to the manner
in which Alderman Busey had alluded to Alder
man Miller. He thought his language was not
courteous, and not called for by the circumstances
Of the case
As for himself, he not present on the 3lst,
and could not have been present. he did not
agree with that portion Of the protest which char
acterized the adjournment as detrimental to the
interests Of the city. He thought the few err meet
ings we had, while the majority of the Board was
constituted as 1t is at present, the better for the
interests of the city.
Tho President of the Board here remarked that
he was governed by the Secretary's watch in cal
ling the Board TO order, and he should not change
his custom, unless directed by the Board.
Mr.. Houston had no objection to receive res
pectful protest from any member against any ac-
ton Of the Board but this protest was objection
able to him in certain expression to which he had
already alluded. He should, therefore, vote against
it. At the same time he fully admitted the right
Of any member of legislative body 10 protest
against any action Of it, in respectful manner.
Mr.. Smith remarked that he was not present
when the Board adjourned on the 81st ultimo, al
though he intended to be present. He thought
that the members ought to be allowed reasonable
time for the difference in watches. The seven
members who were absent were all anxious to be
present on that occasion, and would have been,