Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-01
CITY AFFAIRS.
CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON
BOARD OF COMMON COUNCIL.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1856.


BOARD OF COMMON COUNCIL.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 80, 1856.
All the members present except Mr. Jefferson.
Mr.. McCutchen stated that bis recent non at
tendance at several meetings of the Board was
caused by absence from the city.
Mr.. Walker presented the petition of Il. 8. Da-
Wis, asking to be refunded certain taxes erroneous
ly paid; which was referred to the Committee of
Claims. ai ~ @ aee ~
Mr.. Edmonston, on leave, introduced bill en-.
titled "An act to revive and continue In force an
act to grade ard gravel + street north, between
second street west and North Capitol street ]"
which was referred to the Committee on Improve
ments
MIR. Watterston presented the petition Of GER
tain citizens of the Fifth Ward, asking that they
may not be unjustly forced to pay the expense of
abating nuisance created by others; which was
referred to the Committee on improvements
Mr.. Bohlayer presented the petition of Charles
Magee, asking the remission of fine; which was
referred to the Committee of Claims
Mr.. Towles, from the Committee of Claims, re
ported bill for the relief of John B. Lord which
was read three times and passed
Also, from the same committee bill for the re-
lief OF Franklin Little.
On motion of Mr. Kennedy. the further conside-
ration OF the bill was postponed for one week.
Mr.. Towles, from the Committee Of Claims re-
ported bill for the relief of Terrence Keenan, ;
which was read three times and passed
Also, from the same committee, bill for the
relief of Charles Wilson which was read three
times and passed
At this stage of the proceedings a personal diff.
tculty occurred between Messrs. j. H. Peters and
d. A. Watterston
Mr.. Lloyd moved that Mr.. Peters be requested
to leave the Council chamber
Whereupon the President requested Mr.. Peters
to leave the room.
Mr. Fisher offered the following preamble and
resolution, which were adopted:
Whereas the dccorum of this Board has been
outraged by q violent personal rencontre during
the session of the Council, between d. A. Waiter
ston, member Of this Board, and J. H. Peters :
Therefore,
Be IL resolved, That select committee of three
be appointed to investigate the matter, and report
10 TINS Board the FACTS, with such recommendation
as they may deem proper.
The President appointed as the committee
Messrs Fisher, McCutchen, and Lloyd n
Mr.. Orme moved that the Board adjourn which
motion did not prevail
Mr. Towles, from the Committee of Claims, re-
ported bill for the relief Of Samuel PAYNE. and
q bill for the relief of Alexander Bradley; which
bills were severally read three times and passed.
Also, from the same committee, made adverse
reports on the following petitions, and asked to be
discharged from their further consideration which
was agreed to, and the committee was accordingly
discharged:
The petition Of Isaiah Hitchcock
The petition of John Fitzgerald;
The petition of George H. Miller:
The petition of Edgar FL. Bates
Mr.. Towles, from the Committee of Claims, re-
ported joint resolution in relation to the purchase
OF land in square No. 763 on North Capitol street.
Mr.. Turton moved to refer the joint resolution
back to the Committee of Claims which motion
was agreed to. . psT43
The President laid before the Board a commu.
nication from the Mayor, transmitting the annual
repor. OF the Trustees of Public Schools which,
on motion, was referred to the Committee on Pub
lie Schools and five hundred copies ordered to be
printed in pamphlet form.
Also, communication from the Mayor, return
ing, with his objections, the bill entitled ian act
making appropriations to defray the general ex.
penses OF the Corporation for the year ending June
thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ffty,seyen, and
for ether purposes;" which having been read, tie
question was put, Shall the bill pass notwith-
standing the objections of the Mayor?o
Pending which Mr.. Lloyd moved that the fur
ther consideration of the bill be postponed for one
week.
On this motion the yeas and nays were demand
ed, and, being taken, it resulted as follows:
Yeas-Messrs Bayne, Gordon, Hutchinson,
knight, Lloyd, McCutchen, Towels, Walker, and
the President-9.
Nays-Messrs. Albert Clarke, Edmonston, Fish.
er, Kennedy, Lee, Orme and Turton--8
So the further consideration of the bill was post
poned until Monday next.
Mr.. Clarke moved that the communication of the
Mayor be published with the proceedings of the
Board; which was agreed to. IL is as follows:
.E.@4Ee ar.H aUf1t MAyop,s Orrrrr
WASHINGTON, September 20, 1856
GENTLEMEN: / return to your Board, in which il
originated, without my approval 90 An act making
appropriations to defray the general expenses of the
Corporation for the year ending June 36th 1887 and
for other purposes, for the following reasons viz
The laws OF the Corporation make il my duty 10
appoint an lntendant and Physician to the Wash
ington Asylum, and Commissioner of Improve
ments for the Third and Fourth Wards and another
for the Fifth and Sixth Wards In the discharge of
this duty appointed gentlemen to these offices who
we're IN all respects competent for them i'm my judg-
ment, and the manner in which they performed their
duties perfectly satisfactory to me- as well AS to
the whole community, far L have any informa-
tion Their nominations were made to the Board of
Aldermen and rejected; but as heard of no reason
for that rejection reappointed them, and have con-
tinued to do so regularly whenever il was necessary
IN order to comply with either the requirements Of
the charter or of the Corporation laws They are
therefore entitled to their pay, in law, up to this
time, and cannot approve any act which ought to
provide for their compensation but fails to do So
But, gentlemen, unless you mean TO repeal the laws
creating these officers you must provide for the an
nual compensation for each of them; and IL you do
mean TO repeal them the repeating act ought to be
passed first, and provision made for the payment of
the salaries up to the date Of the approval of such
act But cannot think you have any such purpose,
Tor Il can hardly be possible that the Corporation
would provide an asylum for the poor and infirm,
and withhold the means necessary to provide ply |
sican for that asylum; and the Intendant neces
sary to the nsttuton is the house for its inmates
and It would be impossible for me to carry on the es
tAblishment without such officer at its head and
responsible for its management -
In the Third Eonrfh Eiffh and Sixth Warda. i'm