Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-08
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

RaARp OF ALDERNEN.-The Board was
,,IIed TO order about the usual time, the Pres
;Jsnt Mr. Clark, IN the chair.
A communication was received from the
MAYOR transmitting report OF the Inspector
Of he Fire Apparatus for the month of March,
which was referred to FIRE departments com
mittee. Also, one transmitting accounts Of
Ward apothesaries which was referred to
health committee. Also, an invitation from
the Commissioners Of the Washington Asylum
to visit the Asylum on Friday, April llth, at
o'clock, p. m, which invitation was accept
ed by the Board.
Council bill for trimming and grading N
street north, between Twenty fourth and
TNenty-sixth street west, was taken up and
passed.
Council bill making appropriation for re-
pairing breskage in canal wall near Twelfth
Street, was referred to canal committee.
The joint resolution from the lower Board
asking power from Congress to issue stock to
erect the Centre Market building was takenup
Mr.. Houston moved to make it the special
order for Monday night two weeks.
Mr.. Pepper hoped it would be taken up at
once. The matter had been in hand already
some four or FIVE years, the Corporation was
now in good credit, and the present market
was a disgrace to the city.
Mr.. Bayly hoped it would lay over for two
weeks He would like to have the financial
condition Of the city laid before the Board be
hoped the chairman of the finance committee
would report the indebtedness Of the city to
the Board.
Mr. Pepper said he saw something sticking
out like opposition There was no assessment
required, the stock was to be based solely on
the income Of the market house
Mr.. Marks here asked to be excused for
the remainder Of the evening, and some ex-
element and amusement was created amongst
the members on its being stated that he was
called away to marry loving couple
Mr. Busey favored pestponement of the
resolution. He would vote for a market house
in Centre market space, but he was opposed
to this resolution, and would not vote for it
until he could get fuller details. There were
no details given Of the size or of the number
Of stalls. He would offer a resolution that
the finance committee be instructed to ascer.
tain the cost of erecting market, the number
Of butcher and vegetable stalls, &c, &c.
Mr.. Emery said the plan in the Mayor Of
fee gave all the estimates.
Mr.. Pepper said the objection came with
very bad grace from the gentleman from the
Fifth Ward; the market house for that ward
was voted without opposition. For his part
he would not undertake to bring the figures
here and explain them as if to school boys.
If We were were to have opposition of this
sort he believed there was an end of the pro-
jet.
Mr. Houston expressed his opposition to the
reference to the finance committee. Every
member Of the Board knew that he was ut
tsrly opposed to saddling the city with a
heavy debt. Scphisticate the matter as much
nyou please, the tax must ultimately come
upOn the property holders of tho city.
Mr.. Magruder was entirely Indifferent whe-
Their il was referred or laid over. He thought
approximate estimates should be given. The
present revenue of twelve thousand dollars a
year would certainly be sunk The large
revenue anticipated in the report Of the lower
Board was predicated upon the immense sums
Of money realized in the Northern cities by
the markets. By the showing of the commit
tee, the ground floor of the proposed market
was larger than the city would need for many
years, and We could only rent at high rates
when there was close competition. But why
90 to Congress? There was nothing 10 the
charter requiring rs to 60 to Congress for
power. At the North the monopoly of the
large markets was found so insupportabe
that private markets were being established.
HepurpOsed to vote for Centre market build.
ing but wanted information if this building
was not larger than the needs of the city. lie
should vote for reference.
Mr.. Pepper replied with warmth. He
thought il strange that gentlemen should
have just found out the advantages of store
markets. They we're very careful to say moth
ing about this when they wanted appropria-
bill was up for the First w ard market he had
proposed an amendment making an appro-
priation of ten thousand dollars for Centre
Market, then gentlemen had asked him not II
embarrsss their bill with the amendment and
they would vote for Centre Market building
Mr.. Dove, in reply, said be would vote nov
for an appropriation of ten thousand dollars
but here an appropriation was asked Of quar-
ter Of million Of dollars.
Mr.. Houston expressed his belief that il
twenty five years there would not be public
market IN the country. The city of Brooklyn
1itha population Of two hundred thousand
had not, and would not have, public mar
ket. There was now proposition before The
Councils of New York city, which was advo
Gated by Mayor Wood, to do away with Wash
lngton Market in that city. The people above
Canal street, in New York, with property
worth at least fifty millions Of dollars, had nc
public market, and would as soon think OF
going to China as to 60 to Fulton or Washing.
ton markets. If you charge butcher thirty,
forty, or fifty dollars for the rent of stall
the citizen has to pay that rent at last.
Mr. Pepper, in answer, inquired who it was
but the consumer that paid the rent Of the
store markets? Do away with public markets
and where were the countrymen to 60 with
their produce? Why to the store markets
and by establishing these you establish set
Of huckster stalls.
tendency Of the debate. He would like to
see this matter brought up and acted upon
without any of these clogs with which it was
now attempted to embsrrass it. The plan
was in the Mayors Office, where it could be
examined without trouble. 1t was evident
that the object of the proposed reference was
Tor delay. He mentioned the disgraceful ap-
pearance the present Centre Market pre-
sented-especially on Sunday-and Of the
number Of miserable little stalls upon wheels
which had accumulated in front Of the mar
ket The result had been, in every part of
the city where new market-houses had been
built, that the neighborhood had been i'm
proved. Build a Centre Market worthy Of
the city, and we should have stores built in
the vicinity to correspond.
The question being taken the matter was
aid over for two weeks; and the question of
inquiry proposed by Mr.. Busey was carried.
Council bill paying Jesse Williams for dam
age done to horse by breaking through one of