Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-27
EV ENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Orms.
Mr.. Walker presented the petition of John
c. Hardness and others, asking for the laying
Of pavement on NJ street north referred to
improvements committee.
Mr.. Peters presented the petition of c. A.
Cox and others, praying for the grading of
Fourth street east; referred to improvements
committee.
Mr.. Walker, from improvements committee,
reported the following bills, which were passed:
bill for flag fOotway across Indiana
avenue, at the intersection of Fourth street
ments on NJ street north; bill for the grading
and paving Of certain alleys in square No.
Mr.. Walker, from the same committee, re-
ported without amendment the bill from the
Aldermen to grade street south, between
Fourth and Sixth streets east passed.
Mr. Turton, from the same committee, re-
ported without amendment the bill from the
Aldermen, authorizing the curbstones to be set
and the footvay paved on that portion of the
west side Of Twenty first street west, between
Pennsylvania avenue and G street north
passed
Mr. Ruff, from police committee, reported
without amendment the joint resolution from
the Aldermen asking certain powers from
Congress in relation to the sale of lottery
tickets.
Mr.. Fisher moved to amend the joint reso-
luton by adding the following words: " And
such modification in the penalties of the
present law as will render it more effective"
and also that the bill be recommitted to the
police committee.
The motion to recommit was disagreed to,
the amendment adopted; and the joint resolu
ton, as amended, was referred back to the
police committee.
the act for the preservation of bridges; re-
ferred to police committee.
The bill from the Aldermen for taking up
and relaying the gutter on the north side of
street, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets,
in the Second Ward, and the bill from the
same Board for constructing room in the
City Hall for the use of the Corporation, were
severally taken up and referred to improve
ments committee.
The bill from the same Board regulating
the disbursements for the Washington Asy-
lum was taken up and referred to Asylum
committee.
The bill fixing the annual compensation of
the Mayor Of the city. laid over on the 4th
instant, was taken up.
Mr. McCutchen moved that the bill be
printed with the proceedings Of the Board
and that it be made the special order for
Monday next
Mr. Towles moved that the bill be indef.
nitely postponed; decided in the negative
yeas 3, nays II
The motion Of Mr.. McCu.chen was then
agreed to The bill is as follows:
BIS 1t enacted, DC, That from and after
the second Monday Of June, one thousand
eight hundred and fifty six, the annual COM
pensatiOn of the Mayor shall be two thousand
four hundred dollars, payable monthly or
quarterly from the general fund; any law of
this Corporation to the contrary notwithstand
ing"
The joint resolution from the Aldermen in
structing the committee before Congress to
AZ aip in raIo fo1 INIT
nerships was taken up.
Mr. Jefferson II Jved its reference to a select
committee Of three, which was agreed to
and Messrs Jefferson, Ball, and Baldwin were
appointed the committee.
Mr. Lloyd introduced joint resolution in
relation to the cleaning OF snow from the
pavements running through the mall and
other places :" passed
Mr. McCutchen offered q resolution direct
ing the committee of ways and means to 9 in
Quire into the prOpriety Of submitting to the
people the question Shall this Corporation
subscribe for or guaranty the bonds Of the
Metropolitan Railroad Company to the amount
Of five hundred thousand dollars p - adopted.
The Board then adjourned.
JOHN B. COUCH AT THE SNITBsoNIAN.-Mr.
Cough might well feel proud of the audience
assembled before him last night, consisting so
largely as 1t did of personages eminent in
every walk of life. On the tier of benches
next the speaker we noticed President Pierce
and Judge Mclean, and the eye could not
travel far in any direction without falling upon
some individual distinguished in the pulpit or
In politics at the bar or in the army.
The lecture room is admirably arranged to
allow everybody to see his or her neighbor
and so the audience that filed the room at an
early hour amused themselves with looking at
each other until the arrival of the wonderful
Cough. Finally, Mr.. McPeak came upon the
platform with assistant, and commenced
removing the chairs and the speakers desk,
and enlarged the area Of elbow room designed
for the orator, who, though small-sized man,
Is In the habit Of spreading himself over con-
siderable ground when speaking.
Presently appeared the officers of the Young
Mems Christian Association, with Mr.. Cough
in their midst.
A prayer was delivered by Rev Mr. Cum
Minis of Trinity Church, and then the Prssi-
dent Of the Association introduced Mr. Cough
For a moment and while Mr.. G was taking
apreparatory drink of water, there was buzz
and an Interchange of opinions in regard to
the personal appearance Of the speaker.
What little bit of a man, said one Glow
thin and how pale" said another ;" "Don't
look as if he could say much" said third;
but the young ladies said he looked inter
esting"
Mr.. Cough brushed the hair from his eyes
and commenced. Of course it would be a
matter Of impossibility to report one of his
speeches, as everybody knows who has heard
him Rufus Choate, John Owens, William l.
Yancey and Reverdy johnson, rolled into one,
would scarce make up a harder subject to fol-
low. Connected argument there was none,
but Of eloquence, pathos, humor, and every |
Ingredient calculated TO fascinate a popular |
audience there was enough to set up dozen |
modern popular orators. Mr.. G. is, as ever,
al inimitable mimic, but we thought he gave |
reins less to this dangerous gift and took |
higher vein of oratory than some years ago, |
when in this part Of the country. In apollo |
giving for the desultory nature Of his address, |
Mr.. Cough stated that he never wrote down |
word Of a speech he was to deliver in his |
life, or knew when he commenced speaking |
what he was going TO say.
Mr.. Cough was born in 1917, and must con- |
sequendy be nearly forty years of age, but in |
appearance he is much the same rs when he |