Daily American organ., 1856-02-19
~ CIT Y FAIRS.
CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
MONDAY, February ls, 1856,

l. 8tH MoNDAf, FEBRUARY 10, 1906. .a.e
An amendment to the bill, making appropri-
ations for the completion of tha Western Market,
was adopted. 1t sppropriates 1888 for that pur-
pose. @.ft
Mr.. Busey introduced an act to regulate the dis
bursements Of the Washington Asylum. IL pro-
vides that all drafts the bank for the use OF the
Asylum be signed by the Mayor and Register OF
| the city; and that all moneys received from the
sale OF vegetables, be deposited in the bank.
Mr.. Pepper remarked that snce the last meeting
he Rad received some light on this subject, which
altered the view he then took of the management
| of the Asylum. -H
| There were many more inmates this year than
| there were last. The product Of the farm yielded
| $50 more than it did last year. But, in conse-
quence Of the increase of "boarders,p there was
a less quantity to send to market than there would
have been under other circumstances. He was
satisfied that he was in error at the last meeting,
! in charging the commissioners with mismsnage-
ment. He was convinced, from his researches,
that the Asylum was as well managed as any SINH
lar institu ion in this country. With regard to
| drawing money from the bank, he found all checks
we're signed by the Secretary and the President of
the Board of Managers. r.U.gH
Mr.. Busey stated that his object was that all
money drawn for the Asylum should be drawn on
checks signed by the Mayor and Register,
required in all other payments made by the city.
Mr.. Dove said he did not understand why tho
product of the farm shnud fall off in consequence
Of the increase Of paupers.
Mr.. Pepper stated that the paupers did not
| work--t was the persons committed to the work
| house who were required to labor.
| Mr.. Dove then said that he had heard no charges
against the management of the Asylum. The only
question was, whether the overdrafts were lawfully
| made.
Mr. Marks said that the remarks of Mr.. Pepper
were, in his opnior, appropriate as his former
comments had caused some animadversion; and
| he himself had been regarded in some quarters as
| the author of them. aalad Way FN aEE
Mr.. Smith reioiced that the Alderman from the
Fourth ward lad apologized for bis censures on
the Board of Commissioners; because his speech
of last Monday had given great offence, and one of
the commissioners on the point of rcsgning in
| consequence. t n. El
Mr.. Pepper | hope he will quit then.
| Mr.. Smith. The contract OF the Asylum with
Mr.. Peck for meat is very heavy. He requires
his money but If this resolution passes, he will
not get it, and bis contract will be given up. He
therefore thought that some provision should be
made to carry the Asylum till the 30th of June.
| Mr.. Busey offered an amendment to his BILL re-
quiring the Mayor to take vouchers from the com
| missioners for all expenditures,
Mr.. Magruder, The gentleman from the Fourth
| ward had seen fit to commend, in the highest
| terms, the conduct of the commissioners. He did
not choose to allow this laudatsry language to go
out as the official opinion of this Board The
| commissioners had conducted their affairs in
loose manner. They had not complied with the
| law, which required them TO report to this Board
| the rules by which they were governed. More
over, the report which they sent here last week
was signed by B. F. Reed instead of b. w. Reed.
Why was this? Did Mr.. Reed authorize an
other person to affix his signature to the report
| without reading ftS The gentleman from the
| Seventh Ward has told us that for want Of money
the commissioners would lose the benefit of an ad
| yantageous contract with their butcher by which
| they would save from two to three cents per
| pound on beef .s5- rtso. >
Why did not the commissioners, who are re-
| quired to meet every Friday send to this Board
at the last meeting copy Of their rules and reg
ulations9 The law required them to be reported
every elk months They never reported them.
| Aud the excuse was that they were go numerous
they were not easily accessible, sr 4
Mr.. Pepper replied that he had made no apollo
gy for what he said last Monday. lie had no apol-
ogy to make to anybody. He merely said that he
| had ascertained that the custom of overdrawing
had been practsed for several years. !.
Mr.. Smith replied to the remarks of Mr. Magru-
| der, and defended the commissioners in an ami
mated manner. He inquired why this Board had
| not examined into this matter last October, when
the commissioners first sent request here for an
appropriation to meet their deficiencies? ? Nothing
was then said about their failure to make semi.
annual report, nothing about the dilapdation of
the fences of the Asylum. His friend from the
Fourth ward had thoroughly investigated the af-
fairs of the Asylum, and he fully exonerated the
commissioners. Had the gentleman from the First
ward done SO? Had he evec visited the Asylum?
Mr.. Magruder. Twenty times. St
Mr.. Smith. The gentleman from the First ward
presumed too much. He did not speak from tho
rough investigation, like Mr.. Pepper who was a
,r4 k,,4c
merely. He presumed that this was the case, and
that SO and 80 had not been done, and that the
| other matter had been neglected. His argument
| was all presumption from beginning 10 end
| Mr.. Magruder, briefly reoined, and was followed
by
| Mr. Busey, who explained the provisions of the
| bill. teg 1a.. .
The bill was then read
Mr.. Houston remarked that in order to prevent
over,lrafts it would be necessary to insert clause
requiring the commissioners to insert proper esti-
| mates in their request for appropriations.
| Mr.. Busey stated that it would be inappropriate
| to this act.
The act was then read third time and passed
Mr.. Marks reported bill making appropriation
for,the Washington Asylum, for the year ending
June Soth, 1855, TO supply the deficiency. The
Mr.. Busey wished to know for what purpose this
money was required. He could not vote for the
bill without knowing how it was to be expended
Mr.. Magruder moved that the commissioners be
required to specify for what purpose this money
was needed.
Mr.. Pepper opposed the requiston.
Mr.. Busey wished TO know the daily and weekly
expenses of the Asylum.
He did not see why this was not stated for the
satisfaction Of the Board. 1t certainly would not
require more than day TO make out detailed
statement, which would justify them and justify us
Mr.. Marks hoped the bill would be recommit-
ted; as the commissioners would meet ON Friday,
and would probably make statement of their af-
fairs At