Daily American organ., 1856-03-04


cure the passage of law for the improvement of
James creek, and its conversion into ship canal
detailed report was received from the mana
gers Of the Asylum specifying the cost Of the art-
ces purchased for the use Of the Asylum.
Mr.. Smith addressed the Board in support of the
increased appropriation, at great length.
The bill was then passed.
BOARD OF COMMON CoUScm.-The bill to fix the
salary Of the Mayor at 81, 400 was under consider
alton last evening.
Mr. Towes desired to know what necessity ex-
listed for raising this salary.
Mr.. AtLee was opposed to this bill when it was
first introduced; but, upon reflection, he should
give it his support, He thought the present sala-
ry Of the Mayor insufficient to maintain the dignity
OF the office.
Mr.. Towes did not consider the reasons sufi-
cient to induce the passage of this bill some of
our best Mayors had received only 81 900, and
there were many competent individuals now who
would fill the office at price less than that now
paid; the revenue of the city was needed to carry
on Improvements. An office to which a salary Of
$500 was paid had recently been abolished, on the
score Of economy, and few weeks after, another,
receiving salary of 81 800, was created, and now
an additional expense of $500 was asked for. II
this thing was persisted in, the taxes would have
to be raised.
Mr.. Clements had introduced the bill originally,
and the Committee on Ways and Means had re-
ported it without amendment He hoped there
was sufficient justice in the Board to accord to
the officers of the Corporation salaries sufficient
for them to live upon. The Mayor was, actually,
serving without compensation. He knew there
many men who would like to be Mayor but he
did not know that they would be competent to
discharge the duties of the Office He thought
the salary should be so fixed that poor man
might fill the Office and be able to support his
family. Fortunately, our late Mayor was able to
fill the office without pay; he received from the
Corporation $l 800 and dispensed in charities and
donations, for which he was called upon as Mayor,
$4,000 during the first year that he held the Office
Few men were able to fiji the Office without
compensation, and those who cannot should not
be deprived of enjoying its honors. He thought
the salary Of the Mayor should be high enough to
enable him to maintain the dignity of the office
Men had discharged the duties of the office for
$1,000, but then that sum would go double the
distance 1t would now, and the services then per-
formed were not 50 great as at present. but it did
not pay then. No man, in those primitive days.
had the slightest conception of the position which
the city now occupies-of its resources popula-
ton, and influence. Then the revenue OF the city
was $4,000 per annum, now it reached the sum
of 100000.
Many clerks in the Government Departments
with no dignity of Office to sustain received lar
of this Corporation, who is not compelled to attend
to so many calls for aid, receives but 800 less
The present Mayor could not be affected by this
bill it was not proposed that it should take effect
until after the next election, and he did not be-
leve the present Mayor would be induced, under
any circumstances, to be candidate for reelec-
ton. If Mr.. Towes desired forever to exclude the
poor man from the office, he was pursuing the
proper course. He did not wish money to be a
necessary qualification for the MayOralty
Mr. Towles said, that if large salary was to be
given to the Mayor to enable him to dispense char
ties he would oppose it, He did not believe any
poor man would ever get an Office with large
salary.
Mr.. Lloyd, as chairman of the Committee of
Ways and Means, had reported this bill, on the
instructions ofa majority of the committee although
opposed to it himself The city had never failed
to get good Mayor at the present salary. He
did not believe the office would be given to poor
man, no matter where you put the salary He adj
mitted that the duties Of the Office were arduous,
but many duties formerly performed by him had
been transferred recently to other officers, and
more would be in short time. He thought it a
bad precedent. Other officers of the Corporation
would ask for an increase of salary. The additional
$500 would not in luce any to take the Office.
He knew several candidates for that office, and had
heard none complain that the salary was too small
Mr.. Ball moved to amend the bill by striking out
$2,400 and inserting $4,000. Lost
The question recurring on the third reading of
the bill, it was decided in the affirmative by yeas
and nays, as follows
Yeas--Messrs. Albert AtLee, Baldwin, Fisher,
Fuller McCutchen, Mexican, Pumphrey, Turton,
Venable, Walker, and the President-l2
Nays-Messrs. Ball, Bayne, Jefferson, Lloyd,
and Towles-5.
The bill was then read the third time and passed.
After transacting some other business the Board
adjourned.
The Criminal Court commenced its March term
yesterday morning. The juries were sworn in as
follows:
Grand Juy.-Wiam B. Magruder, Jonathan
Prout, Jos. Bryan, Marshall Brown, V. Harbaugh,
Geo. McNeir, John Purdy VIM, II. Winter, DR. w
Jones, Francis Mohun, Alexander Ray, Isaac Clark,
Joshua Pierce, A. FL, Pickrell, Michael Shanks, G.
O. Grammer, VIM. NJ. Morrison, John L. Kdwell,
VIM. orme d. B. johnson, Geo. Mattngiy, Rich
ard Jones, George A. Bohrer VIM. Noyes.
Petit Jury.-John Brady, James Barnes f. T.
Brown, A. T. Harrington, NJ R. Coombs, Joseph
Lyons, R. A. Griffin, Walter Stewart, J. t. Devln,
jackson Pumphrey, Jacob Vielmeyer, William d.
Aiken, G.. w. Uttermuhe, X. Butt, w. j. Dono-
hoo, John B. Newton, Walter Warder, w X.
Spaulding, John Tolson, A. Boscum, q. Williams,
w. V. Waters, b. Hackney, j. II. Durham, Lee
Bowen, J. D. Evans, r. w. Dove Geo. d. Spen-
Ger, ID. A. Cardwell, ID. E. Kcaey.
A jury was empanneled for the trial of Edwards
for the murder of Avery, at whose former trial the
jury could not agree.
RATIFICATION MEETING IN ALExAsDEIA--A plo-
rious ratification meeting of the American party
was held last evening at Alexandra. Fifteen hun.
dred persons we're present.
The meeting was addressed by Hon. John ].
Crittenden, William r. Smith, A. R. Boteler, Col.
Paine Of North Carolina, and Mr. Elam of Louisi-
ana.
NATIONAL THEATRE-Mr Eddy made his deb,t