Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-30
O 1T Y AIRS.
CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
MONDAY January 2s, 1856.

MoSDAY,' January %, 1856.
The Board met pursuant to law.
Present; Messrs. Dove, Magruder, Bayly, Mil
Ter, Evans, Pepper, Emery, Houston, Busey, Marks,
Clarke, Pearson, and Smith. r
The Chair laid before the Board a communca-
ton from the Mayor, transmitting a letter from
Gustavus Ober, executor of the late Stephen j.
Ober, communicating the information that by the
last viii and testament of the said Stephen j. 0ber
there was donated to the poor Of Washington city
the sum Of $500, and suggesting that authority be
given to receive the same which communication
and letter were read and referred to the Commit
tee on Finance, and ordered to be published with
the proceedings of the Board:
MAYORS OFFICE, January 2s, 1855.
TO the Board of Aldermen and
ee f8b Board Of Common Council.
GENrLEMEN: herewith transmit a letter from
Gustavus Ober, executor Of the late Stephen j.
Obvr, communicating the information that by the
last will and testament of the said Stephen j.
Ober, there was donated to the poor of Washing
ton city the sum of $780, The bequest is in these
words " donate five hundred dollars for the use
and benefit of tho poor Of Washington city"
Though this bequest is considered by the execu-
tor as being 80 indefinite in its character as to
annul the bequest," he still declares himself as
anxious to comply, to the very letter, with his
request" respectfully suggest that authority be
given W IeCcVe Tue DequcSL, anu tnhb power De
conferred to secure the executor against loss in its
payment TO the Corporation; and that said money
when received, be permanently invested in the
stock Of the Corporation, to form the basis of a
fund for the relief of the poor Of Washington the
interest on said fund to be annually expended for
that purpose. This arrangement, have no doubt
will meet the appreciation of the executor and
friends of the late Mr.. Ober, and will maintain in
perpetuity the generous donation. / had the plea
al aipfa axvitb tba
late Stephen j. Ober, and concur fully in the ex-
preston OF his brother, that "his feelings and
sympathies were largely enlisted with the people
of Washington city, and very naturally 80, being
one of her own" Respectfully,
t 8 aiao tJ 4iUJNo. Il. Towers, Mayor.
te a BALTIMORE, Jan. 20, 1855.
SIR / have inadvertently delayed writing to
you upon the subject Of that portion of the last
will and testament Of my late brother, Stephen j.
Ober, applicable to the poor of Washington city,
as promised in our interview some time since j
now give you the exact language, as follows 81
donate five hundred dollars for the use and benefit
of the poor of Washington city" This request,
being 80 indefinite in its character, annuls the
whole bequest, according to decisions made in our
court of appeals, as all donations must be of spe
cifc character. The poor Of Washington are SO
varied, and societies 80 numerous for their relief
it win be difficult to determine how the funds
COuu Uo ApprOprIhIeu leBaly.
am anxious to comply to the very letter with
his request knowing that his feelings and sympa-
thies were largely enlisted with the people of
Washington city--yery naturally 80, may say,
being one of her own am at loss to know how
to proceed, and solicit your views on the subject
1t seems that an appropriation in the way of fuel
would be about an near equitable and acceptable
as any other mode--the fund being invested per
manenty, the income OF which to be annually ex-
al hv ,<,fN 81.
can be secured by the city of Washington the
fund shall be paid over in such mode or manner as
your Corporation shall suggest coinciding with my
views. Will you have the kindness to lay this
matter before yonr authorities, and advise me OF
the result at your earliest convenience, obliging
Respectfully your obedient servant
trsfa GUSTAVUS OBER, Executor.
Hon. JNo. T. TOWERS, Mayor, Washington.
Mr.. Pearson, from the Committee on Claims, re-
ported a bill entitled AN act for the relief of
Lewis +. Skidmore !" which was read three times
and passed. a&a.
Mr. Dove presented petition from VIM. Cook,
asking to be refunded certain excess Of taxes
which was referred to the Committee on Improve
ments.
Mr. Pearson, from the Committee of Claims,
asked to be discharged from the further consdera-
ton of the petition of Mary Carroll for the remis
sion of fine and the committee was discharged
accordingly. lta
Mr. Busey, from the Committee on Police, made
an adverse report the claim of j. T. Wollard to
the reward offered by Mayor Maury for the detec-
tion and conviction Of incendiaries on the 3lst Of
May, 1853 and asked that the committee be dis
charged from the further consideration Of the sub
ject, and that the report be published with the
proceedings of the Board.
Mr.. Pearson asked for division of the question ,
and accordingly the question was first on discharg-
ing the committee which being taken, it was car
ried in the affirmative.
The question was then taken on ordering the
report to be published, and it was decided in the
negative. h
Mr.. Marks who stated that he voted in the neg
alive, moved that the vote on that question be re-
considered; and the yeas and nays, being demand
| ed, were as follows:
| Yeas--Messrs. Dove, Magruder, Bayly, Pepper,
Emery, Houston, Busey, Marks, and Clarke-9.
| Nays--Messrs. Evans Pearson, and Smith-3.
And the question recurring on the motion to
| publish the report
| Mr.. Smith moved to amend the same by adding
| the words, and the accompanying documents !"
| and the question being taken 1t was decided in
| the negative.
Mr.. Smith then moved that the whole subject
be laid ON the table which was also negatived
Mr.. Smith then moved that FIVE hundred copies
Of the report be published in pamphlet form; which
was also negatived
The question then required on ordering the re-
port TO be published with the proceedings of the
Beard, and it was carried in the affirmative.
The report is as follows
Report Of the Committee Of Police of the Board
Of Aldermen on the claim for the reward offered
by Mayor Maury for the detection and convic-
ton Of incendiaries on the Slst of May, 1883: