The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-06
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.


MONDAY, April s. 1858.
FIRST BRANCH.-Branch met. Present John T.
Ford, Esq, President, and all the members except
Messrs. McComas and Beacham.
Mr.. Harvey presented a petition from Jas. B.
Perry and others, of the vicinity, asking that fish
dealers be prohibited from using the streets ada
cent to the Lexington market for the purposes of
selling fish. Referred to the Committee on Markets
Mr.. Granville called up the order of the day-the
ordinance relative to the Pittsburg and Connells-
vile Railroad, which was under consideration
during the session on Friday last.
Mr.. Wood had listened attentively to the discus
sion already had upon this subject, and having de-
TERED coming to conclusion until both sides had
been heard, and that being now the case, he con-
celved that the opponents of the bill had failed to
make out their case, to show why, by sound
reasoning, the bill should not pass. He was now,
he considered, prepared to vote knowingly, and to
vote for Its adoption conceiving that, in doing
he was consulting the interests of the road and the
city also.
Mr.. Beale denied the city's possessing the power
to do what was proposed. The State Constitution
declares that the State shall not engage in any such
work beyond the amount of 100000, and any sum
beyond that cannot be recovered by law. The State
cannot do this, under the Constitution and neither
can the city.
Are not, he asked, citizens of the State? or
are we the offscourings of the world, to whom this
State provision does not apply? If we are citizens
OF the State violating the State Constitution
by the action proposed.
adopted by the following vote
YEAs-Messrs. President, Hvnes, Dukehart STAY
lor, Hampson, Hamilton, Dunnock DRYDEN, Wood,
Addison, Harvey, Clark-l2
NAYs-Messrs. Banded, Maddox Talbot Beale
Cunningham, Glanville-6
Mr.. Dukehart called up ordinance No "a, to levy
tax for the redemption of the Water Stock, which
was passed.
Also, ordinance No. 25 for Lowing the direct tax
for the city.
Mr. Talbot moved to strike out the provision levy
ing direct tax of $50 cents" and inserting H55
cents in lieu thereof.
llr. Dukehart considered it an impossibiitv for
the city Treasury to avoid becoming exhausted
lorg before the close of the year. if the proposed re
duction made. The committee on claims he
sad,ha sought every means of avoiding an onerous
levy, and conceived that the figures proposed were
the least that could be with safety adopted unless
was designed to abrogate engagements already en-
tered into and to cease any and all improvements
to the harbor. He detailed the claims which the
committee had based their calculations upon, and
urged that 1t was necessary to pass the ordinance
reported, to prevent utter exhaustion of the
treasury.
Tie levy proposed, he said, taking the past as a
criterion OF the amount which would be collected,
would leave deficit of $500, 900 at the end OF
the year. He came to the council determining to
take all the responsibilities of such position and
though called upon to vote higher levy than usu-
81, he would not shrink from it, and risk the ex-
hauIing of the treasury before the end of the
year
Nh Talbot made the motion after considering
well the effect of the proposition, and he considered
the reduction might be made with safety when it is
considered that the taxable basis for the next wear
will De $40 900, which is $50 900 900 more than
at present, and he preferred borrowing if need be
any deficiency, as it could be more easily met du-
ring the next year, when the taxable basis will be
increased, and the city will also probably receive
her usual revenue from the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad.
Mr. Wood was prepared to take the responsibility
OF levylng all necessary taxationbut he could not
agree to the levying of burthensome tax for this
year, as there was doubt but that, even in the
event of the city's being situated as to need
loan, the same could be easily secured upon easy
| terms.
Mr.. Dunnock hoped the imaginary calculations of
| the gentleman from the Sixth Ward (Mr. Talbott)
might not influence the action of the Branch The
Committee ON Ways and Means, of which he was a
member, had cut every thing down to the lowest
possible figure, and he hoped the E.dodpino" prin-
ciple would be ignored by the members of the pres
ent Council, and that they would sustain the city's
credit by voting the levy needed, and with him be
ready to stand or fall in what he conceived their
duty and not to ''dodge the responsibility of max
ing larger levy than usual.
The amendment was adopted by the following
vote:
| YEAs-Messrs. President, Banded, Talbot, Beale
Cunningham, Hamilton, Dryden, Wood, Addison,
| Harvey-l0.
| NAYs-Messrs Hynes, Maddox, Dukehart, STAY.
lor, Hampson, Dunnock, Granville Clark-s.
The ordinance, amended was passed.
Mr. Dukehart then called the several addition
al ordinances levying taxation, as heretofore given
| IN our columns, and they were all adopted as sub
mitted by the Committee.
| Mr.. Harvey, from the Committee on Highways
reported an ordinance to open and condemn thirty
foot street from 0stend to West streets, in south
| Baltimore. Read and laid on the table.
The President submitted a communication from
Marshal Herring, relative to the complaint in re-
gard to the nuisance upon the Kimberly property
alleging that he had examined the property anG
considered it in a clearly condition.
Adjourned
| SECOND BRANCH.-The Branch met pursuant tc
adjournment. All the members present, except
| John b. SedenStricker, ESQ.,, President
On motion of Mr.. Simms, Alexander B. Gordon
| Esq, was appointed President pro tenn.
A resolution granting permission to Isaac L.
Nicholson to extend his building over Jones' FALL
| at Fayette street, received from the First
! Branch and concurred in.
Mr.. Kirk introduced resolution calling upon the
Comptroller for information relative to the extern
sion OF the limits of direct taxation for the applca
! ton of the levy for the present year. Adopted.
Mr.. Kelso called up a resolution, introduced by
MN, to make certain Improvements at the Eastern
City Spring After being maturely deliberated up.
| on for more than half an hour, during which time
| several speeches were made and sundry amendments
| adopted the resolution concurred n
The proposition the First Branch to appoint
committee of conference on the ordinance to issue
| stock for the payment of the award to the Messrs
Reynolds, on account of the new Jail, taken W
and concurred in, and Messrs. Herring, Kirk and
BIerbower appointed on the part of this Branch.
The revised ordinances were then taken up. The
ordinance to regulate the licensing of pawnbroker
was passed, and the Branch proceeded to consider
| the ordinance directing the manner of Furnishing
slaves guilty of violations of ordinances which pro
vdes that they shall be whipped with any number
| OF stripes not exceeding thirty-nine.
Mr. Bierbower.-Mr. Chairman, why is the number
OF stripes to be inflicted always fixed at thirty-nine
The Chairman answered that it a custom de
rived from an expression of St. Paul, that he was
beaten with forty stripes, less
Mr.. Bierbower.-I thought it was to keep then
within the line of forty ude
After the ordinance was passed, Mr.. Kirk made
motion to adjourn, which was adopted.