The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-31
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, March 30, 1853.
FIRST BRAyCH.-Branch met. Present, John T.
Ford, ESD, president, and all the members eycent
Mr.. Dunnock.
Mr.. Harvey, from the Committee on Highways,
reported resolution to place benches in Pattersons
Park, have the fences repaired and the shade trees
trimmed and appropriating $500 for that purpose.
MT. flYneS moved to amend by striking out $500,
and inserting 5000 as the amount, alleging that a
less amount would be inadequate
The motion prevailed by a vote of yeas ID, NAYS
q; and the resolution, amended, was passed.
Inc same gentlemen reported a resolution direct
ing repairs by the City Commissioner of the keep
erS house at the Eastern Spring, and having the
grounds cleared up, which was adopted
Mr. Wood, from the Committee on Police and
jan, reported resolution directing the Marshal of
Police and Captain of the Station houses not to or
der any work in the future upon station houses
without authority OF law and the direction of the
City Commissioner. Adopted.
Mr.. Dryden presented petition from Dr. De
Butts, urging the Council to attend promptly to the
httng up OF quarters for employees at the Marine
Hospital and also repairing the fencing, &c, about
the grounds, stating that $3.50 would cover the ex-
pense. Referred to the Committee on Health.
Mr.. Wood moved reconsideration ofthe vote BY
which the substitute to the report of the Committee
on Highways, relative to the placing of shade trees
on Broadway, was lost-the substitute providing
for an appropriation of 500 for that purpose The
motion To reconsider prevailed by a vote of yeas II
nays o when the substitute was adopted by the fol
lowing vote:
lEAs-Alessrs. President, Hynes, Banded, Mad
dqX, Beacham, DukGhart, Talbot, Beale, Hampson,
Hamilton, Dryden, Wood, Addison-l3.
NAYS-Nlessrs. StaylOr, Cunningham, Glanvile,
McCOmas, Harvey. Clark-G
Mr. Dukehart called up the order of the dav, be-
ing the minority report of the Committee of WAYS
and Means upon the subject Of retaining Jonathan
Meredith, ESQ., as additional counsel to aid the city
Counsellor in the trial of the cause between the
city OF Baltimore and the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company upon the subject of the extra divi-
dend declared by that company some time since,
which cause is now pending in the Court of APP
peals
tie then reviewed the subject at issue, alleging
that the city had already been at a heavy expense
III feeling this gentleman, and the city counsellor,
and paying other court charges, and now propo-
sition was made 10 add to that expense by employ
ING counsel to aid III preventing the city from realiZ-
ing her interest in such dividend upon the ground
that the condition of the road was such, financially
that the payment Of such dividend would result in
Gripping the road, which many alege is now in
a bankrupt condition, or one approaching bank
ruptcy. 1t wa also, he said, charged bv those
who sought every opportunity to Willy the direc-
ton OF that road, that the Company was compelled a
short time since, to borrow a heavy amount to nav
its current expenses: which was not the case. the
transaction being alone the procuring of Virginia
funds at a discount, which they had been enabled to
use At par value by its among their EMPLOYEES on
the line of the road in that State. Although he
agreed that the directors on the part of the city
shoudhave Obeycd the instructions of the council to
vote against the declaring of the dividend as it had
been done he argued that the city was opposing her
interests in thus endeavoring to defeat such ac
tiOn in the courts and by her Other share
of the dividend. The reports of that company he
claimed had from its earliest history set forth the fact
that it had always been the intention of the president
and directors of the road to declare, whenever they
conceived the earnings of the road would Justify it
extra dividend to the stockholders. The action
of the last Council in nstitutng this suit he deemed
suicidal to the city's interest. as the amount she
would have thus received would have enabled her
to complete her jail without additional taxation and
have enabled her to improve her possessions by the
erection of city hall.
He defended the stakeholder directors from the
charge of being antag0nistic to the citys interests
and stated, as a reason why such an assertion is
without basis that the stakeholder directors who
voted for the extra dividend, pay annually taxes to
the amount of $4,000 on their property in this
city.
In conclusion. he submitted a resolution request
ing the Committee WAYS and Means to confer
with the Finance Committee of the Railroad Com
pany, with a view to an amicable settlement of the
matter in controversy.
On motion of Mr.. Wood the subject was laid on
the table, and made the special order for Thursday
afternoon.
Mr.. Banded called up the resolution in favor of
Frederick kayle and others, which was adopted.
Mr.. Granville, from the Committee on Claims
presented resolutions adverse to the claims of c. c.
Smith and John W. Brown. Adopted
Adjourned.
SECOND BEANcH.-The Branch met pursuant to
adjournment, John b. Scidenstricker, Esq, Presi-
dent, in the chair, and all the members present.
a communication was received from the Mavor,
certifying his approval of certain resolutions.
\ communication was received from the Appeal
Tax Court, stating that nearly million dollars
worth of property win be added to direct taxation
during the present year.
Mr.. Herring, from the Committee on Fire Com
panes, submitted resolution granting permission
to the Philadelphia Guano Company to erect shed
for the storage of guano, running from Philpot
street to Block street Adopted.
Resolutions adverse to the claims of Drs. A. $.
Piggott and F. e. Williams, for medical services
were received from the First Branch and cOncurred
in.
resolution appropriating the of one hun
dred dollars to Robert Halliday, for decorating the
ball OF the Maryland Institute on the occasion of
the reception of the Western visitors, received
from the First Branch and concurred in.
The revised ordinance relative to licensing and
regulating vehicles in the city of Baltimore was
taken up, amended and passed.
Adjourned until this afternoon