Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-03
LOCAL NEWS.

communication was received from the Mayor
announcing that he had signed the act regulating
the distribution Of Potomac water throughout the
city Of aShIhgton, and assigning his reasons
MAYORS OFFICE, June ., 1852
To fis Board Of Aldermen.
GESTLEMEN; J return with nv approval the act
entitled " An act regulating the distribution of
Potomac water throug hout the CITY of Washing
ton In doing So. think II proper to accompany
ltwth brief statement Of NV views Of the subject
towhich IL relates in order that my previous course
with resPec: to il may not be misunderstood, and
That j may not be embarrassed by any apparent
Inconsistency in what may deem to be my duty
hereafter
After a very careful and anxious consideration
OF every point of duty and public expediency,
(Which occurred 10 mc.) connected with this i'm
pOrtant matter. arrived at the fixed conclusion
that special lnard composed Of three citizens
eIninrnt for their probity and experience in bust
ness, Ought To be- entrusted with the whole con-
duct aud management Of the interests Of this Cor
POratiOn in that department. NV own agency i'm
the selection of such body would necessarily be
Hunted "a the mere duty Of nomination to the
Board OF Aldermen, Is in the case of all other Of
hcerS OI the Corporation. Thus, every guaranty
contemplated by the charter would surround
those officers, while her limited number com
part. organization, and distinct responsibility
would Afford strong assurance Of efficiency and
hdeiity- u has never at any time bern NV desire
to have any further duty power ina the premises
than belong 10 the very narrow sphere thus indi-
Gated; nor would willingly assent to any system
which imposes upon me greater responsibility in
snch i matter. The bill which have heretofore
returned 20 Won without my approval, was i'm INV
oPinion. and tiIt Of the law officer Of the CorpO-
raiiuu, not in accordance with the charter
Fac at now approved is free Of any such objec-
tion, and therefore do not veto 1t, being unwil-
ling. upon mere question of expedfency, to
oppose nav own opinion tO what appears to be the
decided determination Of your bodies But il is
due Ia Candcr to say that recognize in il n dis
Jointrd fragment, or instalrnent, to speak, Of
the SAME system which ID Is fully DEVELOPED in the
Previous bill. The elect of the aDDrpyp1
however, will be to require ne to pirtci pate
equally with you in the very matter Of awarding
IIe contracts duty which desired to avoid
For am Ia infer that the opening aud examina-
ton Of the bids will he followed nv ordinances
awarding the contracts; and these ordinances will
require INV approval, a vote of two thirds of
each Board without INV approval. before they IN
come the law lR determining whether to give or
withhold such approval, il will. Of course, he in
cumhrnt upon me to make myself thoroughly ac-
Qualuirt with the whole subject in each case
have therefore To suggest To you that further
legislation may be required. if I am right i'm INV
Interpretation of the plan indicated by this act in
order "a enable me Ia discharge my duty in the
premises intelligently Well as cOnscientiously
Very respectfully, JAMES G. BEKKET Mayor
MIR Brown. chairman of the wafer committee
moved tlIat the message he laid on the table aud
printed with the proceedings He stated, in
making the motion, that lac congratulated the
city, the Board the Mdyor, and the Democratic,
party upon the termination OF the contest, uul-
pheasant and unprontable as IL doubtless had been;
a contest la which the interests of our common
constituents had, perhaps, suffered. certainly not
been advanced He took this occasion TO say in
his official capacity that he expressed the opinion
OF these Boards, without any qualification that in
tnis honest difference of sentiment no impeach-
m-nt Of the personal official integrity Of the
Mayor was designed or intended i'm the disaoree-
ment upon matter of public policy. The Mayor
preferred the water department 10 be organized
by the appointment of citizens as commissioners
whilst the Boards thought that as Congress en-
trusted the distribution Of the Potomac water TO
the Corporation, they would keep it there. This
Was all the point Of contest. and one that should
not have involved any elimination or ill-feeling,
and SD Tar Is his lthe spelkers personal feelings
were concerned he had never entertained any
other than the kindrst feelings for the Mayor
He differed honestly with the executive ON this
maitrr of public concern, and he doubted not the
Mayor differed honestly with the boards He
again stated that Le congratulated the whole CITY
upon the peaceful termination OF the water war
fare. and believed that al the clouds that lowered
DER our lCOrpOration) house were now in TIN,
deep bosom of the ocean buried and there let
them lie forever.
The communication was ordered to he printed .
MIR Barry. from claims committee reported
back bill fOr the relief of WIN. ALDER; passed
Also. hill for the relief of IL. j. Senlnes; passed
Also. bill for the relief of Jefferson Baldwin;
passed.
on motion Of Mr.. Pearson, bill was aiken from
tie table for the relief of NJ. Pnkus; and the bill
WAS lost ON "a third reading.
Suudry bills We're received from the lower board
and daily referred
Also. a bill for supplying the deficiency in the
appropriation for the poor aged and iniirln, for
tie Year ending June 3fi iS5tI; passed
Also, biil for setting the curbstune and paving
The Iootway "n the west front Of sG uare 5l3, be-
tween y and VI streets north; passed
committee from the lower board announced
:" IN" board that that board having transacted all
business before them Were ready 10 adj journ
committee was appointed TO wait on the
Mayor and isiOrm him that tue board WIS ready
IL ad j"urn IL le had no other business for their
consideration; also, a similar committee to the
lower bnard. for 4 similar purpose
MI Brown offered a resolution con9rltnlating
Mr. Dove FOR the able and impartial manner in
which h- hal transacted the duties of Pre- sident of
the Board Of Aldermen during the past year
Tie chair having been previously vacated by
Ia" fICsidrlIt u Was occupied by the Vice Presi-
dent, VIM w Moore. E.sg. who put the motion
on The adoption Of the resolution and 10 was
unanimously adopted
Mr. Dove, having been informed Of tie action
OF the board. returned lis sncer- thanks for the
cOuiI Iient which had been ihus rendered him
On motion, the board adjourned sine die
Common COHHoH.-The board met yesterday at
4OclO"k, p IN. pursuant Ia adjournment.
Mr. Orrne moved that conmitte- he appointed
to wait Ola the Mayor and inquire il he had any
communication To make 10 this board; passed
stOu.
la few minutes the committee returned. i'll
forming the President that the Mayor had no COM
nunicltiOn TO make.
The Chair laid before tue board the special order
for the evening" r., the bill 10 erect market
house in the Seventh Ward; which. as Mr. Lloyd
NeIs tur Vi tnr bllIJ was mol In tue
chamber, he Thought should lay over TEN porarily
Mr. OTIne moved TO lay il On the table, passed
Ny Jones moved 10 take up the bill 10 light the
city with gas.
Mr.. Mu!loy moved to lay that motion on the
table; pased-yISs 3D. nays3.
\ hll To grade Ninth street east with tie Al
drrhsn' amendment was taken up The amend
rht is read increased the appropriation to ''eleven
huUdsed ard siX dollars -
Mr. Orine moved ~ refer IL To the improvements
Committee lOst-yeas 4. NAYS -.
Ia cOnscq pcnce IF tie vagneHtss Of the amend
ment- the secretary carried il to the upper board
Tor explanation. And I'm the interval. SIR LLOYD
Offered 4 resolution declaring that in the opinion
al thiS board the continuance OF the additional
police u in-Xprtlivnt and unnecessary Mr. L.
explained. that hls object test the members
as la ihcir views Oi economy. The necessity for
this police had ceased. and its continuance i'm
s~r'l"r MS ineNpedient. and by looping oil use
less tAIrhs~S tlir treasury 81 the cIty would he
i~rrr,i and the ability to improve the streets in
creased.
Mr. BoLrsr spoke Ia favor Of the police and of
rrtdning all they had He ;houg ht that II would
not be Improper to have Of them
MIR. W all2ce sIid il the police was composed of
sneh men - would perform the duties of the posi-
tion honestly, by doing all Ia their power 10 ell