Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-18

council Chamber, on Monday, carefully noting
'ne course pursued by the members would have
observed that upon some Of the issues there was
uisislon OF the board into two parties, one Of
winch was particularly averse to long discussions
OF the questions at the present time, the other
equally DESTROYS for full prompt and open decla-
ration of opinion The speeches were few and
generally brief, sometimes tart and when the dis
cusslon hinged on the taboOed topics, it was in
terrupted by questions Of order, calls for the five
minute rule, &c.
THE WATER BILL.
The board had not long been called to order
when it was whispered that the Mayor had vetoed
the Water bill. As soon as the opportunity offered
Mr. Jones presented resolution requesting the
Mayor TO send to this board his message TO the
Aldermen, with a copy Of the Corporation Attor-
ney's opinion. the subject of the Water bill
Some Of the members suggested that the bill
would come to this board I'm its proper time and
the papers with it, and moreover this board had
no knowledge officially that snch messaye had
been sent To the upper board. The other side
argued that it had been sent, and the documents
might be OF use in the consideration of similar
subjects in this board.
The resolution was adopted and the Secretary
soon obtained the Attorneys opinion but the mes
sage was not laid before the board. =
SUSTAINING TINE VETO.
Inc Dill Tor the erection Of q Market in the
seventh Ward, as passed by the Aldermen over
the Mayors veto, was taken up and upon this
considerable debate expected. When to the
surprise OF all those not in the secret the question
was put, .'Shall this bill pass 20 and it was de-
clded In the negative by a vote Of : yeas to ~
nays
After the announcement MIR. LLOYD eHdeavored
10 offer his views. showing up the inconsistency
OF those voting ave, but the call of order and the
announcement Ivy the Chair that there was nothing
before the board, gagged any expression of opin-
THE TAX QUESTION
Mi Wallace moved that when the board ad-
JoaIned, 1t be till Thursday at O'Clock
lsVnna ..1.s
Mr.. Wallace said his object was to take IN the
tax bill at that meeting, aud have something done
to relieve the minds of the people
Mr. Jones said that this bill required Il serious
consideration, and be- did not sec why gentlemen
should be so DESTROYS Of pass NJ it this Council
other tax bills bad been considered and passed in
The new boards, and he thought a sufficient time
should he given to examine IL In all its details
Mr., orIne was for speedy action The people
asked for II; the property owners demanded it.
htnucinen might try to procTastinate by talking
oi Tue revised tables, but there certainty of
relief, but almost certainly the reverse
Mr. Bohrer moved that the committee he in
structed 10 report the bill next Monday. He saw
no necessity for delay. The committee had plenty
OF uihe !" consider the bill, and for himself he
was ready To vote upon the question. We could
not look to the Assessors for relief since they
having finished their work, were already asking
an appropriation for their paw
MI Mulioy said he understood MIR Jones tn say
that the tables were being revised But a mann, :
s'ke Of the gentleman, one of the ASSESSORS had
tcld him that the work was finished
d, Mr.. Jones explained what he bad said, detailing
the investigation the books would UNDERGO in the
Collectors office. the Tax Clerk &c
NT. Wallace s1id he wanted to give the gentle
men, all Of them, those who were candidates
especially, an opportunity 10 show their hands al
an carly period. and let the peopIs know who
were In favor Of the present enormous tax and on,
td5eoCS assessment, before the polls were Oucned
rms question as we'll as the veto should be bought
before the people, and he hoped they would be
the tests at the next election.
MI. OrnIe would ask his friend (Mr. Jones) if
he was IN favor Of reducing the rates.
Mr.. Albert said he thOught it hard question to
answer, If he had not had time 10 examine the
subject "
Mr.. Jones agreed to what Mr. Albert said, and
remarked that Inc would be better able to answer
when be had thoroughly examined the subject
Mr. Wallace motion was lost; and the motion
10 instruct prevailed, by yeas IS to nays2
THE ASYLUM BILL
The bill from the Aldermen, TO protect the
washington Asylum against lightning was taken
Mr.. Lloyd arose and said that this bill afforded
Nun an opportunity to say what he had failed to
say upon the vote to sustain the veto. lie was sur
prSed at the conduct of gentlemen in this matter
Mr.. EdmOnston called the gentleman to order
Mr.. Lloyd merely replied that he expected this
iion the gentleman; and proceeded TO say that the
votes OF Mr.. f. when considered in connec-
tion with votes upon bills containing the iden-
ucdI prlncI plies 10 which the Mayor objected
scented OF downright Inconsistency.
Mr. EdunOnstOn thong Int that the gentleman
ought To conflne himself to this bill.
Mr.. Lloyd proceeded explaining the principle
OF the Seventh Ward market bill, to which the
Mayor objected, 10 b. the associating a committee
with him in awarding the contracts
Mr. Edmonston hoped the Chair would confine
The gentleman To the fve-minute rule.
MI lloi ii, continuing, contended that this was
the nrSt Instance in his memory where the MayOr
had objected 10 the association of others with him
In the awarding of contracts; and although MANY
blils have been passed and signed by the Mayor.
soue within short time-havng the identical
feature engrafted in them, they have never been
objected To; twas common practice; and vet with
these facts staring in their faces, gentlemen are
willing To relnquish right, and sustain this veto
Air j.. only hoped some gentleman would move
reconsideration of the bill; and that was his OBJ
Ject when he first rose 10 speak.
Mr. Wallace said he took much the same view
az The gentleman from the Seventh Ward.
MIR Edmonston hoped the gentleman would
continc himself to the subject
Mr.. Wallace. :. I wish Won would find som.
thing to do that would keep you in Your seat.n
Mr.. Wallace Proceeded To speak Of the MAYORS
veto oi Tue Seventh Ward Market bill. He had
hoped that the board would como out boldly and
assert It's rights, but he was mistaken I'm this
matter they were not legisiang for this Mayor rs
he, having determined TO decline the nomination
come, who might choose TO use tie power relin-
pushed tn the Mayor by this act. and aggrandze
themselves In the short space of two years
MI. Wallace was very severe in reference to the
course Of the Mayor in this matter, and TO the i'm
pfoveinent Of the city, favoring the heavy tax and
thrh instead of using the revenue for the improve
nieni oi the streets, talks about paving the debt
Mr.. w. called attention TO the condition Of the
streets. and asked what had been done for their
improvement, and remarked that the citizens Oh
Pressed by taxation had a right Ia expect that
something more than promises should be returned
them for their money
MI w. said lac thought that the Seventh Ward
market bill, even if il had received the Mayors
signature. would have met the fate of other bills
which he had signed, aud never been executed
Thousands of dollars had been appropriated for
improvements, but nothing las been done
The bill was referred 10 thc asylum committee
NAVY YARD ITENs.-Captain DahImren Of the
Ordnance Department, has completed the mount
ing at his practising battery ia the yard of an H.
inch gun, for practical purposes, weighing Is, 7Ip
pounds, the carriage on which this huge gun is
mounted weighing 900 pounds The height of
the massive structure on which this gun and car
rae rests is ~ feet from the surfdre of the ground
and VIII soon experiment an 1I-inch shell.
The steam-en9ines for steamers Richmond ard
Pensacola are being erected ia the itiinr-up shup
under the supervision of Capt. NJ. T.. Bright, engi-
neer and machinlst. The Workmanship of thfst.
engines shows d mastery handlcraft of our No |
nitc hanics, who look at them as a mother Womb
at her wcll-dressed twins
The massive boilers Of the steam sloop Pensa