The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-19
PROCEEDINGS oFTHE CITY coUyc1h.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
TUESDAY, January Is, 1859.
FIRST BRANcH.-Present-JoHN 4. FoRD ESQ.,,
and all the members.
Mr.. BEALE presented the petition of Samuel and
William Candy asking the return of taxes paid in
error. Referred to the Committee on Claims.
Mr.. NEWMAN presented the petition of Burns &
Sloan, asking the privilege to build a pier at their
wharf on Light street. Referred to the Committee
on the Harbor.
Mr.. GLANvILLE presented petition from large
number OF property holders, residing Baltimore
street, praying that leave be granted to Chauncey
Brooks, Genus Barnum, and others, to lay double
track railroad through Baltimore street. Also the
petition of other property holders praying that a
| single track be laid through Baltimore street, and
also one on Fayette or Lombard street. Referred
to the Committee on Highways.
Mr.. BEALE presented an ordinance in regard to
paving Block street from Point street to the draw
! bridge. Laid on the table.
MIR. MACE offered resolution in regard to pac-
ing iag-stones at certain points. Referred to the
Committee on HIGHWAYS
Mr.. MACE offered a resolution authorizing the
clerk to get from the City Register the petition of
James Fox, for damages sustained to his property
on Douglas street. Adopted
Mr.. JENKINS offered a resolution in regard to a
square of ground at the intersection of Hartford ave-
nue., and Ensor and Eager streets and that the
railing uo ~. Referred 10 tbe Joi,t
Standing Committe on Highways.
authorizing
the City Register to issue city bonds for the use
the Board of Fire Commissioners in the purchasing
of fire apparatus. Laid over.
Mr.. WooD offered resolution authorizing the
Commissioners experimenting the erection of the
new Jail, to erect building in which to place the
steam boilers which will be used in heating the
Jail. Referred to the Committee on Police and
Jail.
Mr.. WooD offered resolution in relation to
the opening of Buren street from Madison to Eager
street. Referred to the Committee on Highways
| Mr.. CUNNINGHAM offered a resolution requesting
the City Commissioner to inform the Branch what
repairs are necessary at the Court House and the
amount it will cost to repair the same. Adopted.
Mr.. NEWMAN offered a resolution in relation to
placing gas lamps at certain points. Referred to
the committee Police and Jail.
| A message was received from the Second Branch
inviting the First Branch to 90 into convention on
Monday the oath inst. for the purpose of electing
two Commissioners of Finance eight Directors on
the part of the city in the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company two in the Northern Central Rail-
road Company and twenty Commissioners OF
| Public Schools.
Mr.. WooD said he thought that this Branch was
the proper place for motions of this class to orip-
nate. He had observed a disposition manifested by
the Secoud Branch to take precedence in matters
| OF this kind, and he was it was not their
| province.
Mr.. BEALE said this was owing to the fact that
| the members of the Second Branch were not in
| formed of the manner of transactng this class of
!
| hfough dsrespect to this Branch
Laid on the table.
Mr.. WoOD said that he would like that the gen
tleman who had presented the ordinance with re-
! gard to limiting taxation within certain sum,
would call it up. He only desired it called up for
the purpose OF moving its reference to the Commit
tee on Ways and Means.
Mr.. NEWMAN said he was not anxious to press the
! ordinance. He wished the members to give the
subject full consideration. He was utterly opposed
| to its reference to the Committee of Wavs and
Means. The taxation in the cities of Washington
and Boston was below 30 cents the 800. The
| gentleman could not see why the municipal gov
ernment of Baltimore should not be conducted with
the amount of money which will arise from taxa
ton OF 90 cents on the 500. 1t will produce over
million and quarter of dollars, and that should
certainly pay all the legitimate expenses.
Mr.. TALBoTr.-" Will the gentleman give the
amount of taxation in New York and Philadelphia ?''
Mr.. NEWMAN said he could answer the gentle
man it necessary, but New York was no pattern for
gance had made herself by-word for corruption
throughout the Union and he hoped that city would
not be taken as criterion for Baltimore. Heavy
taxation had tendency to drive capital from the
city, and his object in limiting taxation was to in
duce Northern capital to come to the city. He knew
of instances where capital has left this city for Chi
cago, and he wanted this ordinance adopted to give
assurance to capitalists, that profits would not be
entirely eaten up by taxation. Let us pass this or
dinance, said he and let the odum of its repeal fall
| on successors in office.
Mr.. BEALE said he could not see the propriety of
the ordinance. lfthe necessities of the city re-
quired more than 80 cents the 500, there would
have to be an increase in the levy. As for North
| ern capital to which the gentleman referred it was
of that class which produced no revenue 1t was
generally invested in the Commission business, and
while there was business of nearly quarter of a
million of dollars done by some houses, the actual
amount of capital invested was insignificant. There
was effort made in the Legislature to tax such
business, but the influences and interests of the
Northern capitalists were too strong, and we failed
| in securing tax on it.
| Mr.. NEwMAN.-"The gentleman is mistaken"
Mr.. BEALE.-"No sir, | am not mistaken"
| Mr.. NEwMAN.-"l know better, sir. | know per-
sons engaged In the business, who pay taxes on it,
| sir"
Mr.. BEALE.-"Then, sir, you know better than
| the Legislature.
| Mr.. WooD said he could not say he was opposed
to the object of the BILL and he only wanted it
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means be-
cause he thought it legitimately belonged there.
| Mr.. MONTAGUE said that it would be mere childs
play to pass such ordinance. If the necessities
of the city required more than 80 cents the Sl0O,
| the ordinance would have to be repealed and he
therefore moved an indefinite postponemeut of the
subject
| Mr.. RANDOLPH said that he would be happy to
see the taxation brought within the figure present
ed by the gentleman. but he considered the ordi-
nance premature. The basis of the 80 cts per 500
was the statement in the message of the Mayor that
the taxable property of the city for the next
ment would amount to Sl4O,0 ,000 This he was sure
would be found to be mistake. He was of opinion
| that it would not be more than S125.0 900. There
were great many over estimates. He knew of
one gentleman who was assessed at million of dol
lars, and he was certain that his property did not
exceed more than one-third of that sum- He hoped
that the ordinance would be referred to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means
| Mr.. MoNTAGUE.-"I will withdraw my motion for
anindetinite postponement as the Chairman of the
Committee on Ways and Means desires it to be re-
! farra 70 hot
| Mr.. CUNNINGHAM.-s'I will renew the motion for
an indefinite postponement. l do not like one of
the reasons which the gentleman who originated
this bill gave for its passage If there would be
odium in its repeal, he did not like it to fall the
successors of this BODY
The motion to indefinitely postpone was lost, and
the motion to refer the subject to the Committee
| Ways and Means adopted
| Mr.. GRANVILLE presented the petition of John L.
Thomas, Esq. asking to be remunerated to the
amount of S00, for assisting in the prosecution of
John Caggett, charged with murder. Referred to
the Committee on Claims.
On motion, the Council adjourned until to-mor-
row evening at o'clock.
| SECOND BRANCH.--Branch met. pursuant to
resolution. at 5 o'clock. Present-WM. MCPHAIL,
President, and all the members except Mr.. McCo,
mas.
Mr.. CATHcART submitted an ordinance to change
the name of North and South streets, to that Of
Wall street, from Bowly's wharf to wits northern
limits.
Mr.. CoLToN suggested to Mr.. Cathcart that it be
referred to the Committee on Highways
Mr.. CATHCART was of opinion that the proper
course was for an Ordinance to lay over. Such wa;
the rule.
Mr. ELLIcorr thought it should be referred to the
Committee on Highways, as it would then give
members an opportunity to learn the sentiments o
the merchants and others interested
Mr.. CoLToN-"As Mr.. Cathcart declines to dc
so, will move that it be referred to the Committee
on Highways"
A message received from the First Branch
announcing their adoption of the joint resolution
for the appointment ofa Joint SpecialCommttee fol
the purpose of distributing the various subjects
the Mayors message to the different committees.
The PRESIDENT presented the petition of G.. r.
Carroll, and others, for the repair of Washington
avenue.
Mr.. sEwALL moved that it be referred to the
Committee on Highways. Agreed to.
Several gentlemen coming in at the time, The
president called the members attention to the
rules OF the Council and hoped that they would b.
strictly adhered to, the interruption by partie
visiting members while the Council was in session
was great source of annoyance.
Mr.. Cook moved that they adjourn. Adopted.
The PRESIDENT adjourned the Branch until to
morrow afternoon at o'clock.
EXTENSIVE SwINDLING 0PERATIoN.-The Cincin
natl Gazette of Monday says:
Recent extensive swindng operations have beer
the talk of commercial circles for the past two OF
three days. 1t appears that named b. 4
Brown had been doing business in Cleveland sine,
last spring, and by adroit management, aided by {
fine personal appearance, had secured the conf
dence of several of our merchants, with whom b,
had been doing business About the latter part o
December he perpetrated one of the bodest swind
ling operations have heard of for some time
by which some ten or twelve, and for ought W,
know, many more, have been vctimized, to tn,
amount in the aggregate, of probably S25, 900.
tn bisn nv ha laft of No.