The national Republican., 1860-12-11
LOCAL NEWS.
CITY COUNCILS.

william W. Moore in the chair.
Several bills were received from the Mayor,
which had been submitted for his approval.
Capt. G. W. @. Huntington introduced bill
which he thought required immediate action,
and therefore moved that there be four.way FIRE.
plugs near Second street east and Pennsylvania
avenue. The bill, on its third reading, passed
unanimously.
Mr.. Thomas J. Fisher introduced a bill au.
thorizing curb stones to be set in front Of squares
number one hundred and twenty.six and one
hundred and sixty.three, which passed without
discussion.
Mr.. Joseph f. Brown reported back bill in
reference to the collection Of taxes in arrearage,
which bill had been presented to the corpora.
tion attorney for his opinion; and, after some
amendments in accordance with such opinion,
he, in behalf of the committee, respectfully re-
turned the same.
Messrs. Brown and Ward entered into some
discussion as to how the property holders should
be notified of the sale Of their property for
taxes-in what way published.
Mr.. Fishersaid that many persons have prop
erty sold for taxes, knowing the fact at the time,
not being able to raise the money at the time,
yet they redeem It within the two years pre-.
scribed by law.
Mr.. Ward said there are parties in this city
who desire their property sold for taxes, in order
thereby to secure better title, and sometimes
permit it to be sold several times for that pur-
pose.
The bill was then read as amended, and
passed.
Mr.. George A. Bohrer moved that the board
meet in future at FIVE o'clock, instead of half
past seven. Laid over.
E, Several bills from the lower board we're re.
ported, and referred to their appropriate COM
mttees.
On motion of Mr.. Fisher, the special order of
the evening was taken up, namely, bill in re-
lation to the uniting of the cities Of Washington
and Georgetown. The proposition from George
town contained a provision for two wards.
Mr.. William 81. Ward moved that it be so
amended as to read zone ward"
This elected considerable discussion as to the
propriety of an amendment, as it was merely a
proposition from Georgetown, and must be sub.
given to it.
1t was thought it should be simply courteously
received, and let the people decide what they
desire.
Mr.. Clark moved that the proposition be laid
on the table for the present, which motion was
carried.
On motion, the board adjourned.
Common CouncH.-Board met at the usual
hour, and was called to order by the President
Several members we're absent
A communication was received from the
Mayor in relation to approving an act for the
relief Of the Western Hose Company; also, in
relation to a nuisance in the Sixth Ward.
Mr.. Russell introduced an act to repair
gravel foot-walk in the Sixth Ward; passed.
Mr.. Jones moved that the Mayor be request
ed to return to this Board the bill in relation
to the improvement of Market space, as several
material errors occur in 1T agreed to.
Mr.. Muloy asked leave to offer petition of
Rein Elliott; referred to the Committee on
Claims.
Bills from the Board of Aldermen:
Bill for gravelling Tenth street west, from l.
to N north referred to Committee on Improve
ments.
Bill authorizing q curb to be set on the west
front Of square 352; referred to Committee on
Improvements.
Bill for gravelling Second street west, from
G street south to Virginia avenue; referred to
Committee on Improvements.
Bill for the repair of the Council Chamber |;
referred to the Committee of Conference on
the disagreeing votes of the two Boards.
The $3.50 Military Appropriations bill
returned to this Board for the benefit of the
volunteer militia was then taken up.
Mr.. Jones moved to postpone the bill till
next Monday; not agreed to.
Mr.. Mead moved to reconsider the vote taken
by this Board he wanted to put the bill fairly
before the Board upon its own merits. He
was opposed to the bill, however.
Mr.. Borrows hoped they would wait for a
full Board before vote should be taken. If
any encouragement could be given to our Dis.
trict military, it ought to be done. He had un.
derstood that the whole volunteer system of
this city was supported principally by q few
ohah hly pnt thop th;rty A roo1
deal of alarm is felt at this time in this imme.
diate vicinity. If any real difficulty occurred,
we would then see how much we needed the
services of this volunteer militia. For his part,
he thought every man ought to be compelled
to bear arms. There was hardly city in the
United States which did not give support to
their volunteer militia. At the time of the
Harper's Ferry affair, the military had to pay
even the gas bill at the Armory. There was
no set Of men who performed more real service
gratis. Though they all have their private po-
litical opinions, yet no party influence is ever
brought to bear with them; they were reliable.
Mr.. Jones was in favor of postponement =;
he wanted to see full meeting.
Mr.. Mead was perfectly willing. He had
been charged with opposing the bill because
of a partiality for company which did not
propose to make use of the Armory. With
him, it was a matter of principle The cor.
poration ought not to pay the expenses of a
military. For purposes Of protection, the po-
lice force was enough.
Mr.. Wilson observed that this was Govern.
ment building, and they had merely failed to
appropriate money for this purpose. The cor
poration had appropriated $4,000 for fence
around Judiciary square, why not do the same
thing now2 Some of the companies had been
compelled to sponge on others to pay for the
gas.
The question was then taken on the recon-
sideration of the bill, and it was agreed to
yeas IL, nays s.
Mr. RorrnWs then remarLed that &c this hill