Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-13

Mayor observed: "Have il done right then
Towles" Mr.. Towles remarked that he was no
longer member Of the board; but the Mayor said,
=" Never mind, Towles, have II done right - He
did do the work; the Mayor saw him there, and
never notified him not to attend TO II. The Mayor
may have supposed he was acting voluntarily;
but he was there, probably 200 days. and construed
the Mayors language as an order TO 60 on.
Mr.. magruder said he never notified him to
quit because be never employed him The gen.
tleman says he was there 900 DAYS, when the work
was done In three or four weeks.
Mr.. Brown. =" Three or four morfhsn
Mr. Magruder -" Well, that would not be 200
days" Mr.. Owens, commi ssioner Of improve
ments, practical carpenter, superintended the
simple structure (the marketshed He (Mr M }
never had an interview with Mr.. Towles at which
be told him to go ahead. On the contrary, when
be fonnd where they were digging the post holes
he asked by what authority they were doing IL,
and being answered by Mr. Towles, he did say
stop, and don't do ANYTHING except by my author
lty' or that Of Mr.. Owens, superintendent under
me. Mr. Magruder resuming, said: "This IL
not the first time the gentleman (Mr. Brown) has
vOten
Mr.. Brcwn.--''l will bet the gentleman my
salary against his -
Mr.. Magruder said Re did not 30 vote.
Mr.. Brown (sOtto roee y" You did,
Mr.. Magruder said the gentleman had made
the assertion before, and had looked but could
not md such a vote, and had not the courtesy TO
get up and say so. Owens was superintendent, 1t
didn't require two; Mr. Towles ought to have
been architect Mr. Owens had more claim for
extra pay than Mr. Towles had. In consequence
Of the importantly of the gentleman from the
Third Ward, he (Mr. VI had voted neither way
before but absented himself, but because he had
neglected bis duty once he would not do II again.
Mr.. Brown "Does the gentleman say be voted
against the bill last year. | ask him a categori-
cal question !"
Mr.. Magruder. I" The gentleman has no right
to ask me a categorical question
MIR. Brown said IL was question Of veracity, a
question of record IL the gentleman voted for
the bi las year. the bill was rig ht there were
new developments. My recollection is clear that
he go voted, and. Mr. Towles who would be
moe likely to remember than either of us, is
equally clear. 1t passed with only the objection
OF the Alderman from the Fourth Ward against
IL IL the Alderman from the First Ward insists,
let the matter go over to next Monday, when this
matter OF the record can be put right. He didn't
want to impeach any gentleman's integrity but
bis recollection was so distinct that he could not
be mistaken, and his recollection was corrobora-
ted by Mr. Towles, which stamped the claim az
just and equitable, and unless his (Mr 's) test-
mony was worthless, Mr.. Towles could establish
n claim before a jury. 1t was not within the
scope OF possibility he could be mistaken to the
conversation with the Mayor, for the next day Mr..
Towles called on him, they were speaking Of the
matter, and he (Mr made a minute Of II.
The Ex-Mayor simply does not remember; l do
remember
Mr.. Magruder replied that he had not said that
he voted against the bill, but did say he had not
voted at all. So far from not remembering, he
authorize Mr.. Towles to 60 on. He used to think
at the time that Mr.. Towles was rather in the way
as ..too many cooks spoiled the broth"
The yeas and nays being called, the bill was
rejected BY the following vote:
feas-Messrs. Brown, Bayly, Fisher, Richards
and the Presdent-5 =
Nays-Messrs. Bohrer, Brodhead, Clark, Lloyd,
Magruder Moore, Semmes and Sargeant-S
The committee on Improvements reported IA
Vora6ly on the case Of James +. Rawlings, nomi-
mated by the Mayor for Commits ioner Of Inn prove
ments In the western district, and he was con-
In the case Of Samuel 8. Taylor nominated for
Commissioner Of improvement In the eastern dis
rict, one member was not prepared to report, and
the nomination lays over.
Common CopnciI-The following communica-
lions Were presented and Apr priately referred
From the Mayor, approving an act making an
appropriation for paying the salaries Of officers Of
the corporation for the month Of July 1861
Account Of ThOs. Champion, for gas fixtures,
&c, for the Northern Liberties market
Petition from Franklin Fire COMPANY asking
an appropriation for a two-wheeled hose reel.
Petition Of John f. Kendall and others, pray
ing certain improvements on street south
Petition Of Peter Mack and Michael Long,
praying remission ofhnes
A resolution instructing the surveyor to furnish
the Board with plat Of the space at the inter-
section OF Massac husetts and New York avenues
and street, between Seventh and Ninth streets;
adopted
Mr.. Wilson, from the committee OF WAYS and
means, In compliance with a resolution adopted
at the previous meeting, presented the following
estmae Of the expenses Of the Corporation for the
next fiscal year: For salaries of Corporation au-
thorities, S27 ,OOJ; other items In appropriation
bills, such as supporting asylum, burial of pau.
Pers, printing, stationery, fuel, &c, s22 600 in
tsrest on bonds Of Washington and Alexandria
Railroad Company, 10000; support Of schools,
10000 necessary expenditures from ward funds,
Sl5,OOO. necessary expenditures for the Levy
Court 80 600; five dollar certificates of indebted
ness S5O,OO0; other certificates Of Indebtedness
$40 600; total 800 0OO
MIR Wilson stated that as the estimate was only
desired for Information, and he had been unweu
the climate WIS not strictly correct though suf.
hcienily for all practical purposes Besides, there
Were matters In the estimate which the operations
OF the metropolitan Police bill would effect, and
which conld not be definitely fixed at present
substitute for the bill making an appropria-
ZION for cleaning the sewers, streets, alleys and
cutters fer casual repairs and removal Of garbage
was introduced and referred
dill amending the 'water lawn was passed
The committee on elections on the eligibility of
members reported that all Of the members were
entitled to seats except Mr.. Stevens The opin-
lille, In relation to the case was read 1t states
that, though Mr.. Stevens may have no tite-deed
10 property, yet the certificate Of ownership of
certain property makes him a property-hold
and eligible TO his seat It also considers Air.
Powell not entitled to a seat
Mr.. Sbepperd moved the adoption of the report,
SO as ~ applied 70 the CRSe OF MI stevens
Mr. Edmondston.-DOn'tb be In hurry now |
would just like to read the gentleman little law
Mr.. Mulloy desired To have a vote upon that
motion, so az TO see how gentlemen stood upon
the question. He was willing to abide by the
decision Of the attorney, though he must confess
II was as far from his own opinion as day from
night IL man could hold seat in that body
upon such frivolous claims as that gentleman (Mf.
stevens), he thought ii lime to take the matter
into their own bands, and examine IL we'll before
any such dangerous precedent was established
He would vote for the adoption Of the motion; but
he would like To see how members could vote af-
nrm lively on this and on the other subject (Mr.
POwel) of the report
Mr. Edmonston read the laws applying to the
question Of ownership Of property, and claimed
that Mr.. Stevens was not q bona fde property
holder In the eye Of the law. He would like to
know how Mr. Carlisle could get over that
Mr.. Wills, 1T seems that my friend from the
Fourth Ward Mr. Edmonston) for once doubts
the correctness Of our attorneys opinion. He
generally pins his faith on him, 1 believe; IMr
Edmonston sir; so l do, sir;"l and es-
pecially, too, when II suits his purposes. Now
this property, Of the purchase Of which Mr.. Ste
vens holds the certificate was bough by him and
paid for, and they all knew very well IL he was
In debt, suit could be brought and the properly
so for the same. The certificate was just az good
as deed, so far as bOSa tide ownership was con-
cerned
Mr.. Emerson differed from the gentleman He
n NFGd h. IL