Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-01

PROcBEDINss OF THE CITY CouNcTLs-Board Of
4Ldsyrtsn.-A communication We received from
the Mayor approving certain acts; also, commu-
nication enclosing one from c. Robbins, ESQ ,
president Of the Board Of Metropolitan Police, re-
questng that appropriations may be speedily
made by the city Of Washington of the following
sums for the objects named Rent Of station
houses, 81 ,0OOi Improvement Of lookup houses,
$1,000 furnishing, beating and lighting the same,
sl.Oo0. This last was referred.
A resol ltion In relation to the appointment Of a
committee to AJAX Of the Secretary Of the Navy the
removal Of certain distinctions TO navigation In
the Eastern Branch was passed.
A resolution for the appointment Of a commit
tee 10 wait on the Secretary Of the Navy in rela-
ton 70 having portion Of the machinery for some
Of the new steam vessels for the Navy constructed
An act for a gravel fooswalk on the north side
ofsquare 54S was passed
The committee on drainage were discharged
ftom further consideration Of the petition Of Thos
Carbery and VIM. b. Todd, praying relief from
payment Of the water rate, by vote Of IL to l.
Mr. Bohrer only voting in the negative.
An act In relation TO the appointment Of eight
point them from the list Of county constable and
they 10 attend to the collection Of fnss, &c /;
nxes their compensation at $3.50 per aanum, and
says they shall follow other occupation, aud
receive no fees or emoluments other than their
salaries .
The bin was advocated at length by Or. Ma
the Board Of Police Commissioners in their ap-
pontments, and said that the Corporation ought
TO have force under their own control.
Mr.. Lloyd said that he would be governed In
this a. in other matters by the opinion Of the law
onacer Of the Cooperation
Mr.. Bohrer read the 5th section Of the act Of
Congress &c show thatthe Metropolitan force have
power to enforce the Corporation laws.
The bill was passed.
communication from the Mayor, enclosing the
annual report Of the Board Of School Trustees,
was referred.
An act making an appropriation Of % 600 for
renting station houses, &c for the Metropolitan
Police force, was advocated at length by Mr.
Brown, who explained the necessity for its
passage, after which II was passed.
The committee on police was discharged from
further consideration Of the Mayors message In
reference 70 the purchase Of wood for the poor,
and the message was referred to the finance CON-
mittee.
An act to abate a nuisance at a street north, be.
tween Sixth and Seventh streets, at the entrance
Of "A alley into square 443 was passed.
Mr.. Richards, In accordance with his notice OF
two weeks ago, moved to reconsider the vote by
which the nomination Of Jacob Klelber, az mes
sen2er to the Mayor, was rejected.
Pending the consideration Of this motion, on
motion OF Mr. Bayly the board adjourned.
Common CO@neiI-The following communica-
lions were presented:
From the Mayor, approving certain acts; from
the District Attorney, In reply TO q resolution
adopted at the last meeting Of the board In rela-
ton to the 18th and 18th sections Of the act of
Congress creating metropolitan police force for
the District Of Columbia; from the Surveyor, In
relation to draining the alley In square 226, and
laying gutter on the north side Of square 1874;
and from the Water Registrar In relation to the
petition Of Peter Mack.
report from the ways and means committee
upon the existence Of certain pa ers said to be
in the possession Of the Common Council, was
tabled
The police committee reported adversely upon
the petition Of nj. Ayers, praying the remission
Of hne, and was discharged from further con-
sideration of the matter.
The same committee, through IT'S chairman,
(Mr. GrinderD reported an amendment TO the
bill from the upper board requiring all officers
and employees Of the corporation to take spe-
cal oath Of allegiance. inserting in the placs of
the words "shall take' the words 'are hereby
respectfully requested to take ~
Mr. Shepherd thought the amendment DESTROYED
the effect Of the bill: BY It's adoption, If one did
Mr. Mulloy desired to correct an error made by
reporter In relation TO his remarks upon that
bill alta previous meeting. The remarks were
"Mr. Mulloy should not vote for Il, and he was
not afraid TO say IL In the face Of the Admnistra-
ton. He should take oath couched In such
language, nor should he bind himself sacredly to
one Constitution when IL might compromise him
with respect 70 another. He was not agoing to
legislate a halter around his neck"
Tbs hrst sentence Of the report he admitted had
been said, and he repeated II again. He did not
say 4" he should take no oath couched In such Ian
gusge,n but that be should vote for no bill
eOuched In such Language, enforcing and compel
cath. The conclusion Of that sentence never came
from bis tongue Why, Il was a wonder that he
was not In irons. What IL his fellow-citizens had
believed it-could they not have called him a Sc
cessonist! He did say that he would subscribe
to no oath which did not concur with the honest
sentiments Of his heart. The legislation Of halter
around his neck was applied TO the laboring class
upon the street. He was there to legislate for
them, too, and he would not impose that oath ar
cordlng to the present reading of the bill. IL
should not be required" to be taken, but re-
quested "
At this Juncture the chair stated tina. az the re-
port was not the authorized report OF the board
IL perhaps was not best to notice II there He con-
sidered Il Irrelevant but il the board thong BIT i.
proper he Mr. MulOy) Of course must be allowed
TO proceed
on. He would 90 az far as any man TO protect the
stars and stripes upon the Capitol He was bound
% support the President, though he was not his
choice. Had he been out Of bis present position
and In the States he would have selected another
but as . member Of that board man would do
more 10 support him. But, for that bill he could
not vote In IL present form That they.
Of q board 20 which they had been elected only
through the confidence Of their fellow citizens
that they should bind themselves by an impera-
tive shall be required" was more than he was
willing to submit to. He wanted to take the
oath, but at the same time he did not desire to be
forced into II. He wanted the honor Of taking Il
adoption 81 The amendment, upon which the vote
Yess-Messrs Callan, Edmonston, Emerson,
GIVEN, Orinocf, nlt1, mcUratn, m0nnn, mulloy,
Turton, and Wilson-II.
Nsys-Mesrs. Byington, Lewis, Murtagh,
Raub. Shepherd, stevens, and the Chair, (hr.
Riehardsl-7
Ar. Shepherd moved to laythe bill on the table.
Is sense was destroyed, and az amended how
were they to enforce the penaltyi IL was an insult
to the upper Board, and he hoped itwould not be
sent mp Stairs In that form.
The motion 70 lay on the table was loss-yeas q,
nays IL
An amendment offered to another section of the
bill, striking out the word "skaH," was lost
Mr.. Shepherd said IL seemed that some gentle
men bad very tender consciences about the matter
He was In favor Of making the bill i'm yeratiye
The President ofthe United States had to take H.
bat they Of the Common Council could not use
the word "skaH," but ''rsspseffrIIy requested, %
&c. They bad better weigh that matter well, lest
they place themselves In false position Not
only they, but all the employees Of the Corpora
ton were 70 take the oath, and 10 was used simply
as test. He wanted 10 that way.
Mr. Aufisy bad seen the oath In his day admin
iaered In many different forms, and be did not
comprehend how any enc could suspect the exist
ence Of secessioniss In that Board from their
refusing 10 pass bill In such language
Mr.. Shepherd entertained no suspicious of the
LOYALTY Of any member Of that board In be ara