Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-25

he was prepared to vote Iaye.n
Resolutions to psy certain claims on the Corpo.
ration; In re.efence TO assessing tar for the
ton Of q jail In the city Of Washington; 70 Inn
prove Fourteenth street. near Its intersection with
Boundary ST and instucting the committee be-
fore Congress to urge upon that body the clean
Ing OF the Washington-city canal, az recon-
| nsended by the Commissioner Of Public Build
ings, were severally passed.
Several resolutions Of the lower board were re.
ferred. Adjourned. -
T. Dove, Esq, acting Mayor during temporary
absence OF Mayor wallach, approving certain
bills, (amongst III EN- the bill creating Secretary
Of the Board Of Health, j was read.
Mr. Lewis offered a resolution authorizing the
Mayor to cause plans and specifications for the
construction Of water closets in the City II all to
be made and advertise for proposals for the work.
referred.
Also bill for the repair Of a bridge over North
Capital street. between N and streets; referred.
The petitions Of James w. Watson, for the
payment Of rent due him for the use of the house
| used by the Metropolitan Hook and Ladder Com
pany, and Of John Castigan and others, for the
grading and grave'ing Of Fifth street, were re-
Mr. Shepherd, from the drainage committee,
reported a bill for the payment Of the claim Of
W. r. Dant, out Of any money due w. B. Dyer,
from this corporation. The bill Of said Dant for
work done by him, having been erroneouslv in
corporated In the bill Of w B. Dyer, and paid to
Dyer; passed.
MIR. Given, from the claims committee, report
ed adversely on the petitions Of Bernard Boyan
and VIM. II. Laws, for remissi on OF fines. Mr..
Morgan also reported adversely upon the Alder
mems bill, refunding to James White the amount
Of fine. The committee was discharged In
each case.
Mr. shepherd, by consent, introduced bill
authorizing the Mayor to cause a connection TO be
made Of the Corporation and Government Water
Mains In Nineteenth and X streets; passed.
Also, resolution requesting the Improvements
Committee to report an estimate Of necessary i'm
Provements In the Council Chamber; passed.
Nit. Morgan, In consequence of necessary alb
sence from the city, requested to be discharged
from the committee appointed to consult with the
president and directors Of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad IN relation to railroad through this city,
and wa discharged.
Mr. Lewis. from the improvements committee,
made report relative to the Center Market;
which was withdrawn by consent.
The Aldermens joint resolution asking Con-
gress to reduce the price Of gas furnished by the
Washington Gaslight Company from the present
rate Cs3 15) to 50 so per 900 feet was taken up.
Mr.. shepherd moved to amend by adding
Z" And in case the reduction Is not made on or
before May 1, 1862, We do hereby ask the char
tering Of a new company
Mr.. Mohun said he was not sure that Congress
had the right to reduce the price Of gas. He
thought the surest way would be to ask the char
ter for new company, and let them enter into
competition.
Mr.. Morgan argued in defence ofthe Gas CON-
pany, and stated that under all the disad vantaees
OF the year, he thought the company entitled to
an advance, rather than reduction. We might
with propriety ask hereafter for a reduction, but
this was not the proper time
Mr.. Edmondston declared his opposition to all
monopolies. With regard TO the reduction that
had been made to 80 Is, II was no reduction In
fact He had kept an account OF his gas expen-
ses, and found them greater under the So Is rate
than under the 81 per ,O06 feet. The reason he
thought was that the Company used the meanest
kind Of coal, and in order to get light consumers
were forced to let on all the gas.
Mr.. Morgan ttrbuted the inferiority Of coal to
the fact that the sources from whence they OBJ
tanned the best were in secesh, and they were cut
OF from that supply.
Mr.. Shepherd though hit the gas company great
monopoly, and although he had some very warm
| friends Ia that company, his duty TO the public
urged the course be should pursue. He did not
believe the company had lost much by the
Disadvantages mentioned by Mr.. Morgan; but he
did believe the company made 20 per cent
more than II should. Mr.. 9 did not think that
| consumed, but In the leakage Of the pipes
| throughout the city. He was strongly In favor
| Of new company to be put in competition with
the existing one.
Mr.. wil'on offered the following resolution as
q substitute:
Resolved, That the committee on improve
| ments be, and they are hereby Instructed to in
quire into the expediency Of the Corporation
| asking Of Congress power to issue bonds to the
amount Of e2C0 coo, for the purpose Of establish
Ing gas works TO supply the citizens with gas
for private consumption, as well as lighting the
| street lamps.
MIR. w, in support Of the substitute, cited the
Philadelphia gas works, where the streets and
public buildings are lighted free Of expense, and
works Yielding handsome revenue.
| Mr.. Shepherd opposed the substitute ~ not
practical measure, and argued for the private en-
erprise Of our own ciiizens and in favor Of char
tering the company who have already asked for
| IL, and propose TO furnish gas at Sas0 per 600
Dir. Shepherd went on to speak Of the superior
over the city Of Washington, for the manufacture
Of gas.
The substitute Of Mr.. Wilson was rejected
yeas 5, nays 10; and Mr.. Shepherds amendment
adopted by yeas Is, nays.
The res luton as amended passed.
The AldeTmen's joint resolution remonstratiD
against any change Of qualifications Of voters at
the elections In the city Of Washington was
taken up.
Mr.. shepherd moved to amend, but before his
amendment was read
Mr.: Edmonston moved the previous question,
which ~ds ordered by yeas | nays. The res
olution was ordered TO third reading By yeas TO-
nays =, and was passed.
This resolution protests against any action by
residence qualification. The resolution was
published In the proceedings Of the Aldermen
last week.-REP.l
The Board adjourned.
TIE WILL OF THE LATE CHAs. b. KING, the
artist, was brought into the Orphans Court on
Saturday last IL Is very vOluminous, with a
number Of codicils, aud considerable number of
Witnesses to the same, most Of whom are absent
from the city. Those In the city were examined
on Saturday. The estate Is supposed to be worth
about $50, 600. There are legacies amounting to
about 20 ,0O0, and the residue Is divided Into
four portions, Of which one 10 bequeathed to the
Redwood Library, Newport, r. T., one to fe-
male school In Newport, one TO his cousin, Hon.
George 6. King, formerly member Of Congress
from Rhode Island, and one to other relatives.
The will appoints the cousin above named and
another gentleman executors, but the latter re-
signed. The court, without acting finally on the
will, granted letters testamentary to Hon Geo.
q. King as executor on the estate, that gentleman
giving security TO the amount Of S50.0OO for a
faithful execution Of his trust, himself Mr.. iona
than Seaver and Mr.. Henry Barron being the
| sureties.
MIR. King, during the last few years, has given
many valuable works Of art to the Redwood Lii
brary; and the last days Of his life were spent In
arranging some very old and valuable engravings
which he had presented to the Smithsonian In
stitution.
PIcKET MuRpKRERs NEAR THE CHAIN BRIDGE
YBT.-Last night we saw at the embalming
rooms Of Dr. Holmes, in Buchly's establishment,
the body Of young man who was murdered last
Friday night at the canal lock, near the Chain
Bridge; the third who has fallen a victim to the
| sneaking murderers at that point within few