Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-24
LOCAL NEWS.

the approval Of the bill to grade and gravel X
street s south. nom 4tn street east to the canal
side OF X street, between 18th and 18th west
bill to grade and gravel street south, from
Sd to 7th west, and bill to erect HORSEBACK in
the Northern Market. house. Also a commani-
cation nominating William J. Herbert, Peter
GallantSJohn G.. Robinson, William Douglass
and Samuel B. Boyer for inspectors and meas
urers of lumber. Referred to committee on po-
lice. Also a communication enclosing COM
munlcation from the city surveyor, relative to
the reassessment of the cost of constructing a
sewer in the alley in Square No. 43l, to connect
with the sewer on Sth street west. The cost is
liked at $l,6O0 Referred to committee on i'm
provements
Mr.. Plant presented a communication from
DR.. Thomas Holmes, em0almer, in answer to
the communication of Mrs. Bannerman and
others complaining of the establishment Of said
Holmes as nuisance. He denies that his place
can be considered a nuisance. He has been
prosecuting this business ever since the begin
ming Of the war, at different places, and was
never before complained OF, and he asks COM
mittee to investigate the subject, as he is desi-
rous of obeying the laws, and he never uses
his business so as to make 1t cause of obJec-
tion. He further says there are a number of
other embalming establishments, and all near
dwellings, and he believes he has been selected
as an object OF reprobation through some sinis-
ter feeling.
The communication was referred to the spe-
cial committee, consisting Of Messrs. Noyes,
McCathran and Barr, to whom the petition Of
Mrs. Bannerman was referred.
r. Il.
Brown, and it was referred to the committee
OF improvements without reading.
Mr.. Noyes presented the following petition
OF George Lea:
To the Honorable the Board of Aldermei, and
the Board Of Common Council of the City of
Washington: petitioner, who is the pro-
prietor Of Canterbury Hall, having read q Pc
tition published in the proceeding of Councils
at their last meeting, from Mr.. Fitz Simmons,
as proprietor of a music hall known as the Va
rieties, asking for an abatement of taxes on the
Un~ ~rntfns DS aHA
management, begs to offer to your honorable
body an objection to such petition, unless
others are favored likewise.
In the first place, your petitioner has good
and sufficient reason for believing that the sale
OF said Varieties was made in order that the
former proprietors might evade the debts OF
the establishment, and is therefore sham
sale. Your petitioner believes that he can pro-
duce suitable evidence TO substantiate this
opinion; therefore, If your honorable body
grants the PRAYER OF Mr.. Fitz Simmons, your
petitioner will claim, in justice to himself the
abatement OF like sum from his taxes, al
though he is perfectly willing to pay the de-
mands OF yo9r honorable body, but thinks it
uni ust that flesh should be made of one and
fish Of the other.
Respectfully, GEORGE LEA.
Washington, d. c., Aug. 90, 1864.
Referred to committee on finance.
Mr.. Barr, from the committee on police, re.
ported adversely upon the nomination OF Jos.
L. Williamson for police constable of the Sec
ond Ward; and the nomination was not con-
frmed. Also, from the same committee, made
a similar report upon the nomination Of Chas.
Hurdle for police constable of the Third Ward.
Mr.. Lewis desired to know upon what ground
the committee asked the rejection Of this noml-
nation, and the Chair (Mr. Brown) said he
also would like to know the ground Of objec-
tion.
Mr.. Barr stated that when the nominations
were first received by the committee they made
inquiries as to how the nomination would suit
the people of each ward. 1t was some time
before they could get an expression as to this
case officially, and he went among the people
OF the ward and found scarcely one in favor of
this nomination. The ground of objection was
constant neglect of duty, and also that the
nominee kept restaurant, which took up
nearly all his time and attention.
Mr.. Barr further stated that if he was not
much mistaken he thought there was law
prohibiting police constables from engaging in
any other business.
The Chair stated that the Third Ward dele.
CATION had looked into the matter of the fitness
Of this officer, and as the Mayor had reap.
pointed him after trial OF one or two years the
ought to be confirmed, and therefore he would
call the yeas and nays upon the nomination.
Mr.. Lewis said before the yeas and nays were
called he would ask that the further considera-
ton Of the subject be laid over one week.
The Chair would unite in their request as
there was barely quorum present
Mr.. Garfield stated that he was informed by
the Chief OF Police that Mr.: Hurdle had not
performed his duty fully. He was required to
report daily and sometimes would not do so for
two or three days. Besides he had been as
it was his duty to be there at an early hour,
whereas it was after 10 or IL o'clock before he
got there. The subject was postponed until
Mr.. Barr, from committee on canals, to which
had been referred large number OF sugges-
tions, relative to cleansing the Washington
Canal, introduced a bill authorizing the Mayor
to employ an Engineer who shall examine the
several plans proposed and report the best one.
To carry out the law 81 800 is appropriated.
The bill was read three times and passed.
Tbo HI 1le from ho RoQr ofC Houn
to set the curbstones and pave the foOtway on
the west side of 9th street west, from N to 0
streets north and the bill to pay for paving the
carriageway on 9th street west from Pennsyl-
vania avenue to B street north, were referred.
The bill from the same Board for repairing
and painting the cutters and roof Of the Wash-
ington Asylum, was passed.
The Chair asked leave to withdraw certain
papers on the files Of the Board relative to the
erection of a new school house in the northern
part Of the city, with view to their reference
to the committee on schools in the Board of
Common Council, who were now considering
the matter. Permission was granted.
MI. Plant introduced resolution authorizing
the President of the Board to purchase q new
carpet for the Aldermen's Chamber; to have
the desks cleaned and vanished, and to fit up
q COMMITTEES room for the Board, and for the
purpose OF having cases put up in order that
the archives Of the Board may be properly filed
away and preserved. The resolution was
adopted.
MIR. Barr, on behalf OF the I'd and Sd Ward
delegations, to whom had been referred the
bill to trim and gravel New York avenue, from
9th to 18th streets west, asked to be discharged
from Its further consideration. So ordered,
and the bill was laid on the table.
Mr.. Turton, from the committee on drainage,
reported favorably upon the bill authorizing
the construction of q sewer in Square No. 400,
and it was passed.
MI Garfield introduced resolution auther-
izing the secretary to have fifty copies of the
journal Of the last Councils printed for the use
OF members Of the Board. Adopted.
Adjourned.
AFFAIRS IN COMMUNICATIONS Rob-
berry Case.-Yesterday morning, the case Of the
United States against Daniel O'Brian, James
Coleman, VIM. Young, and William Garrett,
charged with robbing soldier named Owen
Mcclure, of $500, on the 18th inst, was taken
up for trial by Justice Buckley. Eight wit
nesses were summoned. 1t was proven that
Garrett, Young, and Coleman were with the
complainant on that day The complainant
was very drunk, and was taken bv them to a
lane west Of the College pond, which leads to
Johnson's slaughter house: They were seen
lying in the grass there with the soldier. No
one saw either take the money, but Youngtold
officer Hurdle that Garrett took It, and gave
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