Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-18
Corporation Affairs.

Cross, Euponsion, hagruder. NcCathran C.
Barr, Lew VIE, L. Z. Lloyd, President and s. z
Noyes. Secretary.
1be Chair laia before the Board communi-
cation from the Mayo stating that he had ap-
proved ian act for the relief of julius Essen
beiss," and IAN act making an appropriation
to defray the expense of auditing the accounI
of Thomas Woodward. Corvner."
Also. q communication from T.. A. Adams
Secretary 10 the Commissioner OF the w Washipg-
ton Asylum, in sweI 10 resolution Of in
quiry Of this Board, stating that there are one
Resident and two boarding students at the
asylum referred 10 the committee on asy-
lurn ~
Also. communication from the Mayor trans.
mltting communication from the Treasure
pr the Public Schools, recommending the pur-
chase, for school purposes, of the south part O,
Lot 4, in Square 257, having front of "a feet
on lath street west, between OHIO avenue and
ID street. by a depth OF 95 feet There is a
public school house on the lot, and the Cor
poration is paying 500 per annum ground rent.
II can be purchased for S9l2; referred 70 com
mittee on public schools
AIso, a communication from Jos II Rrad-
ley, Esq, Corporation Attorney, returning the
bill for relief Of u. Al. Ridenour which had
been referred for his opinion He says: I'm
less had copy ef the contract for the CON
struction OF the sewer in 14th street, il would
be impossible TOR me 20 say whether or not the
Corpor alton had the right to settle with Mr.
Ridenour, A pure question OF damages and
charge the amount to the contractor certain
ly II could only be done under a very spec al
contract, carefully prepared, by which the
contractor bodnd himself beforehand 10 abide
by such settlement, and in such case it must
be- made within the precise terms of the con-
tract. There might be such contract of
course bnt can scarcely think any man ca
Pable vi making contract would sign one of
that KIND. Tne Corporation certainly is respon-
sIble in the case put by Mr.. Ridenour, Whose
petition Is also before me. Their remedy is
against the contractor if the injury resulted
from has default, ana in case Of snit brought
by him, the contractor must have notice to de-
lend IT. Ordered to he printed with the pro.
ceedings, and referred TO committee on claims
Mr.. Magruder offered the following ioInt res
olutIon IN relation TO the establishment of one
uniform government for the District of CoIum-
bia
Whereas the people and property of the Dis
trict of Columbia are taxed for the support of
TWO municipal governments, a Levy Court
and metropolitan Police Board, too greatly
dividing respon Slbilities; and whereas the ac-
lions of these bodies frequently confiic with
each other. while the interests OF all are and
ought TO be identical and whereas the more
government is simplfied the better its laws
are understood, and the m ore economically IN
can be administered: Be il therefore
ReSoioed, That the Cor gress of the United
quested TO repeal all acts establishing the pres
tnt method OF government for the District OF
Columbia, and 10 pass an act estabiis hing in
lieu thereof one government therefor, to con-
sIst OF a board OF com missioners, TO be selected
in such manner as Congress in It's wisdom
may direct or any other form which may se-
cure 10 the whole District one government
which may be-held 10 a strict accountability
for the well being of the community
Ordered 10 be printed and referred TO q special
committee OF one from each ward; and the
Magruder, Owen, Lewis, EdmoHston. Tat.
Cross and Noyes. r.
Mr., Gulick, from the special committee, to
which was referred the Mayors communica-
tion enclosing one from J. w Garrett, presi-
dent of the B. 4 O. X. r., in relation to the
Metropolitan railroad. offered concurrent
resolntisn to appoint special committee of
three members from each Board. who. with
the president shalT take the subject into con
sideration; and the Chair appointed. on behalf
OF the Board, Messrs. GulIck, GWEN, and
Noyes -F. s.|s.H' ~ =
Mr.. Given introduced resolution OF INQUIRY.
requesting the Mayor to obtain the opinion OF
the Corporation Attorney as regards the power
OF this Corporation to annnl or woke its action
when legally had relative TO the condemnation
of land Tor public alley after the usual as
sessment has been made and parties Interested
notified OF the fact and pending a suspension
OF the work, on the protest of several of the
property holders contiguous to the proposed
Improvement; passed ''
Mr.. Cross presented the petition of Edward
Wolf for remission OF fine; referred 10 CON-
= Mr.. Barr. from the committee on police re-
ported asubstItute for the bill granting cer-
tain privileges to Hon. Hugh McOuIloch
granting permission 10 him TO place an IRON
railing in front of his premises, five feet from
the building line, If the perm ission of the Pres
IdsHt OF the United States be first OBTAINED.
The iron railing As already constructed further
by. this resolution.l Passed. Also, reported
back the resolution instrucsiig the Register to
furnish the police magistrates with copies OF
the Corporation laws, with an amendment ap-
propriating ei0 10 pay for the same referred
TO committe on finance.
Mr.. Noyes, from the committee on public
schools, TO whom was referred a communica-
tion from the Mayor in relation 10 colored
schools, introduced bill empowering the
Mayor to pay the trustees of coicred schools
the balance Of ss, 15s SO due them under the acts
Mr Owen, from tne COMMITTEES on fire de.
partment, 10 whom was referred the Mayors
veto OF the bill consolidating the new steam fire
engine with the hook and ladder compapy re-
ported pill to enable the Mayor to anticipate
the revenue to meet the expense of the Changes
proposed by the hill: laid over until the next
Mr.. owen. from the committee on wharyes-
reported an amendment 70 the bill from the
lower Board in relation 10 the improv ament of
the channel of the Potomac river, and the
amendment was ador ted and the bin passed.
Also, reported fayorably on the bill from the
lower Board TO continue the construction OF
the sea wall on the Potomac river. the expense
to be paid out of the general fund. instead OF
the ward fund: passed by yeas 9, nays g -
Nr. Quick introduced.a q bill increasing ths
contingent fund OF the Board of Aldermen
S5ot to meet the payment OF deficiencies; re-
ferred 10 the committee on finance 80
The bill for construction of a bridge over
Ilber Greek Al It's intersection with street
porih, the bridge is to be Of stone and BRICK
an sllipucal arch Of brick resting on heavy
walls OF Potomac gneiss,-all laid in mortar of
hydraulic cement and washed sand the whole
to cost Sl5, ,200, for which the bill makes an ap-
propriation,) was passed. .r
Bill &c. o. to ser the curbstones and pays
the footways on the north and south sides OF
5 street north. between 7th and I4th streets
west. was postponed until the first Monday IN
April sH Al q y - : -
Mr.. Cross, from the committee on CLAIMS, re.
ported favorably on bill for relief Of Peter
MCNAMARA, paying him for work done on a
sewer in the Fourth Ward; recommitted TO the
committee on claims as-1su Esfsa -al8I' -
Several bills from the Board Of Common
Council were appropriately referred
The bill relating To the measurement of
oysters was returned from the lower Board
with amendments, striking ont the section
hning purchasers, and providing for three
measurers Of oysters instead Of i've; referred to
the committee on police. He1tk es1fF
A concurrent resolution from the lower
Board for adjournment OF fhe two Boards until
Monday, January 7th, 1867, was passed.
COMMON CoUNCIL.-President Moore in the
Chair and all the members present except
Messrs. Baker and Peake- t,--...,,. -
A message was recelyed from the Mayor an
nouncing has approval OF the act authorizing
an additional primary school in the 9Th school
Jr~S - [~s~