Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-04-24

Incorporation. was taken up. long uiacuss'ou
ensued, participated in BY Messfs. johnson;
Clifford, Martin, Smoot, Neale, and Hopkins
DIR. johnson opposed the passage vi the res
olution on The ground that it was giving pat
ronage to committee, which belonged TO the
Council. In his opinion the resolution was 100
indefinite it did not specify what work was
to be DONE or the compensation 10 be allowed
He considered that the resolution contamL! an
inuendo against the late AUDITOR who he. con-
sidered, guiltless.
Mr. Clifford favored the passage OF the reso-
luton. The books Of the Corporation, ne
thought, we're not up, or had not been kept as
they should have been. The appointment OF
clerk was, in his opinion, the ouy way TO
rench the subject. 1t was impossible to get the
account, Mr.. English contendlug that the
books were right, and the late Finance Com,
mittee asserting that they were not tie
thought something ought to be done to get at
the facts.
Mr.. Martin considered it The duty of the
late Finance Committee to make an exhibit of
last year 8 accounts beyond that they could not
20, but for that period they should have made
report lit was intended 10 60 back for ten
years to examine into the affairs Of the Audi
tors Office, he was for allowing clerk, but for
the past year he did not see the necessity
He considered that Mr.. English and the Com
mittee we're both in fault. The Committee
could soon make report Showing who was in
fault. He understood that there were notes OF
the Corporation coming due every day or So
for large amounts, OF which there were no
memoranda and no knowledge on the part OF
any one this was evidence sufficient to his
mind that there wA4 something wrong some,
where He was going to make an expose
shortly that would asonlsh the people, and
show up some individuals that were now con-
sidcrea faultlcss; his preparations were not
complete yet, but soon would be. Mr.. NJ
expressed great desire to have the plates OF
the Corporation notes obtained, us he thought
there never would be an end to the redemption
of our circulation as long as those plates were
in other peoples possession.
Mr. Hopkins thought that the adoption OF
the resolution was the only way to get the ne
cessary information.
Mr.. NeaIc wanted to know il Mr.. English
had ever Teen authorized to issue and sign cor
poration notes Of the denomination of ones
and two's Mr. HewcS late collector, had IN
formed him on that he a. had collected
sSl of CORPORATION notes OF these denomna-
tons, "bran new" signed by Mr. English,
who had denied the signature aud pronounced
them counterfeit, but afterwards they were
pronounced to be genuine.
Mr.. Smoot did not think Mr.. English had
authority for signing notes OF the denomination
mentioned. His authority was limited to the
signing of fractional notes.
Mr.. Ncale only asked the question ior lntor-
nation, as he knew the facts stated by him,
and was ready to prove them.
Mr.. Martin said that the books either tal'
anced or did not, aud it was for the Finance
Committee to say whether they were correct or
not, ard this report they ought to have made.
IF there were wrong entries no clerk could cor
rect them-all that clerk could do, couId be
done by the committee in Il short time. lie
anain referred to the issue OF Corporation
notes, and said that SOS, 900 Of them had bccn
paid in, in 1866. The present Council had been.
stirmatized outside as set Of block heads, and
ne wanted the stigma removed, and the Coln-
Gil to prove that they would excel their prede-
cessols. and at apy rate clear things up.
Mr. Clifford defended the late Finance Com
mittee, saying that they had lah0red faithfully
and done their whole duty; if there was any
neglect of duty it had been by the late Auditor.
He urged the appointment OF clerk As the
best method to clear up the difficulty, and that
the conversation would be more than eQuacd
by the satisfaction it would give to the Council
and the community.
Mr.. Martin thought that the committee
could report all that 4 clerk could, and It looked
to him rs if the committee wanted some one
to raport that which they did n1t like to, from
sense OF delIcacy.
Dr. Johnson laid the whole blame on the
| Board OF Aldermen, who: be sald, IN their
SUPERIOR WlSQOul, UJu itIti:fN w '"''-'i' '''''
the action OF this Board in appointing com
mit,ce ia examine the books. lie considered
| it mean and cowardly thus 10 attempt To stab 4
man il tn, dark. The resolution, he consider
ed an insinualion against The late Auditor, who
he wanted to have 1 chance to defend himself,
and who, by the appointment OF committee,
would have an opportunity SO to DO lie ha-
| ted inuendoes-il man tells a lie or steals, he
| Or. J. would call him = liYr or thief to his
face -''don't do it by inuendo.
Mr.. Smoot regretted that the Aldermen had
not adopted the resolution for the appointment
of committee He considered 1t due to Mr..
English, who had stated to him that the ac-
count could be made up as soon as the Com
mittec agreed upon form Mr. s. did
not believe anything was wrong, and thought