Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-09
LOCAL NEWS.
Corporation Affairs.

D'a MI tr ALDERMEN. cta, iSuf.-2 ne
Board met pursuant to law. In the absence Of
he President (Mr. ]. Russell Barr, on the jury
tor tue trial of John H. Surratt) the Vice Presi-
Genf, Mr. Turton, took the chair.
The Chair laid before the Board several COM
N nicati ons from The Mayor making The fol-
Robert F. Mcgee Assistant Harbor Master,
VIM. f. Grimes; Sealer OF Weights and
Measures Robert Boyd; Ward Apothecaries:
Eir.t Ward; David Rideely; Second Ward,
Fourth Ward. w. q. MIlburn; Fifth Ward,
Edward b. Bury; Sixth Ward. John Z. Bates
Seventh Ward, Edwin V. b. Boswell. Com
missioners of Improvements-FtrstW Ward, Jno
W Dyer; Second Ward, Jacob Vondelehr;
hIrd Ward, John I Garner: Fourth Ward,
Jas: Campbell; Fifth Ward, Elias E. Barnes;
Jas H. Birch. Commissioners Of Markets
Center Market, VIM H Brawner, p. q. Riley,
and VIM r Wall; Northern Market Theo- j.
SheckeIs, Geo. W. Robinson, and Jno. G. Mat-
Jock; Eastern Market, L. f. Tuell, and Jas
Marceron; W estern Marker, b. H. Clements
and Samuel Duvall; Clerks of Markets-Cen-
Pnmphrey; Northern Market, James Brown;
Eastesn Market, Alex. W. Eaton; Western
Market, A. NJ Caldwell; all OF which were ap-
proprs1ely referred.
Also, a comm suication from the Mayor
transmitting Communications from Cornelius
NoonEn, chief of sanitary police, and w ilIiam
Forsyth, superintendent OF sc wers, &c, In re-
latiou 10 a nuisance ia houses numbered 43t.
436 and i3s, on Massachusetts avenue, be-
tween 9th and 7th streets west ana the best
mode Of abating the same. The nuisance is
the flooding OF the cellars OF the buildings in
question, and Mr.. Forsyth recommends the
laying OF a Pinch sewer or pipe to connect
with the sewer in 9th street west, SO as to
drain the cellars, and estimates the cost at
$500: referred to the committee on drainage
Also. a communication from the Mayor trans
mtting communications from the superintend.
Second Ward in relation to the water course
which passes through SQUARES numbered 2S7,
2sS, 3l9, 3i5, 315 276, }77 and 37S. Mr.. Forsyth.
superiDten dent OF sewers, recommends the
old course to be walled up and covered by an
arch, similar to the one constructed in squere
No 375. Mr.. j. Vondelehr. commissioner Of
the Second Ward. reports that he has exam.
1ped the drops on the northeast, north west,
and southeast corners of H street north aud
18th street west: also two on the northeast and
southeast corners Of 18th street west and G
street north. from which there is a stencil. aud
recommends new stencil traps on each OF the
corners named, and the old drop on H street
setween 18th and 18th streets, TO be walled
over. The estimated cost of the whole i'm
Provement Is 81 100: referred TO the committee
OD drainage.
Mr.. Grinder presented the remonstrance ce OF
Leonidas Scott against the confirmation of
Eiiss f. Barnes as commissioner OF improve
ments for The Fifth Ward; referred 10 the com.
mittee on improvements. Mr.. Larman pre-
sented the petition of owners OF property on L
street north, between 23d and oath streets,
praying abatement OF q nuisance: referred to
the committee on Improvements. Mr.. Given
presented the petition OF Germon Crandall
praying the privilege of placing an iron ra l.
ing IN front of his premises, S feet from the
building line: also. reported bill granting the
privilege asked for 10 the petitioner: referred
To the committee on improvements. Mr.. Nc
Cathran presented the petition OF Philip Biglor
and others pray ing for the grading and paving
of L street south, between 11th and 18th streets
east: referred TO the committee on improve
ments. Mr.. Moore presented the petition of
A T.. l.. Reese praying rsfundihg of money
enormously paa for a license: referred to the
committee on claims. Also, introduced the
following resolution:
Whereas it is currently reported that ten or
eleven members of the Sixty fifth (the presently
Council are not qualified by reason OF their not
being freeholders. as is required by the char
Ter RsSotrsd, That the Mayor be, and he is
hereby requested TO com m uncate TO this Board
a complete list of the mem bers of the Council,
indicating therein The status of each member
AS TAX payer as shown by the books of the
Corporation
Mr.. Moore stated tha, if the boards contained
for the reasons stated, he was OF opinion that
the payment Of the taxes levied could not be
enforced. So plain provision of the charter
eould not be violated.
Mr.. EIyans gave il as his opinion that, ac-
cofoing 10 the charter, II mem Der owned real
estate the day of election, and was assessed
or shoulo have been assessed for personal
taxes on the 31st day of Dece mber next pre-
CsGingEthe day Of election, snch mem Der is le.
gaiIy qualified. Each Beard was the Judge of
the qualifications Of It's own members, and he
wonls like to know if this Board would stul-
ufy itself ny leaving the Executive of the city
10 determine the qualifications Of its members
Mr.. Moore said the resolution was merely
calling on the Mayor for information. If the
facts Were stated, he would move to refer
the question to the Corporation Attorney.
whether taxes levied by the two Boards so
constituted can be collected from tax payers.
MIR Elvans wanted 10 know if the gentleman
was not satisfied to leave the question al issue
with the committee OF elections, in this Board.
IN whose hands 1t properly belongs.
Mr.. NJ oore had entire confidence in the in
teerify OF TIE committee on elections in this
Board he stated, but the committee had no
control over the other board, and could m EN-.
bers not legally entitled 10 seats Judge as to
th'ir own guallf cations. He wanted to know
IL The clause of the charter giving mem bers
the right 10 Judge their own qualifications
overrules thai other clause which provides
that members shall be free holders and tax
payers. He noticed tn g fact of the 10 wer board
having laid similar resolution on the table.
Mr.. Noyes said that the commi;tee on eiec-
lions OF the Board OF Aldermen was aow en-.
eaged on precisely tins work of Ascertain.
ing the qualifications OF the members elect land
doubtless the committee OF the lower board
was also so employed. The committees on
elections OF the TWO Boards were appointed
10 attend to this duty and he thought 10 would
he premature 10 pass this resolution until it
was ascertained that the committees would
not do their duty.
Mr.. Richards took the same vie " aud though
the lower board could safely take charge OF
the qualtfi cations of its own members and we
bad no Iight TO interfere with that board In
Mr.. TAFT said hsicould see no reason for op.
posing the resolution, 1t being one OF inquiry
simply.
NJ n. Noyes said The resolution was nter'er.
ing with the work Of the committee of elections
III the two boards. II they failed to perform
their duty II would be time enough to Act. He
ID q hit then vote for such q resolution.
The vote was then taken on the resolution,
and IL failed TO pass, by the following vote -
Yeas. Messrs. Given, Moore, TAFT and Tur-
Ion-i; nays, Messrs. Elvans, Grinder. Lar
man McCathran. Noyes. Richards and Wheel.
err.
Mr.. Noyes presented the petition of Thomas
a Crouch and others, accompanied by a bill
10 repair road way In the Seventh Ward
referred TO Improvements committee. Also.
printing LOCO copies OF the Mayors aunusl
message. Mr. Moore opposed the resoIutisn
on the ground of expense, and said il had been
protsd in all the newspapers. Mr.. Moves
said 1t bad been printed in condensed form in
most of the papers, And as the message was
AN important document, making q yery full
. hitlt of the growth, financial condition re.
sources, and needs Of the city. be thought il
would be desirable 10 have some copies print.
ed and it was yet in type at ths off1ce OF the
corporation printer, the cost OF striking off these
copies would be trfiing. Mr.. Moore alleged
I al some Of the financial statements in the mes.
sage were incorrect. After some further ae-
bate he resolution was referred to the finance
committee.
Mr.. Given reported a bill making appropri.
ations TO deiray the general and contingent ex.
penses of the Corporation of Washington tor
the fiscal year ending June 30 1859; ordered to
be printed Eith the proceedings. Mr.. Given,
H~av Tao