Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-11
LOCAL ITEM s.

night. For official proceedings see another
column. eena9t
The organization of the board OF Common
Council was delayed some time by the absence
\ of quorum, eight members only being pres
ent. but the messenger being sent for MIR.
Stein. who lives close to the Market House,
that gentleman appeared, and nine constituting
a quorum, business was proceeded with.
i On the call for reports of committees, but
few were presented, ID consequence of which
the President took occasion to inform the
Board that it would be impossible to carey on
the business of the Corporation unless the COM
mittees to whom were referred matters requir-
ing the consideration Of Council would attend
| to their duties
Mr. Moran, from the Committee on General
Laws to whom was referred the communica-
| ton of some of the hucksters, praying that
sweet potatoes and beans be hereafter sold by
weight instead Of measure, reported bill, the
provisions of which had reference only to the
two articles mentioned In the petition. He
stated that great deal of cheating was gong
on in the way potatoes aud beans were sold.
Mr.. Mckenzie wanted to know why other
articles were not included in the bill?
| MIR. Arnold found fault with the general sys-
| tenn of measures as used in this market, and
said that in Richmond city market peck of
apples contained as many as peek and a-hai
here.
| Mr.. Mckenzie thought that 1t was foolish
ness for the Council to be legislatiug upon'the
| subject of string beans; and Mr.. Reed having
moved that the bill be amended so as to read
potatoes and other roots, and Mr.. Arnold hav-
ing moved that the petition and bill be recon-
mitted, he seconded Mr. Arnold motion, stat
ing that the bill did not reflect much credit
upon the committee that reported 1t, and
hoped they would procure copy of the Wash
ington city ordinances upon the same subject
before they made another report.
The committee to whom had been referred
the petition of B. +. Price, asking permission
to erect two frame cottages on the West side
| of Pitt street, between Duke and Wolfe, re-
ported favorably.
The report of the committee to whom had
been referred the petition of A. B. Crupper
and others, praying for the repair OF Pitt
street, at the intersection of Cameron, was
laid on the table
| Mr.. Mckenzie stated that some tine ago
the County Court had passed an order author
ling the making of county survey, and had
appropriated $500 towards paying for the
same. That the $500 so appropriated was to
be taken from the county levy, but that that
| would not be made until next June, aud
| in the mean time the chain carriers and other
laborers employed in the work would need
some money. 1t was very important that the
| county should have good map, and that the
city should be properly laid off on it. When
| the matter was first brought up it was sup
posed that the surveys would be made by some
of the young gentlemen attached to the varl-
Gus schools in the city, but the engineer
in charge of the work thought such assistance
would not be reliable He thereforeSotfered
resolution that $3.50 be appropriated by the
Council towards defraying the expenses OF the
proposed survey.
Mr.. Arnold regretted sincerely to oppose the
resolution offered by the gentleman from the
First Ward. 1t gave him pain to oppose any
thing coming from that gentleman, understand
ing as we'll as ne did his character, and his
desire that affairs be conducted 10 order; but
in this instance the Corporation necessities
would compel him to vote against the resolu-
ton. The city really had not the money to
spare. If the Council adopted the resolution
aud appropriated the $3.50, the city would
next June have to pay the $500 appropriated
by the County Court, for In fact 50 tar as the
raising of money for county expenses was con-
cerned the city was the county The city has
to keep the Poor's House and do nearly
everything else, the expenses Of which are
called for by the county. The county
tax is now enormous The amount col
lected last year for county taxes was as
great as that for State taxes, aud that
amount was principally derived from the prop
erty holders of the city. But by all means If
the county wanted map let them have it
provided they paid for it. The city did not
want map now. 1t could get along very we'll
without one, or if one were necessary, the very
excellent one prepared by the late Mr.. Ewing,
and of which many copies we're in existence,
could be used, and the expense of paying MIR.
Blythe avoided.
Mr.. Mckenzie said that taxes could not be
avoided; that the levies for the last few years
had been large, but the reason was the back
debts that had accrued had to be paid; but
that they had been diminished, and were now
not so very large, and would have been cat
celled if the small tax. payers would settle their
accounts As to the taxes being paid by the
property holders-that was to be expected; 1t
mad been so from the commencement OF the
levying of taxes. and would so continue until
the end. Those who had the money would
boro ~ INV and from those who had none