Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-25
= nv NDPIA GAZETTE AND VTRGI IAIlAD VERTISER.

| n
For official proceedings see another column, =
BOARD OF ALDERMEN. After reading the
minutes and call for reports from committees,
| MIR. L. D. Harmon, Of the lst Ward, from the
| Committee on the Poor, submitted recon-
| menda:ion for the payment Of bill OF Messrs-
Roberts & Son, in doing which, aud by per-
mission, Mr.. II. said
''AIr. President-My attention was called to
a report of the proceedings ln.the meeting OF
| the Board of Council, at their last meeting
published in the Alexandria Gazette, rejecting
| somewhat severely upon my course as one OF
the Committee OF the Poor, to which would
| in iustice to myself, esteem it privilege to
make some reply.
The matter complained Of, was in exercising
authority as Chairman of the Committee, Ia
recommending the payment OF this bill OF a.
Roberts Il Son, for meal and feed furnished
| the POor's House, without consulting the other
members of the committee; and the member
| from the I'd Ward, Mr. Shirley, takes excep'
| tons and is highly offended, at the lndigmty
of passing him by without his advisory coun-
| sell
| Now what are the facts with regard to this
bill. It originated in the Council, and labored
under the impression that it was passed by
| them, thus receiving their sanction. BE that
| rs il may. it makes but little difference 1t
came into our Board, and was objected to be-
cause not properly authenticated, not having the
certificate Of the keeper OF the Poor House
attached 20 it, that it was correct. Ii was not
| n matter then where the opinion OF the com
| mittee was involved and their judgment neccs-
| sary, like some proposed measure involving a
question Of policy, but one merely OF lacts and
| FORM that the articles were needed, charges
reasonable, and had been received, which, L
| suppose, one member can ascertain as well as
| a. dozen. Allow me to say that in all cases
where the Judgment OF the committee was ne
cessary to take into consideration the best course
| to be pursued in improvements or expendl-
| lures, have uniformly sought their coopera-
| ton and advice. and they have been ready at
| ali times to respond to the calls made upon
them, with the exception OF Mr.. Shirley, who
has been notified like tho others, but whose
| place of business, as is we'll known, Is in Wash
ington, and as he is there at all business hours,
the city loses the benefit entirely OF his services
| Valuable as they may be) except his counsels
| in the Board Of Council at the evening sessions
| In signing this bill, wished to avoid unneces-
sary trouble and supposed | was doing the
committee a favor thereby, but the honorable
member, Mr. Shirley, has failed thus to inter
| pret it, and has made the charge, that l have
not only been acting as chairman without au-
thority, but INDUCED in other statements, cal
| cuated to give wrong impression, and wound
my pride of personal character Not, however,
| having very sensitive disposition, it may be-
come me to say that no other effect has been
| produced than feeling Of utter contempt at
| the exhibition Of such petty Jealousy, and
surprise that councilmen should be governed
| by motives so unworthy, and so tar forget the
dignity of their character, and the duties and
obligations Of their position, as to allow the
qualification Of their spleen to obstruct the
proper operation of the public business.
| The Chair here called the gentleman to order,
| and requested him not to indulge In offensive
| language or epithets towards members OF the
other Board
! Mr.. II. continued
"Sir-They do nothing themselves and throw
every obstacle possible In the way OF those who
would, and thus the efforts Of those who have
| the best intentions arc parayzed as long as
they have to carry such dead weights. 1t was
| the same captious Objectionable spirit which so
protracted the repairs upon the Poor's House
work which ought to have been done In a
month, has been delayed to the present time.
And the inmates have had to suffer In consc-
quence.
Alexandria never will be the city she might,
nor take rank with the first cities OF the State,
| to which she is well entitled by her great nat
! ural and commercial advantages, while she Is
governed In her municipal capacity by a Jealous,
soueamish personal, and narrow contracted
policy.
After few. explanatory remarks from Mr..
Bell, as to his course in submitting all PROPOSE
| tons to the committee of which he was mem
Der, thereby avoiding difficulty,
On motion the report was adopted and the
| bill ordered to be paid and sent to the Council
| for their concurrence.
| The communication from the Mayor, asking
an appropriation for the purchase OF wood tor
| the poor this winter, was referred, as was also
| the communication from the Committee OF the
| Corn Exchange, asking the repeal OF sections
A and OF the act relative TO tbs sale OF pork,
poultry, &c, by persons outside of the city
market, duIing market hours.
| Mr.. Bell considered the law like many other
| of our Corporation enactments, antedlluylan,
and thought they ought TO be repealed. tie
| did not think that the construction which had
been put upon the law, lnrcgard to the sale, by
| merchants, OF pork, poultry, Nc, was origin
ally intended, but as it had been so construed,
he was anxious the law should be repealed as
| speedily as possible, or we should not be able
| to buy q turkey, except at the market mousse,
until alter ii o clock ...,s...,5.
An invitation to the City Council, to attend
the examination of the Female Free School,
was accepted by the Board. -- ------
| Mr. Robertson, President, stated thathe un:
| derstoOd that Mr. Brewls, recently appointed
member, to fill vacancy caused by his Mr.
B's.) own resignation, would no longer be a
member Of the Board. as he had declined to
| take the oath required, and, that. therefore,
he would appoint Mr. Bell in his stead, on the
| Committee on General Laws, Mr.. Prettyman
on the Committee ON Light, and Mr.. Dyson on
| the Committee on Schools,
! Mr.. Bell expressed his regret at Mr.. Brewls
| withdrawal, which he said was on account OF
| inability to take the Iron Clad oath--w hich
| Mr.. Bell had supposed was no longer required,
and thought had been done away with; but he
understood that it had accompanied Mr.. Brew
| is S appointment, but which he.had refused to
take. He said Mr. Brewis was largely inter,
! ested in the city, and most useful member OF
| the Board sera a"' .'."". '''i e'f
| t4bao tho ova,tn 1,npv