The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-04

contracts. It selects Independence Square (the
Walnut street irout) as the site for the new
buildings A motion TO strike out Independence
Square aud insert Centre Square caused conside
rable debate, and eyentuated in motion to
postpone the bill for the present. This being
voted down, long debate ensued, IN which the
opponents argued that the city was not in
condition to admit of any more appropriations
being made. This was replied to by those in favor
of the bill, saying that 1t was proposed to i'm
pose a tax of one-teuth of one per cent, which
would yield an annual income OF S3J0,O00, tor
the pGrI ose OF defrayiug the expen es OF
ere citing the new municipal buildings, and that
the necessity OF the city required such buildings
Mr.. Fox stated that the idea of the commission
was to throw up the build ngs back from Walnut
street, with an entrance from both tha'
thOrougbfarC and Chesnut street. The wings of
the State House would be torn down aud
independence Hall be left standing alone, with
avenues on either side, as entrances to the new
structure. The motion to strike out 1ndepen-
denCe Square and insert Centre Square was
defeated, aud the bill passed.
Mr.. Smith presented a resolution instruCJing
the Committee on Fne and Trusts to report an
ordinance providing that no fire company shall
be restored TO service after having been sus-
pended by the Chief Engineer of the Fire De
partnent, unless two.thlrds OF the members OF
each branch of Councils shall so direct.
The Police and Fire Alarm Department bin
cane up, and, the previous question being
called, diatOry motions were made ana the bill
finally passed. The Chamber then adjourned.
common .OUUCu-BTeSlutnL DfdfCef was In the
char. A petition OF citizens OF the Twenty
seCUI ward protesting against the Fourth aud
tighlh Streets Railway Company sailing their
track, was referred. communication from the
City Commissioners asking an extra apprOpria-
zion to pay increased salaries of the officers of
the several courts was referred to Committee
on Finance. H. II. Gratz, in communication,
presented to the city Hne portrait OF General
Grant, painted by j. k. Lambdin, the artist.
The donor asks that the portrait be assigned
place in Independence Hall. The portrait was
accepted, aud resolutions of thanks we're ten
oered to MIR. Gralz. communication fIom the
sGperntendents of the public squares asking for
an increase OF salary was referred TO the Com
mittee on Finance.
The Sixteenth ward School Directors, in a
communication, complained of the improper
manner in which the Lardenberger school
house, on Fourth street, above George, has
been finished, and asking for the appointment
of committee to investigate the matter
Agreed to. MCssTs. Simpson, HetZell, and Fa-
reira were appointed committee.
The resolution which was under consideration
at the adjournment OF the Chamber on WedneS-
day last, to refer the ordinance to make an
appropriation Tor the payment OF the salaries OF
the judges of the District Court aud Court OF
Common Pleas to the City Solicitor, and direct
ing him to prepare case in order 10 obtain a
decision of the supreme Court in banc, as to
the liability of the city to make the apprOpria-
tion directed by the act of Assembly approved
April IL, 1868, was called up and passed.
Aresoution 10 approve the sureties of Thomas
J. BaIgeT, City Solicitor elect, was passed.
Another to approve the surenes of the Super
visOrs of the Fifth and Sixth wards was similarly
disposed of.
Ordinances appropriatine $462,650 to the
Commissioners of Sinking Fund for the year
1869, and to pay the examiners in the contested
election cases of 1867, were passed.
An ordinance making an extra appropriation
Of $1,000 to pay fees OF the District Attorney and
Coroner were passed.
Tue Finance Committee presented minority
and majority report relative to fixing the tax
rate OF the city; the former recommending the
sum TO be fixed at g220 on the 500, and the
latter at $l'S0 per 500.
The Chamber refu. ed to consider the minority
report
The majority report was then taken up, aud
was debated upon until the hour Of adjourn
ment.