Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-12
CORPORATION AFFAIRS

cations from the Mayor, as follows:-Ann0unc-
ing his approval OF several acts which ofIgi-
mated in this Board; transmitting accounts OF
tie apoihecaries Of the First and Fourth Wards
for the quarter ending September 30th, 1859: and
stating that he was unable 70 transmit the usual
weekly statement OF the account OF the Cor
poraIOD with the First National Bank, the
bank being closed for the dly, ali OF wnich was
appropriately disposed of.
DETERMINATIONS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Mr. DAVIS introduced bill To reorganize the
pad Fire Department of the CITY OF Washing
ton. The bill provides that there shall be four
Commissioners OF the Fire Department, IN con-
junction with the Mayor, to receive $3.50 per
annum each; one Chief Engineer at SIS % per
annum; Secretary to the Board OF Fire Com
missioners al II % 0 per annum, WHOSE duty IL
shall also be TO act as clerk to the Thief Eu-
giReer, rve foremen of companies at $500 per
annum each; four engineers at sl,OOO per al
mum each; four firemen. one tillerman and five
pTyaies at $50 each. The Secretary is to
weigh all grain and hay bought tor the depart
meat; the engineers are to set as foremen in he
absence of the latter; there are 20 be no m IRE
snpernumeraries appointed, and the Dill Is to
age effect November LIST, 1869. The salaries of
ire IOICe are increased by this bill Tue bill
vas referred 20 the Committee 90 the Fire De-
partner.
N1sCgLLANEoCs BUSINESS.
MIR EavIs also introduced bill granting per-
mission 70 Judge Edward q. Loring to extend
The Steps in front of his res 'dence feet beyond
the building line; passed. Several Council bills
were referred. The Char laid before the b oard
d y A.
Newton. Trustees Of the Pubic Schools OF the
First District, ex Tessing their appreciation OF
The late movement in the Board Of Aldermen
10 authorize the employ ment of assistan teach
ers IN The male Gram mar schools in the First
and Third districts, and suggesting the employ.
ment OF assistants in tue other Grammar
schools; referred TO Committee on Schools.
ANOTHER QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
AldermGhic EPibsstS m a Iickiric&iaa Sense
Mr.. Moore rose, he said, in conformity with
an example set on Monday last. to question
OF privilege, and submitted a long preamble
and resolutions. The preamble IS mainly a
lecture OF the reporter for TIE STAR, becauss
in last weeks proceedings he interpoIated a
note stating that his account OF the exciting
scene of the preceding MONDAY 1lgnt. in
which the words STAR" s.faise,'; &c. were
alleged TO have been used, was taken from
morning paper, ne not being in the Chamber at
that particular time. MIR. Moore thinks ..this
reporter Is entitled 10 credit for the prompt aud
candid confession that he was not present, and
therefore could not relate from his OWE knowl-
edge what had been said or done. But here
MS defence was complete except probably that
he might without any disparagefnept of HIM
sell have added an apology for his indiscre-
ton in relying upon some other person. WHOM
be does not name,l and an expression of regret
fnat TINS lndiscretion had led to any formal
proceeding on the part of the Board. But,
instead of such a rational CONCLUSION to his
confession OF absence from the Board, he
reflects upon the member who exposed the nm
trutnfuIness OF his report by saying that the
autnor OF the statement on which he founded
ms own misrepresentation was no. .such A
subtle casuist as to clearly discern the nics as.
tnetion between lie and q positive faIsehood.,
his remark IS not only an evasion of the l.sue
but seems 10 indicate a malicious intent with
mat too sensitive professional pride which
2 fiicis some Of the reportorial corps, this mem.
Der OF IL was led to indulge in this Offensive
remark In the same breath in which he had
confessed ignorance OF the proceeding. 1t did
not reGu ire his instruction TO impress any one
with the knowledge that a lie is a falsehood
and faisehood a lie. But every INTELLIGENT
person knows that the immortality of urtruth
depends upon the purpose or wilfulness with
when II Is uttered. a good man may assert,
rs I'm, reporter di5. something that is untrue:
Q ut lie may not therefore be called a liar an
onensive epi'net applicable only to those who |
ana give currency 10 untru,n with a
mahelous CT selfish purpose II this reporter |
nao been present on the 25;h ultImo he |
xSa!1 have known that the words ssno.;tiva
ls!stnood' 1Si reference merely to a .prop.
ming vhi,-.. mad bern sad by member.
The proposition consisted OF c:srtaln words |
offered in support OF personal exculpa'ons |
contained IN az Unauthorized and therefore dis.
,Ids:iy report submitted by single member
II q select committee, and the remark was that
TO adept this proposition would be TO place
1ron The Journal positive falsehood." This
tpOrter, if he had been present, would have
SHOWN al d understood the import Of the re.
n ark, and be certainly knows, or ought to
lnow, that the words Were not INDIGENOUS
ander parliamentary law, which authorizes
he dspunciation OF 3 measure in the eeverest /
erms, prcsideG NJ PERSONAL nnpeacn nent be
made OF the motives of the author. But, how.
.yer UIgraceful the reIractlon OF this reporter,
be may be forgiven, IS his mistake and illogi- /
al inferenees clearly arose from misstatements
Df others, or OF an overweight Imagination. /
The reporter of TIE STAR is compelled 70 |
,iaie in self defence, and ke does so with re- /
uc'anee, having no taste for Personal contro. !
gersies, that IN his note he had no intention to
Isfec; on Alderman Connolly, flor whom he |
has great respect, and who Is perfectly compe- |
lent TO be hrs own champion,) nor any other |
mem Der of the board, and that he was not |
lhep, nor Is ne At any time, actuated by a ma
licious intent IN his reports, but solely by |
desire 10 give correct reports of the proceed |
lngs OF the board. In doing this, he is aware
that the mere truthful report is, the more Of.
fensiye II may sometimes be 70 The parties
reported, but this has never deferred hIm from
doing what be believed to be his duty 1t
only remains that the reporter should state
that The account In THs STAR (about a dozen
lines Of proceedings, which occurred while he
was absent from the chamber) did not emana;e
Alderman from the Fourth Ward, OF any one
Rise Interested, may find the original account,
win the Objectionable words .'iiar'' and
- false" in the report Of the proceedings OF the
board as published liz the National IntsllgeRcer
end ExTTsss "a paper which may De supposed
rot unffiendiy 70 that Aid-rman) OF Friday,
~ ult. The STARS report did not appear
till she afternoon OF the same day.l
The preamble was followed by resoiu;ions-
Il That this history of the disOTdsrly pro-
C-edings which occurred in the Board en- the
p IN Of July lrst, endorsed by Alderman Con-
molly IS liable but uecess aTIly CONDENSED. - and
TefeIrsd 10 In his resolu ions OF last Monday,
enables this Board justly 10 appreciate his Pc
culiar qualifica,ion as a lecturer on legislative
pIopriety. (2.) That, IN view Of this record
this Board Is now enabled 70 solve a doubt i'm
piled in the second of said resolutions, and TO
affirm without reserve thar, In Its opinion. the
20 any member or members OF the
term "tishonesty and damned meanness"I 10 not
strictly compatible with the dignity and deco
Ibm which ordinarily prevail in legislative as.
sembles. 81 That the said phrases or words
may be Justly characterized, not only as s.yio-
lent and acrimonious but as sandecorous epi.
thets and harsh expressions" q conclusion
which this Board has reached and is con.
strained 10 express with great reluctance As
they were really the utterances OF Republi.
can member who Is recognized and sustained
as o prominent leader OF the Republican party.
a. That in modification Of the nrst resolution
of the series Of Monday evening, II may be
proper, though IL - scarcely necessary, to
amrm that in all debates Of q controversial
character two or more persons must necessa-
rily Be engaged, contending for opposite prin.
ciples or measures, and that ssone particular
member" stands almost alone In this Board in
resistance 10 the partisan propositions or
loTity, ne inst necessarily be q spripcipal
party" to every such debate, so far as he NAV
deem 10 proper 10 defend himself and friends
from the partisan measures or imputauons of
political opponents. ISL That in explanation
Of the the fourth resolution this Board affirms
that II does not and cannot disregard the rule
laid down In Jefferson's Manual. embodying
the legislative precedents and experience of
N ION rio - n vua