The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-07

which members, when so designated, shall u
be author, zed, In conjunction with similar
Of the Metropolitan Police Board 4
already appointed, to visit New York, New
Haven, Providence, and Boston, for the pur-
pose OF examining the workings OF the houses 7
Of correction In those cities, In order 10 enable
said Joint committee TO report as Instr acted"
was the subject Of long debate, during
which the members expressed their opinions I
freely-the oppe lents characterlzing II as q
Frustrating committee" and said the poor ,
corporation was putting on "too many airs"
in sending Its officers on rowing excursion.
The whole subject was 6rully indefinitely
postponed.
Special order Of the evening shP ugipg
the boundaries Of wood aud coal district -
was taken up, and Mr.. Davis offered resolu-
tion, as q substitute, that as the wharfa the
foot Of Seventeenth street extends sixteen
feet east Of the building line on the cast side
Of said street, the wood measurer for the
first canal district be, and he Is hereby, de- |
clared the proper person to measure the |
wood landed on the east side OF said wharf. |
After n long debate the substitute was
adopted, and the bill was passed.
Mr.. Connolly moved that when this Board |
adjourn 1t be until tomorrow evening at
1880 o'clock. Agreed to.
The next special order-the establishment |
| OF o high and normal school-was taken |
up, and Mr.. Clarke addressed the Board on |
the subject. The whole subject was, on
motion of Mr.. Croker, indefinitely post
7 oned.
The Chair (Mr. Baker, announced as the
special committee to investigate the charges
made against Mayor Bowen by Mr.. John
II. Crane, late commissioner OF the Fourth
ward, Messrs. Connolly, Chase, and Emory.
Mr.. Moore (who made the motion for the
appointment Of the committee) said he felt
under obligations to the Chair for not putting
him on the committee, although 1t was par
liamentary usage always to put the mover
on the committee, and as chairman Of the
same. He did not make this statement from
any desire on his part TO serve on the COM
mi.tce, but since the Mayor has said In his
communication that he docs not want any
; withdrawing " committee, the action of
, the Chair looked at least suspicious. lie
objected to his making the appointments an.
nounced, when the president of thc Board
Mr.. Crockerl was present. The rules Of
the Board required that he should have made
the announcement.
Mr.. Stewart said he was entirely ignorant
OF the matter. He knew nothing Of the
Mayors completely, or anything else bear
ing upon the subject. Yet, while he could
not say a word against Mayor Bowen, he
|, did not approve the selection Of members Of
the committee entirely from the ranks Of the
dominant party. 1t would only be Just that
, the minority should be represented. As a
: Republican, he shrank from no responsible
ity, and hoped the other side would have q
chance to Join in the investigation.
The Chair said that there were other Re
n publicans equally conscientious, and the
Is committee would unqucstionably fulfill the
e duty assigned them.
d Mr.. Moore considered the appointment. al
e made by the chair an outside scheme ia
smother investigation. He did not wish Ia
=, have the charges sustained, but inasmuch as
e they have been made and the prayer invites
u the closest examination OF his official con.
!, duct, he wanted the matter sifted for tho
q honor of the corporation. II vas no triaing
l. matter for the chief officer of the city e
4 Washington to be charged with collision
u with contractors. Heretofore the city hat
% borne good name, as good rs any NUM-
cipality In the country, I'd he wanted tina
el name preserved. Butwould the people hav,
n any confidence In committee composed a
c, the Chair had announced. II was an out
rage on parliamentary proceedings, and h
It. again objected to the appointment of tn
ms committee.
ii. Mr.. Emery declined to serve on the com
ny mittce, for the charge would certainly b
Of made that the report was one-sided and
OF would stand better hereafter to have n Dem
&c. ocrat on the committee.
Mr.. Moore. You certainly do not refer :
nd me. / never was q DemOcrat-always a
be old line Wing.
TO-, Mr.. Emery asked that he be excused 70
TO the reasons already given.
st Mr.. Chase thought the imputation mad
Il. by the Alderman from the Fourth war
came In bad taste; for he certainly knew
or from his experience on previous committees
i'd that he would not fail TO do his duty. ii
ct had sci sed on q joint committee appointe
s% nj ala and Il, laPSr Ss
ia aPEgsint thbT co,TT&hlEsccx was no 'whi'e wa'i
tsi Mr.. Croker defended the action of III
~, Chair, and stated that he was not prcset
Ter when the original motion was made, an
ON therefore knew nothing of the committee /
tn, be appoint ID.
ret Mr.. Moore said that since the Alderma
eel from the Second ward (Mr. Chase) ha
sst made the Issue, he would remind him thi
ew he held several Offices which CO tain
ON brought him into intimate contact With Il
' &c, Mayor. OF course, he did not say this won
vi influence HIM but would the people be sati
ith fled
set Mr.. Chase denied that he was under al
70 personal obligations TO the Mayor, at
held bis positions independent Of the fricu
ship or sanction Of the Mayor.
at Mr.. Champion, Of the Sixth ward. said |
OF was not satisfied with the composition of Il
INT committee. lie had read the charges, an
lue now he wanted to know the truth. For thi
,h- reason he wanted the members OF the con
uG mittee to represent both sides of the Boar,
oil and therefore hoped the gentleman from Il
ler Fourth ward Mr. Emery would be excuse
IN, from serving, and one appointed accordir
'oi to the wishes of the Board.
et, The Chair said that he knew Of no rcast
~ for making a change; i was importa
aD- THAT ~" r-s.th "uru should he reprcsente
yer since the charges came from the commit
70. sioner Of that ward. The gentlemen We
ide well known, and he did not believe that M
M one would question their honesty of nurLn
It, In the report they would make.
lhe Mr.. Emery repeated his reasons, and sa
ers 1t was 70; the Board to say whether
DC should be excused or not.
'ro, The Board agreed to excuse Mr.. Emer
oil and the Chair appointed Mr.. Morsell, wi
ec- declined Mr.. Champion was then a
er- pointed, and the committee stood Messr
en-. Connolly, Chase and Champion.
IN Mr.. Moore asked the Chair II he had II
lot repeatedly said II was very important tn
, the Fourth ward should be represented c
ct the commltteol
It's The Chair. / did say it.
OF Mr.. Moore. Say 1t again and again, TIL
CIV We may be sure you saidl it. like to expo,
lth such tricksters.
Nh Mr.. Stewart offered the following:
-, Whereas the sad intelligence Of the decen
~ this evening Of the Hon, John A. Rawlln
The Secretary of War, has Just been receive
be therefore
alb. Re.OUsd aaaimou,iy, That in hts suddc
death our country has sustained au irreplr
BILE lo.I. He was one OF Its brayest deIe de
nat 10 time OF war aud one OF Its wlsest cOunst
&C., Tors n time Of peace, and has cheerfully la
the his life willing offering upon Its altar.
,et RtSolpcd, That we sympAthize deeply wi
~ the family Of the deceased, and that til
VI board htenl the Iunerhi In body,
Resoiped, That as testimony Of respect
n his memory this Board do now adjourn.
on The Board then adjourned.
ute BOARD Of Common Council.
The Board met at the usual hour. A
he the members present except Mr.. Thompso
he The President laid before the Board Il
'e- following message from the Mayor; whlC
re- was referred to the special committee on Il
subject
- MAYOR's oPFIoR. CITY HALL /
WAsHls"TOS, d. c., 3 pit. g. Il .. I
.o, TythF BpdFd " Common t0uHCR'
mt tEETLEMEs On my return to the city
Il find that charges have been preferred aga n
ing me to the Councils on account OF Advanc
Gle made to a contractor for work done In grAdiI
and grAveling certain streets, AN grAtih
that committee has been authorized to
ina appointed by your Board to examine CHI srgt
md and beg leave to express the hope that Il
and fair investigation may be had, and tn
tho with the least possible delay and beg lea
~, to state that in my opinion, Instead OF SUIT
ut ing loss by reason OF my action In regard
-.