Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-13

were bought for $54 Is, and ], 0l9 lbs OF pork
for Sll6.42. The fencing at the Poor House
is represented as in a very bad condition, but
the REQUIRED amount of new fencing-l 092 feet
could be erected during the winter by the in
mates, if the material were supplied.
A bill of j ohm Stephenson, late Supellnten-
dent Of the Peer sHouse, for $50, was referred
to the Committee on ClAimS.
A petitioa of Chares ?. Shaw, with refer
ence to the repair Of the gutter ID front OF the
premises of John West, on the corner OF King
and Fairfax streets, was, on motion OF Mr..
Mckenzie, referred to the Committee on
Streets, with power TO grant the request 80
An order from the Board Of Aldermen, au-
thoriziDg the erection Of derrick at the upper
end of Fishtown, was, after Mr.. Massey had
asked the reasons for it, and after Mr.. Harmon
had stated that it now costs the corporation
about SIS year TO unload its coal for the gas
works, and that the proposed derrick could be
erected for $50, concurred in.
The action of the Board of Aldermen in re
ferrng bill of Stoutenburgh & Cote $285,77,
for articles furnished the Aims House, from
April lst 1852 to September lSt, 1869, now
in the hands of Corse Brothers, was concurred
in, Mr.. Mckenzie saying that the bill had been
overlooked uotil the present time, but that it
would be fully Investigated by Mr. Bell, who
is sharp man in such matters"
A petition of W. f. Henderson, for refund
ing taxes paid on piano which he did not
own, was granted.
The action of the Board of Aldermen in or
dering the payment Of the bill of Edgar
Snowden for printing was concurred In.
MIR. Mckenzie was exceedingly anxious that
the report OF the Finance Committee, with
reference to the funding of the overdue inter
est on the stock Of the Corporation, should be
taken up, and some definite action decided
upon by which the Finance Committee could
be relieved from the heavy responsibility now
resting upon it. By the provisions of the
present law upon the subject, the back interest
could be funded for from five to twenty years
General Howe, commandant at Fort Washing
ton, owns large amount of the Corporation
stock, and was willing to fund what was due
him as interest in money: he had loaned the
Corporation long time agO-some $4,000 or
So, 500-tor five years, but not for twenty. Some
thing ought to be done at once, for suits were
already pending against the Corporation. LII
the City Council authorized the funding OF the
interest for five years, he hoped that by the
expiration Of that time the affairs OF the Dis
trict, State, county aud city, under the benign
influences of peace and the material advantages
of the immigration now setting this way, he
had come down from Washington that even
ing with four gentlemen from New jersey
who were looking out for farms in Vir-
gnia, would be in such prosperous condition
that not only the interest, but a portion OF the
principal OF the debt of the Corporation would
be paid.
Mr.. Massey was member OF the Finance
Committee but had not been present when the
report had been proposed. He had heard no
reasons why the funding Of the back interest
should be limited to five years, but if the re-
port was recommitted. and those reasons seem
ed to him to be sufficient, he should not OPP
pose the adoption OF the report.
Mr.. Shirley submitted an order authorizing
the Auditor to issue his warrant for 500 in
favor Of the Mayor, with which to purchase
fuel for the poor OF the city, and said he did
so at the request Of the Mayor.
Mr. Massey said that he supposed no mem
Der of the Board would refuse to vote for a
proposition to relieve suffering humanity but
that the way for such proposition to be in
troduced to the consideration Of the Board,
was either by a communication directly from
the Mayor-if cases requiring assistance came
under his notiee-or by q report from the
Committee on the Poor. Certainly not in the
manner adopted by the gentleman from the
Second Ward-Dlr. Shirley. l.
Mr. Mckenzie, however, stating that the
Mayor had spoken to him on the subject, and
that the money was really wanted, the order
was passed.
Mr. Massey read from the rules Of order Of
the City Council to show that it did not re-
quire suspension Of the 26th rule to pass an
order or resolution authorizing the appropria
ton of money and called up the petition OF
0. G. Whittlesey Tor the payment OF money
due him for tho collection of taxes while he
was tax. collector, and asked that Mr.. Whittle
sey be allowed to explain why it was that he
agreed to receive his per centagc on the amount
OF his collections in tho deprecated money OF
the Corporation.
Mr.. Mckenzie SAID it was now late, there
were but tee members OF the Board present.
and though not opposed to granting the petit
ton, he suggested to the gentleman from the
Third Ward (Mr. Massey if it would not be
better to wait until the next meeting of the
Board before the petition was considered.
Mr. Massey pressed the consideration of the
petition, and vote being taken, it was decided
that the petition be read
MIR. Massey then said that so far as he was
concerned he meant to vote on the subject ac
cording to his own impressions of right and 1
wrong, and that his vote and his voice should
never be used to sustain the action of men
who had availed themselves Of pressing neces-
sites to apply what he understood to be thumb
screws to one officer Of the Corporation but
not to others. The Mayor, the Auditor and
the Attorney had been paid their salaries in
good money, and why should not the tax-col
lector be paid likewise He had heard as yet
but one side of the question, but at the first
blush he thought Mr.. Whittesey was entitled
to what he asked for. He then moved to lay
the petition on the table The motion was
adopted and the Board adjourned.
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