The national Republican., 1869-02-23
COUNCIL PRooEEDIsGs.
MONDAY, Feb. 20, 1862.
hoard Of Aldermen.

MS approval OF the following acts! To cause
alleys In square No. 500 TO be graded and
to the Taper Of water mains; TO lay water
main In L street south and New Jcrsey ave-
nue., to lay a water main In d street south
from Sixth 10 Seventh street west; 10 tx the
OF the secretaries Of the City
Councils, for the relief Of J. J. Calvert.
Also, the Mayor returned the following |
Joint resolutions OF request to the Mayor |
to provide for the redemption OF portion Of |
the corporation bonds; requesting Congress
to abolish all existing laws that create any |
distinction on account Of race or color; Of |
request TO the Mayor to pay the claim Of |
William T. Grimes, late assistant harbor |
master; all OF which the Mayor says should |
be concurrent resolutions.
Mr.. Fenwick offered the following, and |
then moved TO adjourn In honor Of the oc-
casioni
Resolved, That the Board of Aldermen of
the city Of Washington do now adjourn In
birth Of General George Washington, the
man Of whom II has truthfully been said,
was first In war, FIRST In peace, and first In
the hearts Of his countrymen; and Of whom,
also, at the time Of his decease, the Senate
Of the Congress Of 1799, In Its letter Of con-
dolence to President Adams, said, "This
event, so distressing to all our fellow citi-
zens, must bo particularly heavy to you
who have long been associated with him In
deeds Of patriotism. Permit us, sir, to
mingle our tears with yours. On this occa-
sion II Is manly to weep. To lose such
man at such time, Is no common calamity
to the world. Our country mourns Fa-
ther. The Almighty disposer OF human
events has taken from us our greatest bene-
factor aud ornament. 1t becomes us to
submit with reverence to Him who maketh
darkness his pavilion.
"With patriotic pride we review the life Of
our Washington, and compare him with those
OF other countries who have been pre-emlnent
| In fame. Ancient and modern names are
diminished before him. Greatness and guilt
have been too often allied. But his fame Is
brighter than II Is brilliant. The destroyer
Of nations stood abashcd at the majesty Of
his virtues. II reproyed the lntempcranee OF
their ambition, Such was the man whom
VIC deplore. Thanks to God his glory Is con-
summated. Washington yet lives on earth;
In his spotless example his spirit is n heaven.
Let his countrymcn consecratc the memory
| of the heroic general, the patriotic states
man and the nations sage. Let them teach
their children never to forget that the fruits
Of his labors and example are their Inherit
ance. And Of whom we say the half Of his
virtues and greatness have never been told
and can only be calculated when this, our
glorious country, has reached the zenith Of
her greatness and glory"
The Board then adjourned.
board Of Common Council.
The Board met at the usual hour, oil the
members present except Mr.. Fowler.
Mr.. l.. d. 3. Miller introduced the fol-
lowing resolution, which was agreed to;
Resolved, (the Board Of Alderman concur
ring,) That when the two Boards adjourn
this evening, II be to meet on Wednesday
evening next at ~ o'clock.
The president pro TEN. laid before the
Board message from the Mayor, returning
without his approval the bill legalizing the
Smith and Barlow concrete pavement. lie
states that "Under existing laws propo-
sails were invited for constructing sidewalks
Of the materials heretofore used, and awards
have been made to parties for constructing
them for the ensuing year. Inasmuch as
the bill gives the citizens the right to direct
that sidewalks In front Of their property
shall be laid Of concrete, instead Of brick or
stone, as now required by the awards, II
would amount to- an abrogation of the con.
, tract entered into by the corporation, and
lead to intcrminable litigation and costs.
Had the bill provided that 1t should take ef-
feet from and amer the expiration Of existing
contracts or engagements on the part OF the
corporation, the only obstacle to IT'S passage,
In my opinion, would have been removed. "
, Also, one returning without his approval,
bill appropriating 81 500 for the burial oi
the deceased and outdoor poor, stating that in
referring 10 his communication Of December
! 2s, II will be seen that the above bill Is In.
correct-the appropriation therein asked ,foI
being required to cover q deficiency theT
! existing, when this bill simply provides fol
balancing the Registers books.
Also, message announcing his approval o.
certain acts.
Also, message from the Mayor returning
tl,sx.,s hi l. -.
act In relation TO the harbor-master of the
city Of Washington, as follows
MALon's oyyIer. CTR Hall.
To As AbsSJ"s bssIs y Common ~ o. tSsssiy say H. iSS
GENTLEMEN: i return without my ap.
proval the bill that originated In the Board
Of Common Council, ITO change IN act In
, relation to the harbor-master Of the city Of
, Washington"
The bill appropriates q, 200 for harbor.
master and $500 for assistant harbor Of the
r city, and makes 1t the duty OF the Mayor "a
pay these officers out Of the general fund In.
, stead OF the harbor fund, as at present, the
latter fund being insufficient.
The laws creating these Offices were based
! evidently on the idea that thore would bt
adequate duties for them to perform, and O
sufficient amount Of fees be collected by then
r to pay their salaries; hence they required
| them to be paid from the fund which the,
were to collect. 1t is also evident that thii
requirement was made to act as an induce
, ment and stlmulant to them to be watchfu
and collect all legal fees, so as to keep
j sufficient sum in the city treasury to pa!
their monthly allowances.
There Is now very little for either of thes,
= officers to do, and the amount collected b.
: them Is next to nothing. The assistant har
r bor-master in October last reported to m,
4 that he had nothing to do-lndecd, that til
| nfiin n ,al,, AZ q
4 November i SO stated In communication Il
!, the Board Of Aldermen, and recommended
s the abolition Of the office. ! also stated tha
s | had ordered payment OF his salary to b.
= suspended till action Of the Councils wa
/ taken on the subject.
. The bill before me provides not only 70
: payment to him, but continues the office a,
c hbtum, whether there are any duties con
\ nected with 1t or not.
cannot yield my assent TO any bill tha
!; creates or continues offices wholly unneces
sary, and which absorb the revenues Of tn
: corporation, merely to provide comfortable
situations for such as are unwilling to work
: nor can | approve Of that clause In the bill
A which provides that payment Of the salarle
: shall be made from the general fund Of tn
= corporation instead Of the harbor fund.
: Very respectfully, your obedient servant
, s. j. Bowen, Mayor.
l. Mr. iillc lnONcu 70 IclcT tue Dlll 10 III
Committee on Ways and Means, and spok
: in severe terms OF the statement of tn
c Mayor that the Boards were making office
t for men who were too lazy to work, &c.
: The motion to refer was agreed to.
c The Board proceeded TO consider the bill
e legallzIng tho Smith Il Burlew pavement
4 and after a lengthy debate the bill wa
e passed, notwithstanding the objections O
Q the Mayor-yeas l2, nays 8, us follows:
t Yeas-Messrs. Ball, Bates, Brown, Bari
e lett, Hine, Juenemann, @. W. Miller, l..
G s. Miller, Nalley, sardo, Stewart and Tor
7 rey-12.
Nays-Messrs. Chase, Dalton, Davis, Rus
sell and Taylor-5.
{ Also, transmitting the estimates Of the In
. spector Of Sewers for grading and gravellnI
I Second street east, from ID street north l.
) North Boundary street; same street, betweel
Q d and ] streets north Twenty-fifth stree
] west, from Pennsylvania avenue to Rocl
( creek; N street north, from Twenty -fourtl
s street west to Rock creek; also, for exten
9 sion of culvert on Second street east, at th
t intersection Of + street north.
I Mr.. Taylor introduced bill to set tn