Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-12-29
LOCAL NEWS.

clark introduced resolution In reference 10
the railroad on Henry street, directing the Su
perintendent OF Police to remove the rails, after
thirty days notice, Tor which Mr.. liawxhurst
proposed u substitute directing the Committee
on Streets ~ report what action Is expeGiient IN
the matter OF the Henry street railroad. which
was rejected anu the original resolution refer
ell to select committee.
Mr. Harmon thought that the corporation
should receive some compensation, but favored
mature consideration and reference.
Mr. Hawxhurst regretted that the Council
should even apparently want TO stop tree trans
it,,though he was of opinion that the track On
Henry street, since its abandonment by tho
government. belonged to the city
Mr. CLARK stated his object in Offering the
resolution TO be to test the whole suffice; ot
right over the track.
Mr. Bell thought that unless the subject was
properly examined the corporation might lind
itself saddlci with a law SUIT.
The action Of the Common Council IN refer
ence 10 a petition tor the extension OF gas pipes
through the vegetable market; an agreement
with Mr. StilSoD, corporation attorney, III the
matter of the collection of overdue tax ills :;
the maniamus issued by the circuit court in
the case Of Miller vs. the City Council, 10
which Judgment has been awarded against the
city Tor 50 goo, Ne was cOncurrcd III, ana At
an early hour the Board adjourned
COMMON COUNCIL. In anticipation rt the
discussion Of the Seller Blouse affair peti
ton for remission OF fines alleged TO have
been imposed upon false testimony and the
proposition To levya tax upon the w ashl1stOn
and Alexandra Railroad tor their use OF the
streets of the city-a large'number OF 'pccta
tors were assembled
Mr.. Mckenzie, from the Finance Commit
hat vta, n no oh
of the euG OF the fiscal year. 40 acton be taken
upon the communication OF the Alexandra
Publishing Company. with reference 10 the
printing Of the proceedings 1T the City tounclI;
aud the report was ad0ptrd ncm con.
Mr. Turner. from the Committee on Gene
raj Laws, to whom had been referred the rasn
luton of Mr. Harmon ordering the assessment
OF tax al one cent upoa each passenger
transported hy the Washington, Alexandra
and Georgetown Railroad. presented the fol
lowing sections Of bill passed BY the City
Council February lSGG.
''SEc > b. Il further endcts< That the
consent aforesaid is given upon the express
terms aud conditions that such OF SAID con
NAMES as shall avail themselves thereof, shall,
at all times, keep the streets 81 occupied by
them respectively, Ia good repair aud c0ndi-
tion between the rails, aud to the distance OF
two feet theretrom, ON the outside of the track;
10 law and construct their track 50 a. not to
obstruct the drainage Of the streets used as
aforesaid, or Tree and convenient travel there
upon, and to keep 1agmen posted at the crossing
of King aud Prince streets,O on Henry street, and
at the intersection OF Klog and Union streets,
snd at such other points ~ the City Council
shall from time To time hereafter direct Ia
furnish such tllemen, >wlth suitable signals,
and to see that they perform their duty eth
GENTLY and 10 the satisfaction Of the Mayor
and failure to comply with requirements
shall subject the company offending to
fine Of 800 for each and every offence that
the City Council shall have the right and
mower 10 authorize connections ut other rail
ways with the tracks which shall be laid as
aforesaid, and shall have the night aud power
to REQUIRE any of said tracks to be - lald,
graded and bridged, and prescribe such pat
tern Of rail as to them may seem best Tor the
safety and convenience OF persons using said
streets. aud adapted to the present or future
grades thereof
SEQ. B Be Il further enacted, That this
act shall not be construed so az 10 impair any
right or power OF the City Council relating to
the health and good order OF the city and the
police thereof.
Mr. Turner said that the lst section OF the
hill of which the Pad aud 3rd had been read,
gave authority to the Alexandria, Loudnun
and Hampshire and the Orange and Aexan
dria Railroads to connect their tracks with
Union street, and 10 the Washington, Alex
andria aud Georgetown Railroad To pass
through Henry street aud to use 81 AsAph
street So far south as King. The committee,
be said, thought 1t best to make no recon
mendation at present, but they wOuld like to
hear the views OF the other m1mO1rs ot tho
board upon the question:.
Hartman entertained great lrSpfct Tor
the ability of the Committee on General Laws
but LIE must say that in his opinion the paper
they had presented was no report at ALL The
order referred to them proposed to levy tax
mon the Washington. Alexandria and George
town Railroad The sections of the law just
read neither gave nor took away the power 10
impose that tax. Ii was difficult To tell what
should be done with the paper, but the best
thing, he supposed. would DO to reler 1T back
to the committee.
The president suggested THAT 1t ne referred
10 the attorney for the corporation
Mr. Mckenzie moved that 1t be- referred
back 10 the committee. with instructions to
submit IL to the corporation attorney, ana L"
report back that officer 3 opinion.
MIR. Massey said that speaking technically,
he supposed the paper was really not report,
but it answered the purpose OF report very
well, because 1t stated that the 'tty tonncll
had granted the rallrOal the right 10 uSe The
streets, aud having granted that right upon
conditions, it was dobarred from imposing any
further restrictions than were contained IN
those conditions. He was opposed, too, Il"
taxing passengers. Suppose the tax were III,
nosed Who would pay it2 Not the ,M'r'aa.
Instead OF passengers paying twenty i've i've cents &c
ga ,bov do now. they would be compelled tn
nav twenty-six cents, and Mr. Harmon pro
position was, in effect, not TO tax the railroad
but himself. He was utterly opposed to tue re
measure too, upon genera: pIGsr,G,. A inr
;mnosing tax upon the Baltimore aud ONO
Railroad, and yet the same thing was proposed
to be done here Ii the grievances compliance
of aid exit the council had the remedy IN
their own hands. They merely hal 10 ASK mas
the railroad complied with the reGNlremGntii
eoptaioqd 10 the bill by which it was allowed
the use of the road IL 50, the question |,
settled at once. Ii not, then 1t rs the duty Of
rho SUPERINTENDENT OF Police 10 see that thoS'
rsouirements are complied with, and to eSae
the nenalty for not complying with them