Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-05-06
LOCAL NEWS.

MIR. Bell! stated that the object Of the caIIe'
meeting was to take action upon the following
communication
ALEXANDRIA, VA, May u, 1870.
To tie Board Of -Aldermem and Common
Council of the City Of Alerand'Ta.
GENTLEMEN: The Legislature having APP
pointed the "a Monday in each month for the
commencement OF The terms of the Corporation
Court of this city. deem it my duty to cal
your attention to the first section of chapter
(50l fifty, of the code of Virginia, which di
reefs the Council of each town wherein there
is Corporation Court to provide for the sane
Il court house, clerk 5 Office and Jail, and to re
quest such action under this section as will en-
able me to hold term Oh said court on the
second Monday in this month.
la this connection | beg leave to refer you
10 the 9TH section of the act of Congress of Jul5
9th, 1916, retroceding the county of Alexan
ura to the State Of Virgins, Us bearing ua-
tellaly on this subject That section reads as
follows
SEC. 5. And be it further enacted that in
such case, the right of property in the hall
square in Alexandria, on which stands the
Court House, bounded by Columbus, Queen
and Princess streets, and the half square on
which stands the JAIL bounded by priecess st.
ASaph and Pitt streets. shall be conveyed to
the Governor Of Virginia. and his successors,
Tor the Use OF the county aud corporation OF
AleXln1ra, forever, AMI The Solicitor OF the
Treasury OF the United States, is hereby all
thnriZed, and required, in ill.,, name, and on
the proper and necessary conveyance:; for that
purUos..
Hoping that this subject may receive saur
immediate attention.
l am yours respectfully,
f. NJ, LOWE.
Judge Of the Corporation Court OF ths City
OF Alexandria,
Mr. Bell offered a resolution respecting the
same, which was adopted
y communication was read from the Mayor,
suggesting the propriety Of resolutions of con-
doIcncs with the sufferers by the late disaster
1T Richmond, aud i committee OF conference
consisting of Messrs Hawxhurst and Garwood
Vas aprn"ted t. confer with similar com.
mittce from the lower board, 10 agree upon and
rcpcrt Solua appropriate action. The commit
tee retired, leaving tho 10 ,rd for q time with
out t. quorum.
The clerk read the toil1wiog report from the
committee, which Was adopted without debate
Your committee, charged with the duty OF
ioquiring whether there are any Incompatible.
lies in the charter OF Alexandria city aud the
Constitution Of the State, and it so to report
hem, have had the subject under careful con.
sheraton, aud as the result beg leave, respect
fully, to report as follows:
lst. 10 paragraph , OF the charter VIZ find
the word white" qualifying the subject OF
suffrage contrary Reconstruction, Art. I'd. Sec 1T
page : :; also in tho same paragraph of the
charter We find the term Of lone year $" lesi-
lence in the city required to cntitle to the right
OF suffrage contrary to Constitution, Art. "a.
Sec | st page ;, which limits the term to three
months; also in the same paragraph Of the
charter it is provided that the voting shall be
viva voce' contrary to the Constitution. Art
-. Sec. "a page, $, which provides that all
votes shall be given by 'ba lot.
3D. In paragraph page Of the charter it is
provided that the regular election for members
nt the City Council shall be held Oh the hrst
tuesday in March in each and every year, con-
trary to the Constitution Art. 9Th. Sec. 2lst.
rape a. which desienates the fourth Thursday
in May.
%rd. In paragraph 5, page OF the charter
il il provided that the Councilmen elect shall
enter upon their duties days after their cleo
t;on. contrary to Constitution Art. Gth SEQ.
st mage 24,which provides that they shall en-
Ter upon their duties the first day OF July sue
cecding their election.
4tb. In paragraph 10 of the charter, page -
il is provided that all sellers of splrltuous Il
uuors, shop keepers, merchants, &c. may be tax
ed by license, contrary to Constitution Art.
10th Sec. 4th page IS, which provides that no
taxation by license shall be imposed where the
case can be reached by the ad vo!orem system.
9Th. In paragraph IA page 5 OF the charter
specifying the powers of the Mayor 1t IS MADE
his duty to report any misconduct OF othcers TO
the City Council, contrary to Constitution Art
9th Sec. Goth page %. which invests MN with
the power OF suspension and removal.
9TH. In paragraph II, page Of tho charter,
the mower ofappointment to, and removal from,
of6cs is conferred upon City Council, contrary
10 Constitution Art. 9th Sec. goth page %,
which vests this power in the Mayor.
7tb. The New Constitution limits the capita
ton tax to joc
in addition to the discrepancies ABOVE men
toned there may be others which your commit,
tee have overlooked. We would therefore re-
spcc,fuly recommend the reference OF this re.
port to our representatives in the General
Assembly, with the request that they so alter
the present charter as to make it properly
harmonic and agree with the new Constitution,
and cause the same to be duly enacted.
Iii OF which is respectfully submitted.
w. d. MASSEY.
ID. TURNER.
The following resolution was then read and
adopted: 49,,
Resolcea, That the Judge OF the musings
ionrt of Alexandra, be requested to give notice
Ct the repistraton In the Alexandra Gazette,
so that the voters may have notice Of the regis
tratlon DOW going on in accordance with the
act Of the General Assembly and under the
provisions of the new Constitution.
Mr.. Bel saying he thought it was important
that more publicity should be gwen 10 ms as
natter, the prevailing opinion seeming TO ne
,hat those who had once registered were not re-
qu! 4 Tcsoyution from the Common Council con on
,,1ninc other amendments and changes III IN Inc
charter OF the town already susgsS'eu v u re
committee appointed some time aR'' was -
ported. ar ,hot rho nsrayranl
with regard to the election of officers by INT
neoplc be stricken cut.