Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-16
LOCAL NEWS.

tor.
The question as to the best method of col
lecting the back taxes was informally discussed
for some time, when COL Suite, III order to
bring the subject directly before the Board,
offered the following:
.;Rcsoirra hy the Board Of Aldermen. the
Common Council coacurTna therein, That the
Finance Committee he, and are hereby instruct
ed to place all delinquent tax bills, due this cor
poration in the hands of the collectors, with
instructions to said collectors to proceed to col
lect the same as speedily as possible
MIR. Harmon objected to the resolution on
the ground that he desired the Finance Com
mittee to have discretionary power in the
premises
Mr. Suite was of opinion that as special
act had been passed giving collectors ample
power to enforce the collection Of the delinquent
bills, they were the proper persons into whose
hands they should be placed: the Council I'M
der the present charter had no right to appoint
Il collector, and none hut the present incltm
bents would be made responsible
MIR. Agnew agreed with MIR. Harmon, and
thought discretionary power. rs into whose
hands tho bills should be placed. should be left
with the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Simpson favored the collection by the
present collectors, but was willing that the mat
ter should rest with the Finance Committee.
Cot. Suite again denied the right Of the
present City Council to elect Z collector and
contended that should the Council appoint, the
appointee would have no more power to collect
than the gentleman from whom the bills had
Just been received
Col. French favored the collection by the
present collectors, and the resolution was adopt
ed and sent to the Common Council.
COL French introduced 4 resolution declar
hot of ha al tb.An
TO be voted for were members otthe City Coun-
ell and magistrates. Col. +. said that mas.
much as the question for voting for Il Mayor
had been raised, he thought it best for Council
to say definitely what officers We're to be chosen
so that there would be no difficulty
Mr.. Agncw doubted the right Of Council to
define who should be voted for. He thought
that the spirit and intent OF the charter was
plain, that no Mayor was to be elected this
year, but was nevertheless Of opinion that the
question had better be left. ut rest.
COL French thought that an expression on
the part of Council was right and proper and
would prevent any difficulty
Col. Suttle did not think it we'll that action
should be taken; if any body wanted to be
ticked by the empty honor OF rHnning for
Mayor. it would do no harm to CRAFTY such
vanity, and would certainly not prejudice the
claims of the present incumbent. The propos-
ed action by Council might involve the COM
missioners in difficulty and interfere with the
election.
COL French then withdrew his resolution
Council resolution in reference to the appoint
ment of commissioners OF election was AIKEN up
and amended, but subsequently upon ascertain
ing that the amendment was unnecessary and Il
work Of supererogatlOn it was recalled and as
it came from the Common Council passed.
Tho Roord prorao1a6 tn bn oh p,bar of tho
Common Council. when iii joint session the
convention proceeded to elect two policemen, to
fill vacancies occasoned by designations which
being accomplished on the first ballot the Alder
men returned to their chamber
Col. Suite introduced the following bill:
BE It enacted, dc, That the Treasurer shall
keep separate account of all monies deposited
blythe Superintendent Of the gas works, said
deposits to be paid out only on the draft Of the
Chairman of Committee on Light, counter
signed by the Mayor Of the city; and that all
acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act
are hereby repealed.
Col. Suttle thought that the accounts should
be kept separate in order to show the actual
earnings of the gas works, which was not the
case at present, that being used in common.
Mr. Harmon was opposed to such action.
The gas works belonged to the corporation, and
the fund arising from them should be used as
other funds lie was OF opinion that the power
conferred by the proposed act was putting too
strong check upon the Finance Committee.
Col Suttle wanted the credit of the works
to be beyond doubt, in order that material. &c,
could be purchased on better terms.
COL French said that the Finance Commit
tee had as much trouble in raising money for
the gas works as for any other purpose. and
opposed the bill; upon which no action was
taken.
Mr.. Massey, from the Common Council re-
ported that that body had non concurred in the
resolution of the Board in reference to the col
lection of back taxes, and asked Il committee of
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two
branches, and after limited conversational
debate, conference committee, Mcssrs. Suite
and French, were appointed on the part of the
Aldermen.
During the absence of the committee, the
Council resolution authorizing the holding of
the election in the 4th Ward, at the brick
house on Alfred between Prince and Duke
streets, was passed.
The action of the Common Council at it's last
meeting for the pay of the jail guard and COM
pensation to j. c. Milbum for services as
registrar; in regard to the selling Of vegetables
by weight; for printing blanks for justices at
the corporation expense; erroneous assessment
against Gould & Whitening; in reference to the
running at large OF hogs, goats, &c, was con-
Cured in
The action of council in reference to an
abatement of tax on G. w. knox's Express,
was non-concurred in, but q difficulty arising
rs to whether by such action Mr.. H. would not
be liable to the whole tax, the subject was
laid over.
The Conference Committee returned into
the chamber, when COL Suite reasserted that
his opinion that the only legal mode Of collect
ing the back taxes was to place them in the
hands of the present collectors.
Col. French on the part of a majority of the
committee reported the resolution rs passed by
the Common Council and stated that while he
thought that the collectors were the proper
persons, yet he was willing to give to the
Finance Committee the discretion.
MIR. Harmon wanted the Finance Committee
to have discretionary power
Mr.. Simpson opposed the rcuort unon thc