The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-08
CITY COUNCIL.

|
CITY COUNCIL.
The semi-monthly meeting Of this body
was held yesterday afternoon. Present |:
Mr.. Sloan I'm the chair), and Messrs. Ander-
son, Hooper, Chesterman, Wynne, Barga-
min, English, Stokes, Isaacs, Higgins,
Scott, of Jefferson ward Smith, Whitlock,
Levy, Lipscomb, Boissieux, Allen, Roper,
Forester, Braselman, Freeman, and Manly.
Several petitions relating to the grading
and Improvement of certain streets were
rejected.
The committee on finance recommended
that the claims of j. Jacobs and L. L. Rag
land be granted. Agreed to.
The same committee, in view OF the calls
now made and soon to be made upon the
treasury, recommended that the committee
be authorized to borrow money or issue six
per cent. bonds to the amount of 800, 900.
Agreed to.
| This is the first installment to be charged
to the debt of the new Council. If $780,
600 of the city bonds are to be sold, we
feel confident the enormous commission of
p per cent. will not be charged for their
sale !; neither will it be necessary for an in
dividual member of the Council to pledge
his personal credit before they can be nego-
tiated.
| The same committee presented a resolu-
ton declaring it the sense of the Council
that the city has no legal right to tax city or
| State bonds. Adopted. fi
| To Mr.. Sloan is due the saving to tax
payers of 81 ,325-a claim presented at the
last meeting by Sergeant N. M. Lee for SER
vices rendered, and certified to by the Coun-
Gil for payment, by the Hastings court.
Unless we are greatly mistaken, the Coun-
| Gil had agreed, or was about to agree, to
| the payment of this claim, when Mr.. Sloan
| asked that the account of Mr.. Lee be re-
ferred to the city attorney for his opinion.
| Last night this claim appeared again be-
fore the Council, but this time in the shape
of an application from Sergeant Lee, asking
leave to withdraw it. Will he inform the
people, if his claim was just, why it was
withdraw? if not, why it was certified
| by the Hastings Court, and payment by
himself demanded?
This committee (NIr. Stokes, chairman
reported their confirmation of appointments
made by the gas inspector and superin-
tendendent of the gas-works, and that they
had placed the work on the new gas-holder
under the immediate direction of the city
engineer and superintendent of the gas
works.
The committee on claims and salaries
recommended the payment of sundry bills,
and expressed the opinion that certain city
officers were too extrayagant, and recon-
mended the framing an ordinance to pre-
vent them from using the credit of the city
without proper authority. Why didn't
this committee say acho they were, and
| xx,bot thau ha1 haan rrt,;ltxr oFC or Ira, n
wish to shield the corrupt conduct of its
pets? 1t looks that way.
| The committee on cemeteries reported
the reelection of VIM. l.. Smith as superin-
tendent of Oakwood cemetery, and recon-
mended that the said cemetery be resurvey-
! ed. They also recommended that deeds be
given citizens for lots purchased by them in
Oakwood Of the late keeper, on the presen-
tation of receipts. These recommendations
were agreed to.
the s'deeds" referred to in the above, and
the receipts" of the slate keeper" have
history connected with them. The s'late
keeper" Mr.. Redford, collected money
from citizens for rpurchase of lots, and never
| last night that the Council had agreed to let
| ry deeds to those who had, in good faith,
paid their money for sections or lots. How
much money was thus filched from the peo-
pie, has not appeared. sIet off, is good
| thing after man has made money by dis
honesty.
Messrs. Wynne and Isaacs presented re-
ports from the committee on James river
improvements, of which 1000 copies were
ordered to be printed for the use of the
Council. Mr.. Wynne submitted some res
olutions, which were adopted, compliment
ing the United States officers in charge Of
the improvements carried ON by the gen.
eral government.
The complimentary resolutions were very
properly objected to by Mr.. Whitlock, as
| the Council had never yet seen inside the
report relating to the James River improve
| ments.
Mr.. Wynne presented an elaborate re-
port from the special committee on 'sen-
trance to city culverts," in which sundry
petitions of grievances are considered. In
view of the injustice and impracticability
of certain provisions of the present Ordi-
nance on the subject, the committee recon-
mend the repeal of so much of chapter 34th
concerning streets as relates to culyerts and
sewers, including sections 81, IS and 50,
and that substitute therefor, in the nature
of an ordinance, be adopted. The report
was referred to the city attorney, with in-
structions to perfect an ordinance in accord
ance with the views of the special commit
| tee.
The chair laid before the Council report
from the auditor as to the finances of the
city, called forth by resolution presented
by Mr.. lsaacs and adopted in July. The
report, together with accompanying docu-
ments, was referred to the committee on
finance.
Mr.. Chesterman, from the committee on
the relief OF the poor, recommended the APP
preparation of $125 for furnishing medicine
to the poor for the quarter commencing
July lst. Agreed to.
Mr.. Anderson offered the following res
olution, which, after remarks by himself
and Mr.. Wynne, was adopted