Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-11-15
LOCAL NEWS.


another column.
Board of -Ahlcyn,eu act to aid in the
collection of taxes was reported from the fiuance
committee, and after brief expression OF opln-
ion on the part of Messrs. Worthington, Corse.
French and Underwood, it Was passed unanl-
mouSv.
Mr. Markell from the Committee 90 Public
Property reported as he said, what the menu
bers saw for themselves rooms fitted up
for the Council in American Hall.
Mr. Worthington thought it would be an
Improvement if the rooms had been partltloncd
50 as to keep out the noise.
The finance committee reported through Mr.
.}anney that they recommended that tie bill
for books furnlSheu at a previous meeting be
paid, but at the same time took occasion to eX-
press the opinion that books costing much less
would have answered. He (Mr. j. had seen
Mr. Geo f. French, by whom the books were
ordered, who stated that they were made after
special pattcrn-thc more costly Que for the
use OF the clerk of the Common Council.
Mr. Markell cnquired if anybody can 60 and
make any sort OF purchases they choose-go
ana get books-thc kind that suits them Can
everybody go and order what they want aud
get what they Please at the expense OF the
city? The report was adopted.
of taxes on his property, on King street, for
1863, on the ground that the buildings on it at
the time of that assessment We're pulled down
immediately thereafter. and the lot WAS with
out any improvements for that year.
Mr.. Markell cnquired If the bill complained
OF had been paid?
1t was replied that it had not been paid but
that all the taxes due since had been, and this
Till was ald aside to await the action OF Council
The action Of the board was concurrcd In.
\ bill for bread furnished the Aims House
wlS read.
Mr. Worh;ngion thought this was very
expensive way OF feeding the poor.
Mr. Janney thought that the superintendent
of the Aims House should be instructed to buy
-four of low grade and have it baked on the
premises.
Some expression of opinion was INDUCED in
as TO the loose manner III which the purchases
for the Aims House were made and the ac-
counts Cor the same audited.
Mr. French thought this was matter OF
grave importance. These bills for feed for the
Aims House were simply astonishing. Ia a
conversation with Mr. Stephenson he had as
ccrtaincd thai. Il large part of the cost OF these
feed bills was for supplies for hogs. 1t was
generally supposed that the garbage carts sup
llied the hogs at the Aims House with feed,
but it secuted that the best SLIPS were given by
the cooks to their friends who kept hogs on
the outskirts OF the city, and the garbage col.
l,ctei bv the carts WAS worthless, Or nearly 50.
Mr.. Stephenson waS Of the opinion that the
garbage carts were Improbable stock. lie
Mr.. Frerchl was in favor of ilStructng the
Superintendent hereafter to raise no more hogs,
but to purchase bacon in the market.
More bills for the Aius House were present
cd, when,
Mr. French enquired why these purchases
could not be made monthly. He had been re-
l,catcdly struck with the great expense Of this
department.
Mr. Worthington called attention to bill
for pine wood furnished at ST when there was
plenty in the market to be delivered at $3.50.
Mr. .}anucy SAID we had better, any way IN
struct the keeper of the Aims House not to buy
any more hogs.
Mr Worthngton thought that Mr.. Janncy
would be good man as chairman OF the Com
nittee on the Poor to reform these abuses.
MrJanncy thought himself too good -uaturcd
for the Office
On the subject of the constitutionality of the
act to exempt from taxation the capital OF the
proposed street railroad. MIR. Underwood
said that the matter had been repeatedly adju-
Dictated in other States.
On the subject of the taxation and measure
ment OF oysters, appointment OF Inspector, &c,
Mr. French thought that there ought to be
somebody to see that oysters were measured
correctly and that they are sound. He thought
it clear also that we had the constitutional
right to tax the seller Of oysters.
\ resolution appointing a committee to walt
on Gen D. q. Howard and ask hun to donate
to the city the two school houses used by the
coored people on condition that the city as
sumo all the liabilities of these houses, adopted
bv the Common Council, was read.
Mr.. Janncy thought that it WAS not worth
while to pass this resolution, as he had heard
Geo. l.. Scatou say that this transfer could not
be made because these houses had already been
donated to the colored people by the trustees
holding them.
Some minor bills were passed and the Board
went Into Joint convention to elect city officers
and after the Joint meeting dissolved, adjourned.
Como,ou Council The Common Council
last night was SHINY attended, but transacted
a very considerable amount of business, with
but little debate; the members speaking to the
point.
Mr.. Wheat reported that the Committee on
Public Property had waited on the President
of the Water Company, and had been inform
cd by him that when he was satisfied that the
city had funds to make the purchase he
would be willing to open negotiation.
During the meeting the chair laid before the
Council bill in relation to L lot Of MIR. Yer
don, lying on the city line aud taxed both in
this city and in Fails Church township OF
Fairfax. Mr. Campbell, the Commissioner OF
the Revenue, reported that he had been una
bic to decide Oh which side of the line the
greater portion of the land laid, and at his re-
quest the city surveyor was requested to ex-
anime the matter.
Mr.. Wheat from the Committee on Public
Property, said that the committee had had
under consideration the subject OF applying to
Cen Howard for ccsSon of the colored
school houses, upon paying the debts due IN
them. The committee had been Informed
that the lots were already decided to the truS-
tees, for the benefit of the colored people. The
rents of the buildings would, however, be dunn
ished, aud the committee had turned the whole
matter over to Superintendent Carne.
The bill for the sale of real estate fur taxes,