Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-26
LOCAL NEWS.

anything had been done by the Finance com m
mittee in the matter Of the delinquent tax bills
in the hands of Mr.. Stillson, the former Attor-
MIR. French stated that under the terms Of
the contract by which MIR. Stillson was first
employed to collect these tax bills he had the
power to hold them until collected, or until
he was satisfied that they cannot be collected.
He had seen list of these bills and to his
surprise they amounted to about $50, 1000, and
of this sum Mr. S. had collected about 81 400.
any receipt for these bills He mr. French)
had proposed to Mr. S. as that gentleman had
not time to attend to the collection of these
bills that he return them to the Council, which
Dir. S. was willing to do. He would suggest
that a committee be appointed to arrange with
Mr.. Stillson for the return of the bills, and
also be authorized to settle with Mr. S. for
services already rendered by him.
In answer to question 1t was stated that
all bills due for the past five years could be
collected under the Charter. He (Mr. +. J
thought that Mrs.. in consideration Of the
services performed by that gentleman, should
be properly compensated.
Mr. Suite called attention to the fact that
the Market building was not insured.
Mr. Markell thought it was still insured.
He had supposed that after it had been IN
sured several years ago, the Auditor
would have renewed the policy from year to
year.
Mr.. Simpson offered u communication from
the registrars of the city on the subject of new
books Some dcsultory debate arose on the
subject and it was then passed over.
Mr. Simpson that stated one OF the commits
sioners Of election had asked the privilege ofhold
ing the coming election for the Second Ward in
the chamber Of the Board of Aldermen, as the
chamber of the Common Council would be oc-
cupied at that time by the Corporation Court.
Mr. Markell thought that they had better
take one Of the rooms on the other porch. He
knew how it would be, first one friend and then
another would come in aud this room would be
knocked to pieces.
Some members were not certain that there
would be Court ON the day mentioned.
There was no business now before the Board.
1t was asked what was done in the other Board,
and the answer was returned that the subject
under discussion was whether the word swine
Was singular or plural.
Mr. Markell moved thar the Board adjourn
MIR. Suite said that the hoped that motion
would not be put as Important business was
under discussion in the other Board-the qucs-
tiou Of the passage Of the Alexandria 4 Fred
ericksburg t. r., through the city, measure
he supposed Mr.. French would oppose
Mr. French said that he had not been CON
suited at all on the report. lie had met the
committee some time ago and they had ordered
surveys OF grades &c. and they now make re-
port ignoring him altogether, Was this right
OF proper?
Mr.. Harmon said that the committee had
met and MIR. f. was not present.
MIR. French reiterated his remarks respect
tba S,,rtacy with, VIII, bn had huap
treated.
Mr.. Harmon disclaimeu any knowledge of
slight intended to any member, He had been
notified to attend the committee meeting by
the eng ineer Of the railroad.
Mr.. French renewed the motion to adjourn.
Mr. Suite stated that the report on the rail
road subject would be in in few minutes, and
if the Board did not vote on it tonight call
ed meeting must be held. He remarked that
so far as he knew everything had been com
plied with by Council that was demanded by
any other night He did not think the
Board an oyerworked body. If there was no
legislation the members could sit here and en-
Joy themselves soclably.
Mr. French said 1t was L strange thing Tor
committees to be appointed and members OF 1t
treated with disrespec: by ignoring their exls-
tence in calling the committee together tor
business.
Mr.. Harmon again disclaimed any discourtesy
on his part which Mr. French accepted.
The motion to adjourn was put and lost
The bill regulating the passage OF the Alex
andria and Fredericksburg Railroad through
the city was received from the Common
Council.
Mr. French begged to look at the bill lit.
tie. That matter so important as this should
- nfto
heard Of
A very neatly drawn map of the section of
the city through which it is proposed to run the
road was exhibited.
Mr.. Simpson renewed the request or changed
it that the room Of this Board be allowed the
Registrar of the I'd Ward, as court would be
held in the Council Chamber.
Mr. Markell objected to it as a precedent.
There were plenty Of other places
Mr. French offered two amendments to the
bill regulating the passage of the railroad along
Fayotte street. The first was to repeal an act
granting the same company the privilege Of
constructing the road under the old charter
from the south as far north as Duke street,
for he said that as the r. +. & p r. r.,
had in contemplation building road to Alex
andria, it was unwise to allow the other COM
pany to hold 4 monopoly Of entrances He
ing this railroad, that the company had not
complied with the terms of the charter by
building the road from the south to this city,
before passing through it, was still a valid OBJ
lection to the passage of this act, but he now
withdrew that objection. He still thought that
this company,-a foreign corporation-sh
be more jealousy watched than home ono,
as from all he could learn they did not mean to
cept the new charter they had obtained.
Corporations were unnianageable affairs any
way, and this one being compelled by law TO
have single director i'll the State would pro-
badly prove peculiarly irresponsible.
The other amendment was that the Council
should be the Judge as to- whether the passage
of any other road along the street occupied by
the company under discussion would conflict
with the Interests of the Alexandria and Fred
ericksburg road. He feared that the language
arnloyed in the not cOuld no construed +o civ,