Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-15
LOCAL NEWS.

ClTi COUNClL.-lhe following Is the con
clusion of the discussions in the Board of AL
dermeu and Common Council on Tuesday
night:
Boud Of -1ldrmen.-A communication was
read from the Superintendent OF Public Schools
ON the subject of the salary of teachers, COM
planning that they had not been paid, and re-
,lucsting action OF Council.
Mr.. French said that the schools had not suf.
!trcd for funds. In point of fact there was
money from the State unused. The receipts OF
the treasury had been devoted to paying the
interest on the public debt. which was, he was
sratiied to state, now nearly all paid. He was
sorry this resolution of the lower Board had
been adopted. Ii it was passed here, it would
lead to a reputation of the public debt, and re-
suit in i d%amageto the credit of the city, by the
failure to pay the accrulug interest.
Mr.. Markell did not like to see such a resolu-
tion go out into print; it looked badly for the
ely uot to pay the school teachers. aud yet to
pay bond holders. But he wanted to know if
Tie police should not be paid also?
Mr.. Warrington said, that as a member of
tie Finance Committee, he wished it distinctly
understood that he was not responsible for it's
action III this matter. He ammadverted severely
IN the action OF the chairman of that commit
tee Tor his course in paying interest on bonds
purchased at 10 aud 30 cts. on the dollar, while
tie poor school teachers were left moneyless.
Inc Finance Committee had given no such
order. The school teachers should have had
ril:;r iiay' il preference to the boudhollsrs. If
THIS course Of the committee was to be acknowl-
edged as correct by the Board. he respectfully
requested to be allowed to resign his place on
thar committee.
.Mr. French said if the Finance Committee
acre 10 be hampercd by such TRADES as this,
he would be glad to be rid OF its responsibilities.
lie explained the difficulty the committee had
found III borrowing the money to meet the
January interest, and now when we are trying
our best to get safely out OF this trouble, to be-
h~arra>sed III this WAY was hard. Gentlemen
ought to think and give the city time to get out
OF her difficulties, and not make Liberal remarks.
He had found it difficult to get the committee
together, He thought the remarks of MIR.
Worthiagton unkind.
VI. Worihington thought that this was an
exceedingly Important matter. The school teach.
cs had not been paid aud the bondholders had
}vcn-they who. II any one could. might well
afford to wait. He hau not been called upon or
consulted iu this action, aud repeated his cen
sugcs on the course OF the chairman of the
Finance Committee. He explained the part
he had taken in the committees borrowing
funds required to pay the January interest. aud
sand that he met the Finance Committee on the
Both OF December, when the chairman stated
that 1t was necessary to raise funds to meet the
interest due the LIST Of January. and that he
could get 10000 dollars from one OF the banks.
Mr.. W. stated that after finding there would
be funds in the treasury sufficient to pay all de-
mands for a few days, he oppoeed borrowing
FROM the bank until it could be ascertalned
whether or DOT the required amount could be
obtained FROM the Commissioners OF the Sink
ing Fund, and that he offered a resolution re.
curing the chairman to make application to
the siukiug fund commissioners, who were to
meet tina evening. This was not done but the
clairmau went to the bank Il few days after and
borrowed 5000 dollars at 9 per ct. and he (Mr.
W. was informed the Commissioners OF the
Sinking Fund loaned their funds to other par.
lies at ! per ct. He stated that he was called
upon a few days alter for his aid to help to
raise another 10000 dollars, aud that after
every effort it was found impossible to get it for
less than II per Ct, which he was unwilling to
pav-believiug it would be q rad precedent.
.Atier several meetings Of the committee the
Presidents of both branches OF theCouncll We're
invited to Join Us IN devlsing "a plan TO raise the
required sun. when, at their urgent Sollclta-
tou. he (Mr. w. agreed to pay Il commission
Of ! per ct. per month to raise the lO,Q0O dol
lars. and I per ct. per mouth. or . per CT. per
annum, on which terms the amount was OBJ
tanned through-not from-the bauk.
MIR. French rose to explain, but the floor was
not yielded. ;,
Mr. Worthington continued: Of what avail
was the credit of the city? Better a thousand
times that she had never had any credit. 1t
had only involved her iu disaster. tie was tor
paving honest debts and sustaining the honor
and integrity of the city.
Mr.. French made no reply, because the
question had no connection with the resolution.
When a member is determined to mlsunder-
stand every thing, it Is useless to explain.
He moved that the SUBJECT be LAID on the
table.
MIR. Janney said a good many drafts on the
treasury. given by the Auditor, to employees OF
the city. we're due. If this bill was passed
we should have these thrown on the market at
from 10 to Is per cent discount. Still he felt
that the school teachers should be paid, and
thought he should vote for the resolution.
Mr.. French thought its passage would be
suicidal. The finances of the city were III a
better condition than for - years.
Mr.. Markell repeated that he was not Will
in- that the teachers alone should be paid.
Mr.. Worthington said he understood the
police mad been paid.
Mr.. French said we were obliged to ccono-
mise the funds aud pay what we could.
Mr.. Worthingten would pay the difference
of interest, in case of the money being borrow
ed, out Of his own pocket, rather than that the
school teachers should go unpaid.
Mr.. French urged that the matter be left in
the hands Of the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Wor!hington hoped that he would DC
relieved from the responsibility of the acts OF
the Finauce Committee.
Mr.. Hopkins, from the lower Board, made
Il statement concerning the question at issue,
showing the absolute necessity for Immediate
action. 1t was very important that these sal
airy payments should be met, else the warrants
iSsucd in favor of the teachers would have to
be hawked about the streets by those to whom
they We're issued, and sold for what they would
bring. If this resolution was tabled then give
us enough at least to pay the salaries now due