Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-23

last night
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
There was full attendance of members aud
large number of spectators
The report Of the conference committee on
the Salary bill was taken up, and
Mr.. French favored the adoption OF the orlgl-
nal bill as reported by the tinance Committee.
MIR. johnson advocated the adoption OF the
report of the conference committee.
Mr.. Seaton also favored the report and IN,
sisted that the clerk of the Gas Works shoulo
be required to give security.
Mr.. johnson was decidedly IN favor OF re-
curing bond and thought that II the Clerk was
an honest man he would come forward and IN
sist mon giving the security This officer
sometimes had in his possession thousands OF
dollars and was himself only responsible.
Mr.. Markell did not see that the security
onestion had ANYTHING to do with the bill and
thought it ought to be stricken out OF the re-
port nu ,1ou,.ou
Mr. johnson agaiu urged the requiring OF
boud
uuire security.
Mr. Markell moved to strike out that feature
of the report and the question being taken 1t
was stricken out.
The report as thus amended was then adop
ted and the Salary bill then passed-aycs b
noes .
Mr.. Underwood moved to reduce the mum
Der of privates on the police force to sixteen
He said that it cost as much again to support
the police as for educational purposes and he
would like to see different state of affairs. 1t
should not 90 out to the world that Alexandria
required such a force to preserve order. All
,ln
tonal purposes, aud as he knew of cities larger
than this where there we're smaller police forces
he did not see why ours should not be reduced.
The President said the number was fixed by
an act and he did not think mere resolution
would effect the gentleman S purpose.
Mr.. Underwood said if it was an act OF the
Legislature then 1t could not, but being merely
an act of Council resolution could effect the
object, one Council having the right to repeal
the acts of another except III case OF contract.
Mr. French said that he did not think an act
could be repealed by a simple resolution and
without notice.
Mr.. Underwood withdrew for the present his
resolution.
The resolution taking the election Of clerk OF
the Gas Works FROM the Committee on Light
and giving it to Council was then taken up and
Mr. johnson gave an account OF how clerk
came to be elected and how his salary was
fixed and then raised, asserting very posi-
lively that the committee had arogatcd to Itself
power and acted without authority and contra
nv to law in increasing the salary.
Mr.. French explained the acts of Council IL
reference to the Gas Works and the powers cou
ferred upon the Committee on Light, who ht
contended should have the power to select then
own clerk and which, if taken away, he did no.
think any man, with proper self-reSpect, woulC
serve on the committee.
Mr.. johnson contended that If one committee
had light to select clerk all the committee:
would have the same right.
Mr.. Simpson. (Gen. Corse in the chair
thought the present system had worked ad
mrably and preferred that the committee should
have the power to choose its own clerk, no
should the clerk be required to give bond a
the Superintendent was responsible aud BIZ
bond covered all.
Mr.. johnson replied and accused the com
T;'tne of Ignorance the nature OF gas or any
thing connected with 1t, that they acted witt
a selt-sufhclency and an arrogance that ough
not to be tolerated, and that it was reasonable
to suppose that twenty men were more compe
tent to decide as to this matter than four.
Mr.. Seaton was in favor Of the election of a
clerk by the Council. He had the kindes
feelings towards the present incumbent, anc
would wade further, dive deeper and como
out dryer for him than any man he knew
He would do more; he would 20 on his bono
for one thousand dollars.
Mr.. Simpson replied to the remarks of Mr.
johnson in reference to the large sums O
money held by the clerk, denying the assertion
and stating that the money Was deposited daily
Mr.. johnson again urged the passage of the
resolution, when
The question being taken, the resolution wa
lost by tie vote-ayes + noes +.
The members of the Board then proceeded
to the Chamber OF the Common Council wher
an election was held for various Corporation off
GERS and upon the dissolution ofthe joint meeting
the Board returned to its Chamber and imme
diately adjourned
COMMON COUNCIL. .
After the passage of the Revenue bill, Mr.
Hopkins moved that the Board 60 into the
election of Board of Police, but upon refer
ence to last years proceedings, it was found tina
that Board was eleccd in joint meeting, and sc
the matter was dropped.
The report of the committee of conference
to whom had been referred the Salary bill, was
then received from the Board of Aldermen
that Board having adopted it after striking on,
the proviso requiring the clerk of the Gas
Works to give security for the faithful pertor-
nance of his duty, and after Mr.. Hopkins had
said that that provlso was not in the original
section, but was merely suggestion OF the
committee, to whom the matter had been re-
ferred, the action of the other Board was con-
Cured in, and the bill passed. ~ fy-.
A resolution, adopted by the Board of Alder
men, instructing the Superintendent of Police
to have the cutters on Henry street filed up
them coming up,
Mr. Evans wanted to know to what part Of
Henry street was the resolution to apply, and
to have that part mentioned in the resolution.
Mr.. Portner explained that it was the north
ern part to which reference was made that the
| Committee on Streets had already examined
into the resolution; that the Az I. r. T. Co.
were now digging earth in that locality; and that
ed Improvement The action Of the other Board
was then coucurred in.
| A substitute for the resolution adopted by
the Common Council, with reference to the