Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-19
Meeting Of the Board Of Aldermen.

nau Deen relcFIeu Ihe A.'Feuue ono oaioiT
bills.
Col. French, from the committee of confer
enee on the Revenue bill, made report recon-
mending ''the passage of the bill with the fol
lowing amendments: lst That the tax on at
torneys at law, dentists and physicians, be re-
duced to $40 ID. That the tax of $50 on the
manufacturer Of malt liquors, be stricken out
Sd. That the tax on canvasscrs buying junk,
rags. &C., to sell to junk dealer, be reduced
to So
These are the only changes made in the bill
as originally reported and passed by the Board
of Aldermen. :,
DR., johnson said he must Object to the small
license upon Junk dealers They ought to be
taxed 70 the fullest extent 1t was now owing
to them that nothing iu the shape of metal
could be kept on one premises-all being sto
len and bought by these people who were to be
taxed so lightly Not screw, Ratchet or any
thing that could be sold for few cents, could
now be left in ones yard or house but found
its way into these junk stores and the same ob'
iections might be urged against the dealers in
second hand goods.
Col. French said the tax on junk dealers was
500; the small tax the gentleman alluded to
was upon the gathcrers of refuse articles, those
who sold to the junk dealers, persons who were
really scaveugers, and how they managed to
sell what they picked UP was wouder. lie
had been unwilling to make the proposed re.
duction, but the rest of the committee had
overruled him.
| The President said that the license alluded
to did not apply to parties known as junk
dealers.
DR.. johnson said it was impo sible to sepa,
rate them, and asked that the section be read
agaiu.
The clerk read that 'the tax on canvasser>
buying junk. rags, &c, to sell to junk DEALER
be reduced to S."
DR.. johnson said, if possible, the canvasserS
we're worse than the junk dealers, aud ought
to be suppressed. The police should be direct
ed to arrest all of them seen coming out OF al
leyS and examine the contents of the sacks they
carry. His kitchen had within short time
past, been swept of nearly everything 1t con
tanned, but with the assistance of a police 9th,
Ger, he found most of the articles that had
been stolen from him in the junk dealers aud
second. hand stores He found SO much of his
property in one of these places that when re-
moving it an ex policeman had said, why,
Doctor, you are breaking this man up. All OF
these cauvassers should be arrested as soon AS
seen with sacks on their shoulders. lie
moved to strike out the amendment, but as
his motion was not seconded, the amendment
was retained.
COL French moved that the report be adopt
ed, and his motion was carried.
The Revenue bill was then put upon its pas
sage, the President stating that the vote would
be taken by ayes and noes.
Dr. Johnson-''Y cas- and nays
Col. French-It had better be taken by
ayes aud noes to avoid any further uucer.
taiuty.
The vote was so taken, and the bill passed
by vote of-ayes 5; noes noue.
DR.. johnson. FROM the conference commit.
tee on the Salary BILL made the following re-
port:
The conference agrees to eight hundred
dollars salary of the Auditors ayes, no.
Physicians to the poor.ln addition to the salary
of one hundred dollars, be allowed one dollar
per visit extra to smallpox cases when IN hos
pital Salary of Clerk of Gas fixed at eight
hundred dollars. The committee further re-
commended that the Clerk Of Gas be requested
to give security to the amount OF five thousand
dollars.
Gen. Corse moved the report be adopted
Col. French said that if the adoption of the
report would fix the salaries as stated IN the
report he must oppose it, and adhere to the
bill as originally reported. The matter had
been discussed fully and he would only say,
that to pass the bill as originally reported by
the Finance Committee, would be to the ad
vantage Of the city.
Gen. Corse said the bill had been referred tc
a committee of conference, and in the spirit Of
mutual concession with which it had been con
sidered in that committee, he thought it bes
to accept the report.
The President thought that under the cir.
cums,ances the best thing that could be done
would be to adopt the report and that he should
so vote.
Col. French said the duties of the Auditor
have been very much increased of late but were
properly performed, as were those of the clerk
OF the Gas Works, and repeated that the Board
ought to adhere to the bill as originally passed
DIR. johnson said that while he was firm
man and never yielded his convictions of right
he was always actuated by spirit Of compro
mise and concession. If we were not to be in
fueuced by the action of conference commit
tee why appoint that committee? The other
| Board will certainly not recede from its action
1t had by an almost unanimous vote fixed the
salary Of the clerk of the Gas Works at 500
but the conference committee had increased ii
to $500, and we must agree to the concession
of the majority If this Board continues its
| oppOsltlOu tHC pCOplC VIII lllluh Ludt llC OOJCCI
is not to subserve their interest but that an in
creased ratio of taxation is assessed merely for
the benefit of the Office holders. There were
many objections to the bill-soue sectious oft IL
his opinion we're outrageous; but he was willing
in order to remove the existing interruption il
our municipal affairs to accept the concession
which certainly had been made by the majority
of the City Council. There was no use for four
to attempt to coerce twenty-five mountain could
not come to Mahomet. Act as wisely and dis
crcetly as we may, discomfort will follow any
course we may pursue. The report was only
a choice of evils. He hoped, however, the
Board would adopt it, for then the other Board
will concur 10 our action and We eau 90 on with
the business of the city.
Col. French asked if it would be in order for
him to speak again. If no objection was made
be would say that he was persuaded his views
upon the salaries of the Corporation Offices we're
correct--so persuaded by his knowledge of the
duties Of those officers and by what others who
knew what those duties were thought about it..
On his way to the meeting tonight he