Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-19

present, ana as one vote In the negative would
reject the report, he would withdraw his motion
to adopt, and move to let the report lie over
until the Ut xt meeting.
I Col. Frelch said the opposition he was forced
to make placed him in an unpleasant position,
but the data he possessed and the convictions
arising from those data compelled him to adhere
/ to the course he had pursued. The report had
better lie over, aud the members then would
have time for second thong ht-a period for re-
fection-aud as he had great confidence in the
harmonzing Influences of time and reflection he
thought that by the next meeting the correct
ness of the views he had advanced would be
better appreciated.
DR.. johnson said the course pursued by the
gentleman was killing both his friends. They
could not stand up agalnst it, but would have
TO 90 down. There was latent sentiment be-
ginning to swell in the community which he,
the speaker, desired above all things to sup
press, but which the zeal OF the misguided
friends of the present Office holders was forcing
to express itself, and it had already expressed
merchants stipendaries upon the Corporation.
He wished to hurl this expression back and
protect alike the lncumbents and the Council
from its condemnation. lie was almost afraid
now that the other Board would not accept this
report, but would cut down the salary Of the
clerk Of the gas works to 5000 So far as the
sober second thought the gentlemen had talked
about. it certainly could not come in the midst
of conflict. Conflicts must be over, aud those
engaged in them at rest before it could come.
He hoped the report would be adopted, aud if,
hereafter, it was found advisable to increase
the salaries of those officers whose pay it was
now proposed to reduce, he would cheerfulIy
vote for resolution to that effect
Gen. Corse renewed his motion to lie over
till the next meeting, and it was carried.
Dr. johnson presented report recommend
ing the adoption Of the resolution passed by the
Common Council, taking from the Committee
on Light the election of clerk of the Gas
Works, and giving the same to Council. As no
motion Was made regarding it, the President
suggested that it would BE- prudent to let it lie
over too,
COL French presented 3 report In reference
to the plates on which the Corporation due
bills were printed 10 which he states that
after due enquiry the committee could obtain
no information on the subject, but think it
probable they are in he possession of the en-
gravcr, they generally, IN such cases, retain
the plates
Dr. johnson said the general impression Was
that the plates We're in Philade phia, but that
he thought some cffIrt ought to be taken to
reclaim them, as the issue of notes from them
might be iuermlnablc.
COL French said the investigation was refer
: red to the Committee on Finance, who had
made all proper inquiries. lie supposed the
plates were in the hands of the engravers
whose custom it was to hold them TOR other
issues. They were worthless except as old
metal for they could not he used by any other
person.
Gen Corse said they would not be worth the
express charges for bringing them here, and
: that the danger of their being used Tor re-
issue of notes was iufnitlsimal, for such notes
could be detected at once.
DR.. johnson differed with the gentlemen
who had preceded him The notes were easily
countcrIeitcd, and it would be prudential at any
rate to have the plates in our possession:
Gen Corse, as member of the Finance
Committee would write aud find out where
the plates were, but he doubted whether the
: eugraver would give them up, unless upon an
: order trom the City Council, approved by the
Mayor.
DR.. johnson said that the people desired to
know what had become of the plates, and if
the members Of the Board did not want to carry
out the wishes Of the people, they had better
resi- On and let others who would carry them
out be sent here in their places. He moved to
recommlt the report, and the motion being
: seconded by Gen. Corse, was put and carried.
!. COL French called up the re>olutlon cou-
corning the colifcaton of the laws of the cor
poration, passed by the Common Council, aud
: offered the following substitute for the resou-
ton for contract with Messrs. Kent 4 Neale
"Resolre1, That special committee of two
, members from each Board be appointed, who
f are hereby authorized to have revised, codihed
and published the laws and ordinances OF the
city of Alexandria now in force and applicable
to the government Of the city, or connected
with its interests, and needtul tor reference
, That said committee shall invite proposals for
the same, aud let the work to such person or
persons as they shall deem best qualified for
, terms for the city. The committee shall have
published two hundred and fifty copies.
He said several resolutions regarding this
subject had been adopted by the other Board,
| but none of them clearly defined what was re-
quired. The object is not to collect 10 one vol
ume and print all the laws passed by the City
Council, for many of them passed while the
city was part of the District of Columbia were
now imperative Then two hundred copies
we're sufficent-they would last twenty years
, and 10 that time twice as many more laws will
have been enacted. Print two hundred copies
now of such laws as are in force and hereafter
} print annually the laws passed during the SEES
J sion.
DR.. johnson said that but few laws were re-
quired to be printed-those relating to the is
sue of stocks and bonds, to the executive gov
; ernmcnt of the corporation, to the gas works,
! and a few others, and he supposed the object
in view was to have committee Gull the
needtul from the many laws, and then to get
some lawyer to codify them When he was in
Council before Capt D. J. Smoot had offered
to codify them for $3.50 He moved the sub
sttute be referred to the Committee on Gene
raj Laws
COL French-Ifi it is again referred to com
mittee the work will never be done, for no com
mittee will take the trouble to wade throug h
two folio volumes Of laws in almost luextrlcable
confusion
The substitute was then adopted.
Dr. johnson said the Superintendent of Po-
lice had now an opportunity of filling up the
deep gutter on Henry street, such as he would
| ..,a. L,,o o,,,;n Tho 4 e. r. r r