Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-14
with our finances in the embarrassed condition

But as he had stated that he would favor a
reduction. he would move that So. 50 be sub
stiuled for 1922 in the bill now before u.s.
this would reduce the net price flom S3 60 to
So Is per 1000 feet and reduce the revenue
from the works some $500 dollars per annum
which is as much as We can prudently do at the
present tine, when, as he understood from the
public prints, that the Finance Committee
could not fud funds to pay the teachers of the
public schools. Notwithstanding the amount Tor
their salaries had been collected from the PEG
pie.
Mr.. French said that as Mr.. Underwood was
not present, he hoped the subject would not be
pressed now But he was satisfied that he could
verify every main statement IN the report as
correct lie had been asked several times if
the city would take $l5O,000 for the gas works.
He stated this as proof of their present value.
Mr.. Worthington replied reatfrmilIg his
statements, and the debate was continued:
Mr.. French said that some six hundred per-
sons had paid all the vast sum that had been
paid to the city for gas He did not think tie
object Of the gas works should be To make
money for the city, but We should BE- satlsh; d
if the cost of production was realized.
Mr.. Worthington, said the price OF gas III
GEORGETOWN was $50 in Baltimore IS,
and in Richmond SO and government tax y
small place ike ours could hardly afford, he
thought, to make it for less than these large
| cities.
Mr. Janney moved as a compromise to sub,
stitute So 80. with ten per ct. off for prompt
payment He knew that consumers were look
Ing most anxiou>ly to this Council to reduce the
price of gas and he was anxious to ito some
thing to satisfy them.
Mr.. French thought that the principle Of
deduction for prompt payment was wrong
| D,,t r. Il Z baIp nrl
add on if not paid promptly. Place all on an
equality.
| Mr.. Worthington was delighted to find the
member coming around to his views.
Mr. French only object was to benefit the
gas consumers He had given himself more
trouble about this subject than if it had been
his own private business
Mr. Worthington suggested to put the price
at SO, with 10 per ct. added i'll case Of failure
to pay within 20 days.
Mr. French thought the great object Should
be to make such a change as to attract rntlic
attention. The present price |, so n'ami3stiy
unjust that the public need attention called TO
the modification Of price, and make this 20
radical as to excite attention. and the Increase
of the use of gas will be manifest. He wanted
TO get those persons who had shut on their gas
to have it turned Oh again.
one of ii difference Of twenty cents on the price
of thousand feet Of gas why not compromise
it? So 50 he felt was too severe reduction.
He repeated that the community locked this
Council with Intense anxiety Tor some acton
that would diminish the cost of l'"ht Let US
net not talk and relieve the mind of the public
of suspense in th, natter II We find We can
come down to $3.50 after a time, well AID
good, but let us at least start TO reduce now.
The debate was further continued and Mr..
French suggested ii committee OF conference
with the other Board, which was agreed to.and
Messrs. French and Worihirgtou appointed. t"
| report at the next meeting.
Bill 10 re district the wards of the city. was
read.
NJ. Janncy thought this an Important meas
urc, and worthy of special consideration. He
moved lay it on the table. So ordered.
The commitment, N OF J. T. Armstrong on
the subject Of leasing the property at the loo;
| Of Princess street, WAS read.
It was announced that The lower Board had
concurred in the action of this Board at the
previous meeting, giving the lease to Ms GOT
| 10 be continued.
Cinnamon CouncH The entire Board WAS
| in ATTENDANCE at the opening Of the Common
Council last night: eight persons outS the bar
| listened to the proceedings. the nun''cr alter
ward reaching some twenty
| The chair called the attention of the council
to tile fact thar there were many subjects now
| in the hands OF the committees Which 1t was
very important should be acted upon and IN
stanced the propositin to codity the laws OF
the Corporation.
The committee on rc-arrangng The wards re-
ported bill for that purpo,e. ;,
Mr. Hopkins explained that the I'm" OF Pit
| :: lad ~, ,f.l.,
being that the line which now ran mid way be
tween King ard Prince streets Wis removed to
the middle OF Prince street.
MIR. HUGHES asked if there was any iniorma-
ton as to the relative population OF the wards.
Mr.. Holkius thought it would add to the
second and diminish the first ward ana that
the population Of the two upper wards Would
| be about even.
Mr. Plum wanted to know the ul.iect Of re-.
diStrlcting the city into wards
The chair read the resolution on the subject.
The question being about to be taken:
Mr.. Hughes wanted to say that the bill was
unjust and looked like political trick.
The chair reminded the member that debate
was not pow in order there being Call Tor yeas
and nays pending ;,
Mr. Claggett moved that Mr.. Hughes have
leave to proceed
| The cnalr-1t CduUpL UC uouS hi'''S"' "'N''
NOUS consent.
Mr. Henderson, object to further debate,
The bill was passed yeas II, noes !.
The char-1he requisite three tourths vote
in the affirmative and the bill is passed.
The vote on the reference Of the proposition
of Mr.. w. A. Smoot relative to the lease OF the
lower end OF Princess street was reconsldercd'
and the subject was again discussed.
Mr. Hughes had spent three days in trying
to inform himself on the subject and said he
did not now understand it clearly, but, thought
that council had no right to close the dock head
from the public. =,
subject and complained that his remarks at the
last meeting had been mi*apprrhendcd and had
not been SO fully reported as he desired them
INorE-A full report of four hours council
debate would fill thirty columns OF the Gazette
l-REp o.,
Al LI,,bac advocated the repalr of the dock