Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-07-18
CITY COUXCIL.

CITY COUNC1L. >
A called meeting of the City Council was held
last night for the purpose of considering the
Revenue and Salary bills.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Mr.. johnson called up the resolution, placing
the election of the clerk Of the Gas Works III
the hands of Council As this resolution he
said had passed the lower Board unanimously,
and as there seemed to be a strong expression
of popular will that such responsible othcer
should no longer be elected by a committee,
nothing remained except for this Board to
concur. :.
The Board declining to concur, MIR. johnson
moved a committee of conference lie SAID
that if this resolution was not adopted It would
effect the political damuation OF the present
clerk OF the Gas Works.
Mr. French called for the ayes and noes on
the resolution.
Mr.. johnson. The yeas and nays ~
The resolution Was adopted, aho Messrs'
French and johnson appointed the committee
The salary bill as amended by the Common
Mr. French thought this Board should
adhere to the bill as originally passed. He
thought we had no right to alter the salary OF
the Mayor now as that officer had already been
installed.
Mr.. johnson stated that the alteration was
intended to take effect July, 1873.
Mr.. French further opposed the amendment;
MIR. Underwood thought this Board should
insist on its original action in the matter aud
have committee of conference.
MIR. johnson suggested that the bill be acted
on in joint convention and let the majority rule
The President stated that such action would
not be in accordance with the rules.
Mr.. French thought that the proposed re-
duction in the salaries of the Corporation 9th
GERS would result in injury to the city: He
hoped it would be the pleasure of this Board
to Insist upon the original bill. Rather than
cut down the salaries of faithful officers, they
should be increased; it would be prouotive Of
the best interests OF the Corporation.
Mr. johnson further discussed the question,
tavoring reduction of all the salaries, not OF
one here and another there. He would rather
pass the bill as originally drafted than to pick
aud choose.
Mr. French was happy to have won the pre-
vious speaker to his opinion on the subject.
He had never given thought to the political
effect of this action, but had acted as his best
Judgment dictated. He called attention to the
anomalous provision Of the first clause OF
which provided that the proposed reduction OF
the Mayors salary shall not go into effect until
July 1878, while the letter of the bill was to
fix the salaries of the year commencing July
lst 1872.
Mr.. johnson rose to reply but was interrupted
by the President, who read the rule governing
debate
Mr.. johnson continued his remarks and
moved to concur in the clause reducing the
salary of the Mayor. The motion was not
seconded so the original section was adhered
to. The same action was had Ia the case of the
salary of the Auditor.
Mr. johnson opposed the clause giving ad-
ditional pay to the physicians to the poor when
attending cases of small pox, &c. and on his
motion the amendment was stricken out
Mr. French opposed the clause fixing the
salary of the clerk of the Gas Works. as irrel-
evant until the election of that officer shall be
put into the hands Of the Council He read
from acts OF Council on the subject.
Mr. johnson further reviewed the subject,
from the origin OF the appointment of the clerk
in question. He considered the further this
sui ect was investigated, the more important
it appeared that this officer should be elected By
the Council.
taken in supposing the committee on Gas tena'
cious on this subject; there was no jealousy So
far as he Mr. /. was concerned. lie eulo.
gized the clerk OF the Gas Work but thought
his election inconsistent with the oath rule.
Mr.. French again called attention to the
anomaly of providing salary for clerk not a
Corporation officer.
Mr.. Underwood said that no department Of
the public service had been more faithfully con-
Quoted than that of the Gas Works. He
moved the clause fixing the salary at 81 ,000be
adhered to.
Mr.. johnson also highly eulogzed the pres
sent clerk of the Gas Works. He had saved to
the city by his judiclous management during
the past year almost the amount of his salary.
The amendment fixing the salary at 500 was
rejected.
The President stated 1.-THE bill being on its
| first passage) that the ayes and noes should be
called.
Mr.. Johnson.-'The yeas and nays
The vote was then taken and the bill passed,
unanimously.
The Revenue bill was called up and recon.
mitted to the Committee on Finance which
committee through Mr.. French its chairman
presented the following report:
The Finance Committee, to whom was re.
committed the Revenue Bill, with certain
amendments thereto. respectfully report That
they have carefully examined the amend
ments. and also the suggestion made 10 the
Board of Common Council, and recommend
only the following changes in the Revenue Bill
as reported and passed by the Board of Alder.
men:
On page 8, section ), that the tax on at,
torneys physicians and dentists, be reduced
| from SIS to SO EACH
| The section on page I, assessing license
~ q of, Il IaI ItS
or Wines on every dstier Of ardent spirits
$50, and on every manufacturer of malt liquors
800, the committee recommend that the tax
on manufacturing malt liquors be reduced to
$50, while the others be retained having no
doubt whatever of the power of the corporate
authorities of Alexandria to levy and collect
these taxes under the laws and Constitution oil
the State.
On page 8, section 6, there is levied on every
hotel, ordinary, or house Of public entertain
ment, specific tax Of $50 and per ct. on the
f.bo j,