Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-28
LOCAL NEWS.

that committee on the petition for exemption
from taxation of the Virginia Telegraph Com
Sr. Corse said that the Office of this com
nany was in the same room with the Southern
company, and they used the same license. L
was local enterprise.
Mr.. Underwood was 10 favor of assisting al
such enterprises, and would vote for the propo
Sition with pleasure
Mr. French called attention to the condition
ofthe city finances. This was proposition tt
refund 500, which, as he understood it, wa:
,,lt as matter Of generosity, and not as take:
enormously collected The report was adopted
On the petition of Noble Lindsay asking per
mission to erect sign post at the corner O
King and Union streets,
Mr.. Markell said that if this petition was
granted it would be bad precedent
Mr. Januey thought the petition stood on
different ground from most others in this mat
Ter. He was in favor of granting the petition
Mr. Lindsay muSt have such sign AS he dc
>ircS, or have none at all. He alluded to tht
signs of Mr. Harrison and the Telegraph com
l,any.
Mr. Markell said that those signs ought &c
he pulled down.
Mr.. Janney said that it was more praise
worthy in Mr. Lindsay to come and ask per
mission of Council than to erect sign as the
others had done, without permission.
The debate was further continued 10y NlesSrs.
French. Corse, Markell. Janney and Seaton,
and the report of the committee favorable to
the petition was adopted.
The bill to number the houses was returned
i.v the Mayor with the following objections:
MAYORS OFFICE
ALEXANDRIA, Feb. 9th, 1872
r. The Honorable City (omaal:
(,ExTLEMEN-I return without my official
signature. An act authorizing the number
lac of the buildings and vacant lots in the City
OF Alexandria, The striking out of the Sd
section of the act was the destruction OF the
object of the whole movement. There is no
real necessity for the REMEMBERING OF the houses
Al this time but there is an urgent necessity tor
the numbering of the vacant lots within the
corporate limits. The tax collectors require that
said lots should be numbered for the better en-
torcclcnt Of the revenue laws. and great I'M JUS
ice will continue to be done to large number
OF our people if the princi pie Of the third sec
zion should be Quilted from the act.
Permit me to suggest that it be made the
d uv of the contractor under the act to prepare
correct map OF the various vacant lots upon
which numbers may be placed as a guide to the
assessor; said map to be placed In charge OF
the Auditor for future reference. This is essen
italy necessary. 1t is notorious fact that the
entire property in the City should be carefully
assessed; when this is done there will be more
equal distribution Of the burthens Of taxation.
1t will not require large posts but stakes about
Is inches long, inches wide and inches thick
with numbers either branded or painted on
them. After correct map is prepared and
placed in the Auditors Office it will not be very
material if the stakes should be destroyed. To
guard against the destruction Of the stakes a
peualtv could be affixed for the mutilatlon or
destruction of them | have thus given my
reasons for not signing the act and offered sug.
gestions for its amendment to which your calm
consideration is solicited.
HuGH LATHAM, Mayor.
Mr.. .Janney hoped the veto Of the Mayor
would be sustained He gave his reasons why
II was important that the third section OF the
hill mum bering the lots, should be carried into
Eject.
Mr.. French endorsed the remarks of Mr..
Janney. He had an exempliGcation of this to-
day in going to the Auditors Office and finding
their official searching in vain for the where
abouts of a certain lot.
Mr.. Seaton agreed with the views of the
preceding speakers, and the veto was sustained
by unanimous vote.
Mr.. Januey called up the bill redistrictiug
the city On inquiry he was satisfied that 1t
was j decided Improvement on the old ward
division. both as convenience to the assessors
and collectors, land as equaising,the voting pop
uaton.
lIr. Seaton differed with the previous speak
en- Why should this Board take from portion
OF the city that is stationary, and add to part
of the city that is already growing. tie thought
that this division, instead OF adding 80 votes
to the Sd Ward would add $50 He thought
this only political move, and not designed as
a benefit to the city, and proceeded to show
why he thought it political trick to injure the
Republican party, but you couldn hurt her.
The President called the speaker to order,
stating that it was not in order to impugn the
motives of the gentlemen on the commit
tee it was courtesy to suppose that their mo-
tives were for the good of the city Simply
Mr.. Corse enquired if the Alexandria and
Fredericksburg Railroad shops would not add
to the ward which Mr. Seatou feared would be
depleted as the result Of this bill.
Mr. Janney said that the 18th Ward was al,
ready the strongest in the city, aud SHOW ed
that the change could not produce the effect
supposed by Mr. S.
Mr. Seaton replied and was called to order
10y Mr. Markell. who said he must not lmpugn
the motives of the committee. They had stood
it as long as possible and he 6. must stop It:
Nlr. French gave his reasons why he should
oppose the hit The Mort hern District was
already the largest and should not be added to.
he tax bills would have to be transferred and
the assessors books thrown away and new set
prepared He gave statement OF the vote at
The last election The Sd Ward had polled 1872
votes, 100 more than any other Ward in the
city.
Mr. Janney replied, and was followed BY
Mr.. Simpson, who said he had previously
been in favor of the bill, but in view Of the ex-
hibit of Mr. French, he felt that he must now
vote against it.
The bill was lost-ayes 1, noes 4.
Petition of Sophia Cohen, asking relief from
taxation on the ground Of extreme poverty.
Nr. Seaton enquired if the lady was SO very
POOR, what property had she to be relieved from
taxation
The President stated that she owned small
dwelling