The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-24
LOCAL. MATTERS.
CITY COUNCIL.

lHe wy IOuncil last nlBHt duOpled
resolution that in the opinion of the Council
all Improvements of streets recommended
by the committee on streets and adopted
by the Council, carry with them the neces-
sary appropriations to meet said improve
ments. Also, a resolution placing 5000
to the credit of street improvements, to
meet such necessary expenditures as have
been or may be incurred in the prosecution
of the same.
The sum Of $1,000 was appropriated for
the construction Of gas pipes on Louisiana
street to Williamsburg street.
Mr.. Scott, from the committee on police.
presented report recommending that the
city provide necessary rooms for the city
coroner in accordance with the provisions
OF the city ordinances, and suggesting the
acceptance Of an offer of the faculty Of the
Medical College, in effect as follows: $40
furnish two rooms in the college building
one for the exposition of dead bodies, and
the other for post-mortem examinations, to-
gether with furnished room for the accom-
mediation of juries, with fire when neces.
sary, and servants attendance in the post
mortem room, for $3.50 per annum the
city to provide the fixtures and turni-
ture for the exposition and post-mortem
rooms as well as gas and water for the
latter, which will require an additional ex-
penditnre of probably not over 500, and
possibly much less" Adopted, and $3.50
appropriated to carry the Recommendation
into effect. " '.--.s
On the recommendation ofthe same COM
mittee, political meetings in the City Springs
Park are hereafter prohibited.
Draoi3op4 yVrn,1 l. IL L. AZ. C,>..J
a communication from John M. Robinson,
president of the Richmond, fredericksburg,
and Potomac Railroad Company, denying
the right of the city to assess and collect
taxes upon the property Of the road within
the city limits, the company claiming that
such property is exempt by provision Of
the charter from municipal taxation.
President Robinson says: st is true
that in former years they have paid to the
city similar taxes assessed on the land oc-
cupied by them in this city, because, al
though the executive officers and legal adj
visers of the company never entertained
any serious doubts as to the company's
legal exemption from any such taxes, yet
in the absence Of any adjudication of that
precise question by the Supreme court of
the State, this company was willing to give
the city the benefit of any doubt respect
ing it which might be entertained by the
Council, so long as this company's use of
Broad street was undisputed by the Coun-
Gill;"
Messrs. Starke, Manly and Talbot were
appointed committee to inquire into the
expediency of creating the Office of lnspec-
tor of Buildings. This is an important step
on the part of the CouAcil, and Mr.. Starke
deserves the thanks of the public for pro-
posing it. We do not hesitate to predict
that the committee will, after a free confer
| renee, conclude to recommend the creation
of the office. g.r.-.- r..
Mr.. Bargamin offered an ordinance for
| the repeal Of the ordinance to forbid secular
labor on the Sabbath. Mr.. Newberry
| moved that the thirteenth rule be suspend
| ed for the purpose of Immediately consider
! ing the subject. The motion was argued
| by several members, when the vote on the
| suspension of the rule was taken, as
follows:
Ayes--Messrs. Bargamin, Bossieux
Chesterman, VIM. English. Metzger. New
berry, Straus, Higgins, Talbot, Wagner
| Whitlock, Wynne---l2.
| Noes Messrs. Boyd. Cottrell, Davis, j
J. English, Hall, Lpscomb, Manly, Starke,
Scott of Clay, Scott of Jefferson, Thornton
Wellford--l2.
| Two-thirds of the members present not
having voted afiirmatively, the motion tc
suspend the rule in order to consider thu
repeating ordinance was lost.
The Council then adjourned.