Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-24
lITY COUNCIE..
A regular meeting Of the City Council wa
held last night.


meeting and The call OF coDimilrecs for reports.
A bill for repairs to the Aims House amount
ing to 500 81, including purchase -of stoves,
&c, was presented by MIR. Moore and ordered
to be paid. Mr.. NJ. said that 1t had been
stated that these repairs w"uid cost upwards Of
81 200, but that the Committee on Pubic
Property had hadsa tl!at was nccessary done
for-the amount specified : :. :
DR.. johnson having Introduced 4 resolution
providing that the wood purchased by the Cor
uoraton for the poor should be distributed by
the Overseers ofthe Poor. instead of by the
Mayor,
Mr.. Latham said he should opp 'se the pas
sage of he resolution upon principle. He had
full confidence in the OvcrsccrS Of the Poor, but
was not in favor of taking from the NJ yur the
distribution OF the wood. His opportunities
were so much greater than those OF the Over
serrs for knowing 10 whom The distribution
should be made, aud he should, or ought 10
have constant SUPERVISION in all. parts OF the
city, aud consequently better knowledge OF
the relative population Of the Wards, AMI the
propnri of poor in each. He knew there
had been complaints Of parilaliy against the
present incumbent and it necessary, he should
have his acts investigated, but rs lar as the dis
tributon of the wond was concerned he was
perfectly willing that the Mayor should have
the distribution, especially with our present
population.
understood his position, he would refer the
matter TO the Oversecrs who, in his opinion,
were more nearly connected with the people OF
the Wards So unequal had been the dislrihu
ton heretofore that the Ovrrseers had com
blamed and requested that he wood should De-
subject to their orders He had presented the
resolution at the request of Mr.: Moore, and
was decidedly in favor oft.
MIR. Moore thought the Ovcrscers the prop
or ones to distribute the wood as tn. May
or had not the time aud could not he as we'll
acquainted with the wants Of the poor IN the
different Wards.
MIR. Latham said he knew more ahint the
matter than any one else. While Mayor he
had always acted in harmony with the Over
seers of the Poor, and had Frequently refused
orders from them, always, however, with their
approval. If the Mayor did his dnty h. would
know to whom the wood was given, and in
what auantitirs. Himself had been. charged,
while in Office Of injustice, but he had always
triumphautly rcfutcd the charges, as lac had
done all others ever brought against him. While
Mayor he had in the matter OF wood for the
poor, in four years, saved two years salary, and
in lSGG-'7 he had obtained from the govern
ment one hundred cords OF wood, without cost
ing the city one cent, something that, without
egotism, he did not believe anyone else could
have done
The question being taken upon the adoption
Of the resolution II was lost lur want ol the
REQUISITE majority, Mr.. Latham voting no.
A resolution from the Common Council
sanctioning the gu!tering of Il portion OF Co
l.. l. IA nv Dr.
Johnson on the ground that the whole street
would have to be graded soon, and that it would
therefore be useless expenditure, and upon
motion Of Mr. Latham the action OF the Com
mon Council was uou concnrred in, and the
resolution referred to the Committee on Streets.
A resolution passed by the Common Council
in reference to delinquent property, insructlng
the Collectors to sell for taxes due, was opposed
by Dr. johnson upon the ground ofcXtruosdina
~ hard times, and that the Collectors should
first distrain. ID q
DR.. French favored the resolution because
he thought that If all were forced to pay the
city would realize eighty or one hundred thous-
and dollars, and the taxes could be reduced at
least twenty per Ct, and the city would get
along, financially, much better.
Mr. Latham favored the resolution because
it was but carrying out IA law and while it would
probably fall heavily upon himself, yet, as II
was Mav and had been placed in the new CHAR
ter contrary 10 his wishes, he was for carrying
it ont
DIR. johnson again expressed his opposition
on account of the times, aud would wait until
Spring and the revival OF business before exc
cutting the law III this respect. lie was Tor CIV
ing notice to dcnqnents but at the same time
granting them some indulgence, ID consequences
of the financial Crisis
The question on c1ncuriing in the action of
the Common Council, in passlng the resolution,
was then taken aud it was lost for want OF The re-
aui,te majority-Dr. johnson Voting no.
MIR. Moore said he did not see the use Of
considering any further business as it seemed
nothing could pass, but,
A resolution from the Common Council in.
sructing the delegates in the Legislature from
this city and county to vote for hill requiring
TIE payment Of the capitation tax as prere-
uuisite to voting in the municipal elections, was
read, and the vote being taken upon its passage
it was deteated-Mr Latham voting DO.
Bills against DR.. johnson Tor Il we'll on north
Pitt street. referred by the Common Council,
coming up, ',"
MIR. Latham asked if the work had been or
dered by Council
DR.. johnson explained that the people in
the neighborhood had been deprived Of Il
Spring by its being filled up, and had called his
attention to their want Of water; that he had
called the attention of the Committee on Streets
to the matter, but they had paid no attention To
it, when he had had the work done himself and
paid tor it, with the exception of IS donated
by some of the residents 10 the vicinity. II was
necessary that the people there should have
water; that be had had the work done cheap,
and it now only remained to be seen whether he
was to be reimbursed for his outlay.
The bills were referred
DR.. johnson presented petition Of the bar
bers asking the passage Of i law requiring the
closing Of barber shops on Sundays, which, on
motion of Mr.. Latham, was referred to the
Committee on General Laws, with Instructions
to report bill in accordance with tho prayer Of
the uetitioners aud then, at $50, the Board
adjourned. s....
COMMON COUNCIL. ..G
There was very sparcc Attendance outside
Of the bar, and but ten members within the bar
II. ,,,,,l l..,f