Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-01

acting on some unfinished business.
Gen. Corse called up the resolution rereal-
ing that portion Of the law requiring locomo-
tiyes to ring their bells on coming into the city,
which had been laid on the table at IL previous
meeting.
DIR. johnson said the resolution had been
laid on the table on, Col French S motion, who
was absent, and that it would not be showing
courtesy to that gentleman to consider the
matter in his absence He no doubt bad good
reasons for making the motion. lie dr. j. was
| onposed to accommodating one or two at the
peril of many, and thought it would be advis-
able to wait until COL French was present.
Gen. Corse could not see where any dlscour-
tesy would be shown to Col. French.
DR.. johnson said he could not vote to con-
cur in resolution of such loose character.
which actually deprived the major portion OF
the residents of ST. Asaph street Of safety. There
should be suitable law passed to meet the rx-
| igencies of the case, for were prohibition put
| upon the ringing of the bells, people would be
in danger of being run over, as the trains moved
noiseessly along. Those who had signed the
| petition regarding the matter knew of the evil
before they purchased their property. 1t would
be doing Injustice to those living on that street
| fer the Board to pass this resolution.
| The resolution was finally laid over
The Revenue bill was then taken up and
read
| MIR. Simpson (Gen. Corse in the chair was
sorry the other Board had struck out OF the
bill the section forbidding the sale Of liquor on
Sunday. lie did not suppose he could say any
| thing. however, to stop the business but at the
same time he would give his vievs on the sub
iect. He had always been or TO allowing
| parties to sell liquor Oh the Sabbath, and this
requirement had been inserted in the bill by
men of sound practical sense, and yet he was
sorry to say that one Of his most Intimate friends
| had STYLED it transmogrifed experimentation
Of ponsence Of course there was no time now
to remedy it; the Revenue bill had to be passed,
| al the city needed money a bill had been pre-
pared by member Of the Common Council IN
| regard to the matter, but was withdrawn on
the ground that the laws of the State were so
defective that no suitable action could be taken
in the premises laws which the brightest in
teccts Of the country had framed.
Judge Underwood concurred IN the views OF
MIR. Simpson, and said that out Of six hundred
criminal cases brought before him during the
last ten years, the majority Of them had orlgl-
| mated from intcmpcrancc. He said he was also
opposed to the anti commercial features Of the
BILL Too much tax was levied upon commerce,
|
failed to prosper II man opened Il commits
sion house he was Immediately regarded as pub
| lie plundcr a heavy tax was levied upor him,
and everything done for the benefit Of the ag-
ricutural interests. 1t b ID always been So in
| Virginia, and he was sorry to sec that old relic
of barbarism incorporated 10 the pres mt Rcvc-
| nue. BILL lie did uut mink a merchant should
| be taxed any moro than farmer, and he should
| ALWAYS insist on it, He was, however, III favor
of taxing whiskcy out OF sight.
DR.. johnson said he would merely rise to
| correct an erroneous impression. Agriculture
should always be encouraged aud promoted, and
! all other things should be of secondary conslde-
ration. Everything don't depend on one iusti-
tution-the Corn Exchange. lie was in favor
of building up agriculture.
The bill was then passed
Mr.. Markell called up the resolution chang
ing the name of Water street TO Pleasant
street.
DR.. johnson thought this matter had better
lie over for the present, as from couvcrsa-
ton with some Of the residents Of Water street
he had learned that some wanted 1t called Lee
street and others Bank street. He said it re-
minded him OF an anecdote: An individual
once petitioncd the Legislature of Pennsylvania
to change his name from Alcock to Babcock.
There were several amendments offered, among
them Bocock, Hiscock, &c, when the illustrl.
Gus Thad Stevens arose and moved that all
the amendments be dropped and his name be
allowed to stand simply Cock. Laughter.
The resolution was laid over.
On presenting bill for the reorganization oil
the police force, which will be found in the
official proceedings, DR.. johnson said:
"Mr. President-Thc demands ola prudent
economy and the growing necessity of husband
ing our means for the urgent and material I'M
provcment of our city, make it incumbent upon
us to retrench wherever such retrenchment can
be instituted without dctriment to public good,
or to the welfare of institutions directly affect
ed by dimiuution Of expense. That our pres
ent gaudy and costly police system IS an ex-
pepsive institution cannot be doubted; and that
it needs reorganization is, also, necessity pa
tent to those whose attention has been called to
its working. 1t may be safely said that it is as
annie 10 its expensivencss as 1t is manliest!y
defective in it's utility; and so clear was this
fact to the minds of the members of the present
City Council that they passed unanimously
resolution instructing the Police Board to re-
commend such reform as to them might be ap-
parent That Board has thus far taken no no
tice of the resolution, and it has thereby been
made the duty Of CouncilmeD, not members of
the Police Board, to call again attention to the
importance of the subject The change from
the old plan of Dight-watchmen and police con-
stables to the present snowy arrangement was
met with some opposition, but under the zeal
Gus and plausible representation of extraordi
nary utility and economy to the community, it
was allowed to become law, leaving, after ad-
cquate time and experience, those promises of
utility and economy to be yet fulfilled; and un-
less some effort is made at reform, this system
will not only 20 on to an increase of the expen-
diture of money, but be accompanied by an
augmentation Of decentralization and inutllity.
The old system cost the people over eight thous-
and dollars per year. The present costs over
twelve thousond dollars for the same period, land
the tax payers are looking at this matter, and
complaining that there is not only evident de-
feet. but manifest want of wisdom in the pro-
visions of the act creating the police force of
the city. The act recognizing the Police
Force, which | have the honor to offer for con-
sideration, has, think two features, which