Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-18

The President stated that the bill had been in
troduced in this Board and been referred to the
Committee On Finance but that the Boardof
Aldermen had not coucurred in that action,
and had passed it, ....s~is
Mr. Evans asked if that was the usual course
Of action when one Board failed to concur in
the action of the other.
The President stated that such was not the
rule generally observed by the Common Coun-
Gil.
Mr.. Evans thought the proper way would
have been tor the other Board to have asked
for committee Of conference. 49,. ...,s,.
The bill was then put on its second reading,
and being open TO amendment, ..,
Mr.. Evans would amend that portion by
which the Clerk of the Common Council was
ordered to make out the bills for the additional
assessment Of twelve cents on the hundred
dollars worth Of real estate, stating that the
Clerk, when elected, had certain duties im-
posed upon him tor which he received speel
fed salary, and that. it did not seem exactly
right to increase those duties without lncreas-
ing the salary. =. 49,
Mr. Hopkins said he thought it was the
duty of the Clerk to make out all tax bills
Mr.. Mckenzie moved to adjourn, but on
division his motion was lost .. .-
Mr.. Hughes moved that the bill lie over till
the next meeting, and on division his motion
was carried.
Mr.. Brodcrs introduced resolution provid-
| ing for the appointment Of joint committee
on retrenchmcnt and reform, which was adopt
| ed, and uuder it the President appointed
Messrs Breeders and Rlshrlll.
Mr. Hopkins then arose and said:
| Mr.. PRESIDENT Il rise to a question OF
| privilege At the last meeting OF the Board OF
Aldermen remarks were INDUCED IN by the
| former chairman of the Finance Committee
severely rejecting upon me. and crtlclslng my
| position in language not at all complimentary.
After long aud studied TRADE in criticism OF
the adoption OF the Revenue bill in his absence,
| he launches out in abuse against the presiding
officer of this Board and myself, for having, as
he processes to believe, engineered his dlspace-
| ment from the Finance Committee, thereby de-
priving the city of his exceedingly dlslnterested
| and valuable services. Now, sir, while l had
nothing to do with his removal, yet tho time
had come when the people demanded that per
sons having charge Of the city $ finances should
be of those who 10 some degree are success
full in the Management of their Own; that chronic
blundcrers in everything relating to sound bust
uess operations should not occupy positions ln-
vGlving the management Of intricate public 10
| terests; that the money wrung from the tax
payers should be under the control Of discreet
and cautious men, and while AIN 10 no way
responsible for the gentleman removal from
the committee, yet, In common With very
large majority OF my fellow citizens, L rejoice
over the result. Nor could do otherwise than
rejoice, unless my confidence equaled his own
conceptions of self superiority in every thing
relating to Corporation affairs. l deny, sir, that
because this body did Dot choose to pass the
ID 4 - N oil,
and which was still smoking hot from the hands
Of this profound inancier, and loaded down with
unconstitutional riders and conditions, that we
are in favor of Sunday traffic in whiskey. There
is not lawyer 10 the city but will tell you that
those conditions, discriminating against certain
licenses were unconstitutional and could not
have been enforced, and | submit that the
wholesale onslaught upon the fourteen mem
bers Of this Board who chose, IN the exercise
of their Judgment to differ with the gentle
man, and who held to the notion, foolish 1t may
have been, that heir aggregated wisdom equal
ed that displayed in the preparation OF the bill,
was a most wanton and unchartable attack.
Some men never learn to concede to their
fellow man that which they claim for them
selves having neither candor, llberaty or toll
erance in judging Of the sentiments and opln-
ions Of others, but setting up their own as
truth, are ever ready to stamp Us heresy every
sentiment not emanatlng from their own minds,
and seem oblvous to the great fact that we
live 10 world of probabilities, rot Otcertalntles.
As we are surrounded all our days with those
who differ from US in opinion we should be
charitable enough to allow others the same sin
| cere convictions we claim for ourselves, 1t is
| therefore unfair and Unjust to attribute dis
senting opinions TO obstinacy or Stupidity the
Instant we do so We not only insult fellow be-
| lug but we lay ourselves open to the same un-
| handsome treatment in return. Nothing then
| can show meaner mind than to attempt to
| oppress or illtreat another on account OF his
opinions. and yet we see this board lnsulted by
the arrogance and conceit of this bombastlc Al
derman. While | have great Veneraton Tor
age and the very highest respect Tor the feelings
of others, | will not allow remarks rejecting
upon me or my Board to pass unnotlced. l
protest most emphaticaly against this Board,
as then constituted: being charged with encour-
aging drunkenness on the Sabbath day, for |
know large majority were opposed to the sale
of Intoxicating drinks on that day, and believe
the present Board is also, but to have lncorpo-
rated prohibition in the Revenue bill, as
condition to the granting Of licenses, would have
defeated a prompt collection and Involved US 10
law suits which would have, 10 all probability,
gone against US. l. SO characterlHco IL, ana re-
peat, 10 all Difference to the members Of the
other Board who voted for it, for all Of whom
| have the very highest regard, that the bill
gotten up by the Finance Committee, or rather
IFS Chairman, was conglomeration of blunders
and absurdites, nor was it entirely purified,
though much improved 10 its passage through
this Board. .....5.y...
I will not, Mr.. President, consume the time of
Council by discussing the question as to whcth-
er the poor are benefited or oppressed by ex-
empting manufactures from taxation; that has
been settled in cities where the experiment has
been tried resulting invariably in great benefit
to the working man, or to notice his efforts in
attem ptug to show that this Council is hold
ing out Inducements for tipping shops to
spring up like mushrooms around every manu-
factory which may be started, &C., &c, as
neither proposition is germaiDe to my purpose
1t is the FIRST time siuce my connection with
this Council that member of either hoard has