Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-11

the present suburbs have become part of the
heart OF the city, ii was well enough, but it was
impractlcable uow-the City Council could not
do it it would be oppressive to compel the
owner OF hall square on an unpaved street
to clear the soow from it for the convenience
of perhaps one man who might walk aloug that
way during the day.
The President thought the resolution too
sweeping. 1t might do for the principal streets,
but not for the suburbs. 1t would cost too
much, and be nugatory, because no one would
observe it.
MIR. Latham would accept its restriction to
the portion of the city within what is known as
the fire limits-that part 10 which framed
buildings are not allowed to be erected.
DR.. French suggested that the work be done
by The chain gang, and said that there need he
no fear Of a dlmluuliOn 10 the numbers of that
gang during the winter.
Mr.. Latham insisted that the corners Of King
street aud It's intersections, aud those oil the H.
te,sectlOus OF the streets 10 the Immediate
ncighhorhood Of the Market House, be kept
clear OF snow.
Mr.. Moore said if there was any money to
be spent on the streets, il had better be ex
pended in repairing thcm-tor repairs were
sorely needed the snow would ut stay long
and would mt hurt much.
The Police bill having been read,
Mr.. Latham moved ~ strike out all relating
to the Board OF Police, the whole OF which was
null aud VOID, and Judge Keith, 10 his cele.
DRAFTED decision, had So pronounced it. There
w;s no use Tor members TO stick to 1t because
they had supported it. lie was not tenacious
of his oplnlon for consistency 5 sake. The City
Council overrode him, but Judge Keith had
SUSTAINED him in all the points he had made
a. l. ~ H.,
aud Mr. Mckenzie agreed with him in all his
ob-ctious Il was folly to retain the section.
The present Mayor was ln the habit Of calling
the Board Of Police in consultation when
charges were preferred against Il policeman
the late Mayor was gully Of no such folly. a
short time since such consultation Was held
and the charges beng sustained the Board re-
commented the suspension OF the officer, but
the Mayor refused TO heed the recommends
lion. See the folly Of the whole proceeding
The State Constitution gives the Mayor sole
power 10 such cases, and 10 one has Il right
to interfere with him in the exercise OF
that power, and the present law is an
ulcer upon the body polite Judge Keith
said the City Council had not the right to do
what they provided body of their own crea.
ton could DO. He would repeat that Judge
Keith bad agreed with him IN all his objections
except the Que regarding the bonding OF the
policemen, anil he would bet Il thousand dollars
to il ten ccnt piece that any lawyer, aud man
OF common sensr would say that in that polut
Jude Keith was wrong Judge Keith had
based his ui'lolon upon the supposltlOn that
policemen had the same authority as county
coustabes, They never had such authority, but
the City COuucll had allowed policemen, 10
order to exc out a livelyhood, to be elected
county constaDIts. That decision was abored
effort to su tam certain gentlemen III wrong
position. Or, H. he had called it at the time, it
was rendered, u potent soothing syrup for the
wounded feelings Of the Board Of Police.
DR.. johnson said that every objection of
Mr.. Latham was correct, and we'll taken. Coun
Gil was the Legislature, the Mayor the execu
tive, aud the Corporation Attorney the Judicial
body OF the Corporation. The Council could
not delegate executive officers, and so potent
had this bcconc that tie Board Of Police was
no longer looked upon as having legal existence,
and he, the speaker, had had the honor Of pre-
pariug bill doug away with it, but providing
Tor d committee to consult with the Mayor 10
such cases Us Mr.. Latham had mentioned, when
to act alone would be rather unpleasant.
Mr. Lathan-But with no power to conflict
with the Mayor
Dr. johnson They could not do it. The
Mayor cau turn out the Council.
Mr.. Lai ham-So thiuk but limb of the
law here was so disguised with that opinion of
mlue that he has prosecuted and prosecuted me
ever since J. expressed that opinion. If the
Mayor has not nerve enough to do what he
thinks right, he is unfit for the position. |
would not ask au angel what to do wheu the
law was plain. La the case be had alluded to,
the policeman should, according to the evil
dencr, have been suspended, but the Mayor
refused to suspend him, and some of the Board
of Police were SO much disguised with hun Tor
not doing SO that they had determined to consult
with him no more Such a state of affairs WAS
just what hc the speaker, had predicted as the
result of the law. He did not want to altude to
certain things that had TRANSFERRED IN the police
force during the last eighteen months. The
Mayor Was the proper officer to supervise the
police, and he should be allowed to do SD with
out hindrance, and be held responsible.
The section relating to selling bran by weight
having been read,
The President stated that when youth he
was clerk for his brother Joseph, and in that
capacity had sold Mr. Reid Cross a quantity Of
bran by measure, as he always had sold it. A
short time afterwards a constable summoned
him before Mr.. Roberts, the Mayor who fined
him 81 for selling bran by measure Instead of
by weight. He paid the fine but Informed the
Mayor that he thought it very hard that he
should be compelled to do So and for so doing |
was told to shut up or be fined $50 for con-
tempt The next day he sold some more bran
by measure, and some spy, whom he never
could discover, informed on him, and he was
again brought before Mayor Roberts, who iucd
him $40 aud again expressing his opinion Of
the Injustice Of the fue, was again told to keep |
his mouth or be fned for contempt, and that
after that, though the purchasers made by
buying by measure, for that bran weighed
twenty two instead Of twenty pounds 10 the
bushel, he always sold bran with closed doors.
DR.. johnson stated that the retail dealers
always bought by weight but sold by measure,
and when the customers purchased from them
by weight they were charged five cents more
per bushel than wheo they bought by measure.
The amendments made by the Common
Council having been read, the Board adjourned
till tonight, when they will resume the con-
Sjderatop Of the comnilated laws