Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-29
CITY COUNCIL.
The Board of Aldermen and Common Coun-
ell met in their new chambers, in the Market
House building, last night.

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the old foundry property,
Col Ere ich obi. ctcd and stated his intention
of opposing all such petitions, unless Tor error
shown in the assessment He moved to lay
the report of the committee to whom the petit
tion had been referred on the table.
DR.. johnson suggested to refer the matter
to the assessors, and so moved.
Col. French said we were acting now on the
rcport Of the assessors Still he was willing
for the matter to take this course, and 1t was
so ordered.
The President asked if the former custom Of
sending papers and messages to the other Board
by the hands of the members should be kept
up. or should the messenger OF this Board be
designated as page.
DR.. johnson made motion in concurrence
with the above suggestion, which was adopted,
after which the Board adjourned 10 go into
ioiut meeting with the lower board, Tor the
purpose of receiving FROM VIM IL. 'Llm5ert,
esq the stccplc aud clock Of the new Market
House.
On the return Of th: Board 10 The room,
Mr. Scaton enquired what the Committee on
the Poor was appointed for lie thought that
members should be notified Of meetings of that
committee, but he was sorry to say that ne
had never attended meeting Of that commit
ings. If they did not have respect enough tor
him as u man. they should have for him as L
representative from the 4th Ward. lie did
not represent merely one party Or color. but all
the peoplc of that Ward. 1t was Il wrong and
an imposition which should not DC practlscd
He was member of this Board. and you could
not make him anything else. y on may twist
and turn it as you choose. There was an idea
prevailing that one portion Of this Board was
not entitled to the respect that others were.
He was sorry that he had the privilege OF COM
planning. lie did grumble; he did complain;
it almost made the blood curde in his veins.
He was here as member OF this Board: nc
was an Alderman; Senator OF THIS city.
Mai. Loving, chairman OF the Committee on
Poor said If the member had not attended Its
meetings it was his own fault. Tor he had care
fully instructed the messenger to notify him OF
such meetings of that committee.
Mr.. Seatou replied that it was not his fault.
He had never been notified
DIR. johnson explained at length the powers
of a committee, ami illustrated his arguments
by u demonstration OF what such hoard WAS:
and its duties.
Mai. Loving, in the discussion ol the duties
OF the Committee on the Poor, said that in
every case where bills had been paid by his
endorsements but few in numbcr) he had
precedent. He, however, thought that there
ought to be regular system and that all bills
ought to go either before committee, or else
before this Board. As TO notifying Mr.. Sea.
ton personally, he did not know that lie cJuld
have found him if he had tried.
Mr.. Scatou said that necessity and his con.
stituents compelled him u complain. He lived
at l3S south Washington street, and every
gentleman in town knew that he lived IN very
conspicuous place on the sacred soil Of Viz
gina lie claimed the same respect as any
other member of the Board. and il he did not
get it he was going tn grow and his constltu-
cnts would do the same.
lie moved that the matter under discussion
Ia bill for supplies to the Aims House, be re-
ferred to the proper committee. provided that
he could get a second, and he did not kno"
whether he could or not. :.
Dr.. johnson said the paper should 60 to the
Committee on Claims. The Committee on
Poor had no right to endorse any such bills
Mr.. Seaton was here for what was right and
Just. He hoped he would be INDUCED for i
moment He wanted to do the business Of this
Council justly and iutelligcntly. lie stood
here thank God, to nig hit Il Republican.
He was interrupted by the President, who
informed him that he must really conIn, him
self to the question.
The clerk stated that the bill being discussed
by Mr.. Seaton had been passed sune time ago,
and Was not before the Board at li Tor discus
sion. Al.
Iu the matter of the complaints concerning
the old Relief Engine House.
DR.. johnson said that the city had no right
to compel man to repair his property. But
contrary to the opinion Of the examining COM
mittee he insisted that the building Was not
safe: he did not care who said il was. He knew
the feelings of those mothers and children
down there; how anxious and seepiess they
we're; how nervously they went to bed. The
building is nuisance; a source OF terrible APP
prehcnSion and dread He would not dare to
20 to sleep if he lived next door to it. \ pc
tition had been numcrouSly signed by citlzens
of that ucighborhood complaining OF this build
inc as dangerous, and he called for its reading.
Mr.. Scaton hoped the gentleman would tell
who were the owners of this property. He
thought Council had no right to interfere 10
this matter, aud the subject had no lght here;
It was with him and those that are identified
with the public that he possessed the nah; to
repair or pull down, and no one could say he
should repair his house even II 1t was dancer
ons IF he chose to live in it. who had a right
to interfere? He would not lroloug the Board
any longer, but he was satisfied that Council
had no right 70 ulCuu'c III. tllS lla'tcl.
Mr.. Markell euquired wlat Was before The
Board. If was the ownership of this house,
let US discuss that
Gcn. Corse stated briefly the action Of the
committee, to whom the paper had been re-
tcrrcd.
DIR. johnson moved nou-concurrencc IN the
report, and that the whole matter be referred to
committee composed Of the following persons:
VIM. H. Mcknight, Wm. Barte, sr., 5:
Swain. 2. &. Henderson, George Henry, and
Robert Wrenn, ana urged that the matter be
more thoroughly sifed. H. proceeded to cx
Main the effects Of fear on the nervous system
and its results on the physical frame.
Mr. Seaton wished to know it the corpora
ton was responsible. when they ordered the
tearing down of private property. lie ana not
want the corporation to become responsible Tor
such things. Ii this prcc:dcut We're set, soon
We would haze poor men houses complained
of as Dusances and pnllcd down 10 make room
for the three story brick dwellings of soine Of