Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-22
RaurI nf Aldermen.


Me0srs French, Corse, Loving and Markell
were present, about thirty or forty spectators
being outside the bar.
TLe action of the Common Council in ap
,;n,;,o commissioners to hold the election TO-
aou having been coucurred in, the President
stated the object of the meeting was the COZ, u,
sideratiou of the amendments to the salary Diii
made by the Common Council. Co..
That bill was then taken up ana the nfs'
amendment, that allowing the Mayor - per
eaot commission on licenses collected by hEn 10
addition to q salary of $500, being read was
unanimously adopted without debate, ;,
The second amendment, that makiog the
Auditors net salary $1,000 being read; >,
Mr.. Markell opposed its adoption. Inc cry
finances were no, in condition 10 warrant 1,c
proposed incrci >, and il they were 1 Woulu DC
better 10 give the Increase to those WIN u9 ION
rsceive as much IS the Auditor now does. HE
Auditor was a worthy and etbclcnt oIictr' put
rs he was TO have no Increased i;'Dol put upon
him he was entitled To no increase OF pay.
Tha President stated that DR.. johnson was
n anothrr room in the building aud had re-
nuestcd 70 be scrt for when the meeting was
called to order aud it would bc no more than
rnurtrur, 10 wait until he came, as the mcssen-
ger had gone after him. ,
CoI IRE ,ch explained that the bill before
amendment. allowed the Auditor $500 and a
commission of - per cent upon the licenses,
Int that the Council had given the collection
of licenses to the Mayor aud fixed the Auditor 5
salary at $1,000.
Dr. johnson having arrived said that bis OBJ
iect in proposing the transfer of the COLLECTION
Of licenses from the Mayor to the Auditor had
been to save the Corporation $4OO. 1t the Au-
dtor's salary was $7OO and he was allowed the
collection of licenses and the Mayors salary
! fixed at $500 that sum could have been saved
to this heavily taxed community. We must
observe the most rigid economy. $500 to so
oppressed people is an item, especially When
| it is remembered that we have to borrow money
at 10 Der cent. The Auditor does not coln-
plain of the ga ary he now receives and 1t would
be time enough to Increase his salary when he
asked for it, though he, the speaker, would be
willing to increase it now if that of some ofthc
other officers were reduced the same amount so
as not to increase the aggregate expense. we
must fit the man to the Office not the office to
the man. Lie, the speaker, was a ways consist.
ent, and his object in reducing the proposed
salary vas not directed to the present Auditor.
but to the office of Auditor, no matter who
might fill it, What was sauce for the goose
like the salary don't let him luu for the Office
There is not one office of the CORPORATION, who
would not resign his position and desert US if he
could make 500 by so doirg. What was fair
to the Individual would b, lair 10 the people
and be would adhere to the former action Of
the Board
Col F.euch-We can't adhere, as we have
already coneurred in an Amendment, aud l
move to cuncUr in the action OF the lower
Board.
The question being put was decided in the
affirmative Ayes-Messrs. Simpson, Loving
French and Corse Nues-Mcssrs. Markell
and johnson.
A considerable discussion here ensued as to
the correctness Of the decision. Messrs John
son, Markell and one of the spectators main.
tanning that as mouey was involved, it required
nla GRITTY of the whole Board to concur in the
Councils amendment, and Mr.. French that it
would require that ma jjority when the bill
should be put upon its passage, but that the
non concurrence with an amendment to one OF
the sections Of the bill required only majority
of those present.
Mr.. Markell-Lct the President decide, and
if we dou't like the decision we can appeal.
The President again decided that the amend
mcnt had been concurred 10.
was sustained by the following vo,e 4: Ayes
Messrs. Loving, French and Corsc. Noes
Messrs Markell and Johnson.
The clerk resumed the reading Of the bill,
and had read several sections when,
DIR. johnson said the clerk will read slowly,
he is not III amber but subordinate OF this
body.
The clerk reverting read the unamcnded Sec
ton fixing the salary of the Superintendent OF
Gas at $500
DR.. johnson said the outgoing had no right
TO fix the salaries Of the officers to be elected
bv the incoming Council. He deemed it pre-
sumptuous for him to prescribe what should be
paid officers to be elected by those who might
succeed him. We should not forestall our sue
cessors. He had heard that there was a law
providing for a llary bill By the outgoing
Council, but he had never been able to tlnd It,
Certainly it was good law aud good construc-
ton of law to fix the salary of an officer at any
time previous to his installation, though he
did think it would be better to fix that Of the
Mayor and Treasurer, the only two to be elect
ed to-day, but for the rest 1t would be wise to
leave their salaries to the decision OF the next
Council, and be would move to skip over all
the rest OF the bill.
COL French said he had been invited to the
meeting for the special purpose OF passing the
salary bill before the election of those who
were to receive the salaries, and that If nc had
not thought that purpose was to be accomp-
lished he most certainly would not have been
present Every body knows that we can not
alter an officer salary after he has been elect
ed, and if it has been the constant practice OF
the outgoing Council to pass the salary bill,
why should we shirk that duty Would 1t be
right to elect parcel Of officers, they suppos-
ing they were to receive the salary now paid,
and after their election to reduce the present
salaries? The bill was not such as he desired,
but in order to prevent delay and to show a
spirit of CANCELLATION, he was willing to agree to
its passage.
Dr.. johnson said Council not only has the
power to alter the salary of an officer, but to
remove him and abolish his Office, and read
from the printed rules to sustain his remarks.
COL French said not one word that had been
read was in conflict with what he had said.
He had never denied that Council could re-
move an officer for dereliction Of duty.