Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-03
LOCAL ITEMS.

uication from the Mayor on the subject Of the
Sunday Law, and accompanying the communi-
cation with the draft Of an act to prohibit the
sale and use OF intoxicating liquors.
The communication and act were read as
follows:
MAYORS OFFICE,
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Jan. l, 1873. !
r., the Honorable Cty Council:
GENTLEMEN Il beg leave to invite your at
t,nton to the draft of an act to prohibit the sale
uf liquors and intoxicating drinks on the Sabbath
day, and for other purposes, whca is presented
herewith.
The act passed January 18th, 1869, entitled
.aa act to secure the better observance Of the
sabbath day in Alexandria," has met with seri-
ois and continued opposition; and valuable as
deem its provisions the Corporation Court has,
after full argument oy counsel, decided that
executive officer of the Corporation felt it my
duty to attempt the enforcement OF the law until
this decision, but now feel bound To submit to
the Judgment Of the Court To prevent the desc
Grafton of the Sabbath day is surely one of the
highest duties of every good citizen, and aspect
lilly of those into whose keeping In material
degree is conided the good order and peace of
the community. The vice of intoxcatlon, from
which flows most Of the crimes which are COM
United, seems greatly on the Increase IN our
midst and Invite your cordial coo poration in
all proper efforts in our respective spheres to
suppress it. The sale of Intoxicating drinks on
the sabbath is gross violation of the Divine
law by which are commanded to keep 1t
holy. But in addition to this, MS conservat RS of
the public peace looking to proper police ragu-
lations, does not the duty devo!ve upon us, if we
cannot prevent altogether lat least ny lawful re-
strains and punishlnents,) to check and lessen
this growing evil, 50 destructive of the health
and morals of those who yield to the temptation
The bill herewith presented has been prepared
under my direction, with much care, and Is be-
Iieved not to be obnoxious tothe objections made
To that which it proposes to repeal. 1t seeks to
strike at the root of the evil, by prohibiting the
sale ofintoxiceting drinks on the Sabbatr, and
to leave to the State law the punishment i'm
posed thereby upon those founa laborlng ut any
trade or calling on that day. would most re-
specttuly recommend, should 1t meet your ap
probation, the immediate passage OF the accom-
panying net. Respectfully,
AN AcT to prohibit the sale of liquors and in
toxicating drinks the Sabbath day in tbs
city of Alexandria, and for other purposes.
Whereas, the peace, good order and health Of
the community depend, in Il material degree,
upon tho proper observance of the Sabbath day,
and whereas it is the duty of ali good citizens to
aid ss far us possible, Ill the suppression OF
crime and immortality
Sec l. Be it therefore enacted by tho City
Council of Alexandria, That it shall not be law
fll, between the hours Of twelve O'Clock OF Sat-
urday night and twelve o clock of Sunday light
brandy, whiskey, gin or mixtures thereof or
any wine, ale beer or Intoxicating drinks, and
for each violation Of this provision the person of
fending shall DO subject to line Of fifteen dol
lars and shall forfeit and pay the same with
legal costs.
Sec 2 That the bar rooms in hotels, taverns,
ordinaries, restaurants and houses where liquors
and intoxicating drinks are usually sold, shall
be closed during the hours mentioned in the
first section OF this act, and every person CON
.fa lof,, i,,1u tip fCrfn
and pay for each offence the sum OF fifteen dol |
lars, with legal costs.
Sec 3. That upon proper information, under
oath, of a violation Of the provisions of this act
u warrant shall be issued against the person |
charged with the offence by the Mayor of the
city of Alexandria or any Justice of the Peace
for said city, returnable at u time and place in |
said city and specified in tao warrant, ana II, |
cusel shall be found guilty judgment shall be
rendered against him for the hnc imposed oy
this act and legal costs.
Sec 4 That the fines imposed under authori-
ty Of this act shall enure to the use OF the City
Council Of AleIandria.
Sec. S. That when judgment shall be render
cd for any fine imposed oy virtue OF this act
shall not be Immediately paid, the Mayor OF the
city of Alexandria or any Justice OF the Peace
of said city rendering the same shall, by war
rant, commit the offender TO the Work House
for periou not less than ten days or more than
ninety DAYS from the rendition of the said judg-
ment unless such person be legally discharged
before the expiration of the period mentioned IN
the warrant of commitment.
Sec. +. That the act entitled An act to secure
the better observance Of the Sabbath day in Al,
exandria," passed January 18th, 1869, be- and
the same is hereby, repealed.
Sec I. This act shall be III force from Its pas
sage
Mr. French said that in an important matter
like this he could not, on SO short notice, fully
comprehend the scope of the bill, and he would
suggest that it lie over and be printed
DR.. johnson would like to have the views
of the members gu the subject, although the
bin could not pass tonight for want of a con-
sttutional majority. He was prepared to de-
monstrate that the BILL as drafted, would be III
operative and useless.
Mr.. French moved to adjourn.
MIR. Underwood would have been glad to
hear the views Of DR.. johnson.
Mr. French withdrew his motion to allow
the reading of communication from Or. Brown,
rosiGninr his position as Health Officer, which
is Us follows:
10 the members Of tie city Council ct the CHy o.
Aicrantrta:
GESrLEMEN: -Rogrettng that it is incom-
patiblc with my professional engagements to re-
tain longer tho position of Health O1lccr, re-
'p''''' ~ BEDFORD BROWN.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Jan =, 1873.
Dr. johnson said that DR.. Brown had been
looking all over the city for physician to at
tend these small pox cases and had not as.
tuteness enough to find himself: This city had
existed for ninety years before DR.. Brown came
here and would survive his loss. 1t was his
duty as Health Officer to attend these cases. Ii
he held the position he would attend them at
the risk of his te He knew a physician who
had had the small pox who would take all this
work If these physicians to the poor would
not attend these cases they should resign and
give way to those who would. He had attend.
ed hundreds of cases of small pox and never
charged cent for it; he would not have the
money; it was infected. 1t was the duty OF the
Health Officer to so into all these places where
this disease exists and remove every article ex'
cept a bed and one chair, aud burn them. his