Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-11
CITY COUNCIL.
The regular semi-monthly meeting OF the
CITY Council was held last night.

City Council was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Tho Finance Committee reported adversely
on the petition for releasing the tug boats ply,
ing in this harbor from taxation. The ground
of the petition was that tug boats IN Washing
ton and Georgetown were not taxed, ana IL was
discrimination against the commerce OF tnis
CITY. The answer of the committee is that such
boats are not specially exempt III the DistrlcI
sS Columbia. but only so because no personal
proDcrty is taxed in that District. ;,
The following report of the special commit
toe annointed to examine the annual report OF
the Fire Wardens was presented by Col. French:
TO the Common C""mcH:
Tho special committee appointed u oaamihe
Tho animal rerort of tho Fire Wardcns OF Alex
.nJr.a lately submitted by them, rs to the OK
nnnscs and outlay made by them in connection
With the said Fire Department. respectfully re-
n,rt that after q careful examination OF all the
transactions Of the Fire Wardens, IN connection
with the management of their outlay and expen-
Iiturcs as shown in their books, and In personal
explanations made by the Wardcns themselves,
As TO various items of expenditure to which their
attention was called your COMMITTEES feel salts
fled that the working expenses OF the fIrc D9-
uartmont have been judiciously and economical
" managed, and that the Wardens for their SER
vices are entitled to the thanks OF the community
JAS S. FRENCH Chairman.
W. Z. HENDERSON.
DR.. johnson said this report was perver-
sion of facts There was not an lota OF evidence
presented before the committee to show how
the money was spent. He was disappointed
and chagrined at the conduct of this investiga-
ton and its result. He had been contempt
uously treated and interrupted by partizan
chairman, who had assumed that position with
out invitation. The whole thing was gotten
up as a embarrassing scheme. He had sat
there and asked questions and was stopped by
the uncouthness of one of the Fire Wardens,
and interrupted by the chairman himself, who
had made premeditated report. He read at
some length speech on the subject.
Col. French said he had positively no feeling
on the subject, and the imputations OF the
member fall harmless at his feet. The com
mittee having been constituted for a special
purpose-to examine the annual report of the
Fire Wardens-it would have been 10 bad taste,
to say nothing of its being foreign to the powers
of the committee, to go into al examination OF
the history of the Fire Department. The ex
j was like his speech, it had nothing to do
with the subject. He bad called him to order
because the questions he was asking were en-
tirey irrelevant to the subject. The books of
the secretary of the Fire Wardens were pre-
scented and every item was examined. Vas
not that sufficient? He (Dr. j.. said 10 the
presence of the committee of the Fire Wardcns
that he did not charge these gentlemen with
wrongfully spending one dollar, but thought
they had honestly acted in all things. What
now could be done2 Ii he is dissatisfied with
the Fire Department as it exists, let him move
to amend the law. 1t appears that this sub
icct cannot be mentioned but that the gentle
man seems to think personal attack Is meant
on him.
DIR. johnson said he was appointed on the
committee, and was the official peer of the gen
tcman in all things. Where did he get the
authority to interrupt him and to assume the
position of chairman
Col. French said that the person Introducing
a bill was by courtesy the chairman.
DR.. Johnson-By courtesy, only. He (Dr
J.) was ruled out. Where did he get his power
to do this? A garbIed and misrepresented re-
port of the affair had been published. No one
but he himself looked at the books. This
thing was ring" bargain that no money
should be spent out of it that could be spent
in it. 1t had gone on long enough. A halt
must be called. He did not believe the gen
tlcman (Col. f. had ever read the law bearing
on the subject. He (Dr. j. had never wrong
cd human being in his life, and had never
forfeited his word and he said again, that this
report was a whitcwashing affair.
The report was then unanimously adopted.
The Revenue bill was read
DIR. johnson said that this was an important
matter and be was 10 favor of letting it 60 over
to the incoming Council. He understood that
member of that body had prepared plan
by which he proposed to save many thousand
dollars to the city We are not the masters of
the people, but their servants, and he thought
it ought to lie on the table and let the people
be consulted.
COL French said the Committee had spent
many laborious hours and days over this bill
and had called in the advice Of some Of the
best citizens of the city on the subject: He
took it for granted, in reply to some criticism
ON the bill, that everybody knew what a green
grocer was and what the Sabbath was 1t was
provision should be made for the payment
of the interest on the city debt
DR.. johnson said he liked to consult the
people, and if a tax was judicious or otherwise
they would soon decide
Mr.. Seaton thought the bill better lie over
and be printed.
Dr. johnson said that the gentleman (Col.
French) was trying to sacrifice oil other bust
ness for the good of one cass-that OF the bond
holders
Col. French replied that he had been placed
here, ell, ctcd, with certain powcrs-it was right
that he should use them. Was public meet
ing of the town to be called every time bill
is before the Council, and are we to say, "Gen-
telncn, here is subject we cannot eglslatc on
without consulting you" Is that any way to
ae2
The reading of the Revenue bill was com
mSnced by sections.
DR.. johnson moved to amend the section fix
Ing the rate of taxation at two per cent, by
adding also II per cent on one hundred dol
lars gu real estate for the Improvement OF the
streets &c.
Col. French opposed this on the ground that
At was illegal to bring 10 this tax in this way.
lie did not say this because he was opposed to
Improvement, but thought separate bill
should be provided.
DR.. johnson advocated his resolution. Three
fNurtlS Of tho nnnnIn we're II favor nf this I'M