Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-25
CITY COUNCIL.

A regular semi. monthly meeting Of the Ci,y
Council was held last hight, for official pro-
ceediups of which, see another column of to-
day. Gazette.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
When the Board was called to order at $40
o'clock there we're but five members present,
but shortly afterwards two more came in, and
later In the evening all the members were
present.
| After the reading Of the minutes of the last
| meeting and the adoption OF one or two reports
from committees,
Dr. Johnson, from the Committee on Claims,
presented the bill, with vouchers, Tor digging
we'll on south Pitt street, aud said that hereto
fore his modesty had prevented him from again
pressing this claim, the work not having been
ordered by Council, but that sluce he had as
ccrtaiued that some three thousand dollars had
been expended without like authority, lie had
no further hesltancy.
The bill was ordered to be paid.
The resignation Of Mayor Berkeley having
been read, the invitation Of the Common Couu-
ell TO 70 into ioul meeting for the purpose OF
eIectng a Mayor to fill the vacancy was ac-
ceuted, aud the members OF the Board pro-
ceeded to the chambcr Of the Common Council.
Upon returning to their chamber,
DR.. johnson introduced u bill TO prevent
arson Within the Corporation hmits, offering
standing reward Of $500 for the apprehension
aud conviction OF the lncendlary, which he ex-
planned, and after some conversational debate
upon the effect Of the enactment OF such law,
participated in by Alcssrs. Lawson, Latham,
Janpey and French, the bill was passed by
unanimous vote.
The report of the com uittcc Of conference Oh
IL rroupStIup thp 70
amend the city charter so rs to require the
payment OF the captatlon tax before voting,
being taken up,
DR.. johnson desired to have the charter
: amended in various particulars, and offered
substitute appointing communities OF Couu-
ell in conjunction with the Corporation Attor
ney, to amend the charter, such amend
ucuts to be submitted to a vote OF the people.
The report Of tie committee was non con-
Cured 10 and the substitute adopted.
DR.. johnson introduced bill Tor the ap-
pointment Of four physicians and four dlspcu-
) sers of m cdicine for the city, which, he SAID,
would obviate the difficulties at present exist
ing 10 reference to the dispensing ui medlclnc.
The bill repeals the section OF the present law,
making one OF the Physicians to the Poor Pres
ident of the Board Of Health, and gives the
Board Of Health power to elect Its own Presl
dent. He explained the sectious OF the bill, es
pecially that relative to the dispensing OF
= medicine, when,
Upon motion of Mr.. Latham, who said that
as the two physicians in the Board approved
of the bill, and it appeared to him to possess
, good features be would move suspension oil
the rules, and that the bill be put upon It's pas
t sage, which was accordingly done aud the bill
passed.
After action on several bills, resolutions, &c,
from the Common Council, without; debate,
MIR. Latham appealed to the members who
5 voted against to- bill amending the act Great
, ing Board Of Public Works to move recon-
sideratlon, but upon being informed that Or.
, johnson was preparing bill that would meet
, the objections urged against the bill under con-
1 sideration al the last meeting, he withdrew his
8 request, ami the Board at $40, adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
. The regular meeting of this Board last
night, was we'll attended by members, but he
attendance OF spectators outside the bar was
far smaller than was expected under the au-
, ticipatou that the Boards would DC called On
= to elect Mayor
A report of the conference committee 10 ia
vor of the resolution r. questlng the delegates IN
the Legislature to secure an amendment 10 the
city charter, requiring payment Of taxes before
, voting being taken up,
Mr. Eichburg said that some persons thought
, this was political move, but II was tot. The
:, collectors now had tax bills to The amount of
), s6, 900 or s. 900, which might be collected il
an amendment of the character proposed was
, made to the charter. As it now stood some
said they would not pay and others said they
had nothing to pay with.
In Introducing the following resolution:
., Resotvea That the Committee on Public
Property be authorized to cali board OF sur
vey composed of practical mechanics who shall
examne into the condition OF the Walls OF the
:, old Relief Englue House, with a view OF de-,
termuiug as to whether they are sufficiently
strong to Justify the repairs contemplated, and
, il the report of said commission be favorable
as to their strength, &c, the committee shall
have The building repaired at cost not ex-
ceeding eight hundred and fifty dollars, but II
, the report be condennatory, then the commit
tee shall have the old building removed, and
new structure erected in It's stead, TO Cost not
exceeding fifteen hundred dollars. Contract III
either case to be awarded to the lowest respon-
sible bidder,
Mr.. Hopkins said that the $500 appropriate
ed at the last meeting of Council was totally To-
sufficient 1t would cost at least $3.50 TO repair
the house just purchased, and it was doubtful
if the house, as it now STOOL was worth that
amount Of repairs. The material IN brick aud
iolsts would be available for pew building,
but new floors would have to be laid, aud il
would not cost more than $1,000 for new
house.
Mr.. Mckenzie desired tG know what foun-
dation there was for the stuteueut that there
was defect in the title,
Mr.. Hopkins said that there was missing
deed-a deed 10 1852
Mr. Stuart, City Attorney, by request said
that there was DO proper title to the property,
and that the Council were not Obliged to take
the property Mr.. Green had refused wltEo
the last few days to guarantee the title. 1t
would be necessary to buy out Mrs. Shlnns
dover (S26O)
Mr. Hughes said that as there was an oppor
| tunity to abandon the purchase, he thought it
ought to be done. The property would, in