Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-28
CITY COUNCIL.
4 regular semi monthly meeting of the City
Conucil was held last night.

regular semi monthly meeting of the City
Council was held last night.
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
ali the members we're present, aud there was
an unusual number of spectators without the
bar-so much so that there was hardly stand
in rooT.
After the transaction of some minor bust
ness upon which there was no debate,
DR.. johnson called up a resolution (which
had been laid over at the last meeting) recon-
sderug the vote by which the office OF Gauger
had been abolished.
THE resolution was then read, together with
petition of sundry dealers in liquor, praying
for the establishment of the Office.
DR.. johnson said the Office had not been
abolished as yet-the signature of the Mayor
being required-au the resolution called tor a
reconsideration Of the action of Council. He
did not deal 10 liquor himself, and therefore
did not know the value of Gauger; but the
gentlemen who had signed the petition just
read said it was to their interests that the OH
Ger be reinStated, and their prayer should not
be totally disregarded
Mr.. LAWSON opposed the resolution. The
officer in question protected no class OF the
community, and got paid often Tor doing moth
ing One name upon the petition (George
McBurney & Sou) had ben placed there by
MIR. McB's son, uuder the supposltlon that 1t
was far the purpose of rcinstating Mr.. Lovely
in preference to another party. He Mr. Law
son) did not want to be compelled to pay
t,oelve-und-a. half cents to Gauger on every
barrel of liquor he received, his services being
of no good whatever, as the liquor always has
the u. S. Gauger's stamp upon every barrel
Why, therefore, this extra tax to city gau-
ger?
The Prcsident-Is it compulsory upon deal
ers to have all liquors gagged?
Mr.. Lawson-lt is; and al-o to pay the tax
of l23 cts. whether the Gauger performs his
service or not, and upon refusal to pay the
specified amount be subjected to line OF i've
dollars.
Mr.. Seaton was iu favor of the adoption of
the resolution 10 his opinion there should be
a gauger In this city, as ottco the liquor ran
short Of the number of gallons marked on the
barrels. MIR. Vcrdlu, on Majors hill, had told
him that be received barrel Of whisky re-
Gently, which had come from Cincinnati. which,
from being ''plupged" on the way, ran short
twenty gallons Now people did not want to
nav for more of anything than they received !;
aud while Mr. lawson might not need the SER
vices of such an officer, there were plenty of
dealers who did
Mr.. Lawsou-There are Government gau-
gers in town, accessible at all times, and 1t
would be an easy mailer to procure the services
of Que Of them when there were any suspicious
.b,ut the number of gallons barrel contained.
Il seems to me that any dealer 10 liquor should
be able himself to come very near what bar
rel contains.
Mr.. Scaton- Probably Mr.. Lawson is able to
tell how May gallons barrel may contain, but
there are others who cannot.
Mr.. Lawson said before the war it was well
enough to have city gauger but now, under
the new regime the Government employed
such officers rendering the city's supel fuous.
Dr. johnson was of the opinion that If the
CITY being without eauger worked to the de,rl-
mcnt of some and compelled them to pay tor
more than was 10 barrel the officer should be
rciustated, and, while he had respect for the
op.uion of the gentleman who had preceded
hun, he must say that he believed the office 10
question to be indispensable. That the Gov
ernmcut had the liquor inspected and stamped
was no argument agaiust the resolu ion he had
offered. All the Government wanted was the
tax, and they could gauge aud place a stamp
upon barrel Of liquor in Cincinnati which was
destined for this city, aud it would be no evil
deuce when it reached here because 1t had the
u S Gaugcr's stamp upon 1t that 1t contained
the number of gallous it did when shipped. 1t
could easily be tapped an trdnsdu
Mr.. Lyles asked that the law be read.
The President said he had not the law on
the subject, but what Mr. Lawson had said was
u sufficient explanation. Jauney & Co. bad
signed the petition which had been read, as
they had always found the Gauger OF use to
them.
MIR. Lyes-If you found a barrel short Of
the lumber Of gallons mar ked upon 1t, would
it be Of any benefit to you!
Ua
for it.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Scaton then read the section OF the by
laws providing for the appointment OF Two mem-
bcrs from each ward upon the standing COM
utlees OF the Board and asked the chair II
the vacancies 90 committees caused by the
death of Judge Underwood had been filled. ;,
The President said they had not; but he had
not lost sight of the fact 1t took some little tune
aud reflection to appoint members to bill these
vacancies, and his mind having been occupied
with other matters he bad neglected 1t. lie
would, however, arrange 1t all by the next
meetiog Of Council
DIR, johnson introduced resolution instruct
ing the Corporation Attorney to enquire iuto
the ownership of the old Relief Engine House,
on Prince street. He said ii it was determined
that it was the property Of the city, it should
be immediately repaired and placed 10 charge
of the Relief Hook and Ladder Company,
which had now become Indispensable to the
Fire Department Of the city This company
was composed Of some of the most respected
aud intelligent young men of Alexandria, who,
for 20 compensation whatever, had procured
this truck, aud rendered signal service at all
fires without which great loss to property
would often occur Council, 10 gratitude, should
not refuse to do this, as this house is admir-
ably adapted for their purpose, aud if it should
be proved the city is not the owner OF 1t, 1t
would be we'll to purchase aud repair it for
their USE Most of their apparatus had been
purchased by their own contributions aud ex-
erions.
The resolution was adopted.
DR.. Johnson then called up the resolution
for the purchase of 1000 feet Of hose for the
hand engines, aad said there had been an at
tempt made by he Fire Department to ignore
the hand engines. which was not ri ght, old IN