Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-10
CITY COUNCIL.
A regular semi-monthy meeting Of the City
Council was held last night.

Council was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
After the transaction of some uuf uished bus.
mess, an opinion of the Corporation Attorney,
showing the illegally OF certain sections of IAN
act to amend an act creating Board OF Public
Works." was read.
DR.. johnson defended the act 10 question,
explained its utility, aud on his motion the
matter was ordered to lie over.
DIR. johnson then introduced can act to re-.
organize the police force of Alexandria, which
nroydes that there shall be elected annually
four policemen from each ward, who shall be
of good report and engaged iu no other bust
ness, who shall give bond in the sum of $3.50
for the faithful performance OF their duty, re-
ceve $45 per month for their services, and no
other compensation, and shall when sick draw
their pay; also, captain and lieutenant, who
shall receive $50 per month each; the May or to
Tx upon what uniform shall be worn, and pre-
ment.
DR.. J. spoke 10 favor of the passage of the
bill.
MIR. Moore was 10 favor of seventeen police
men-tour to be stationed 10 each ward and
one at police headquarters.
After suDdry questions aud explanations, the
bill was passed unanimously.
The report of the conference committee on
the Salary bill having been received from the
Common Council, that Board adhering to its
original action,
Dr.. johnson spoke as follows: "Mr. Presi-
dent have too much respect Tor the conss'
tepcy and intelligence Ct the members of this
Board to imagine that they will adopt any such
an attempt at show of economy and retrenuh-
meut as the report of the conference committee
Oh hat fhn
mittee did not give the subject submitted to
its attention the consideration which the utility
and intelligence of the Council demanded; for
upon the part Of this Board, there was evinced
a sincere desire to meet the wishes OF the peo-
ole in their solioitud to prevent the spending
of every dollar within the power OF Council to
save but it appears to me, instead OF the COM
mittee making this desire the spirit OF Its de-
alterations, it was innocently biased not by the
thought to save money to the people, but to
preserve the salaries OF those officers who are
now the temporary occupants OF the city OH
ces. Personal considerations for the officers
should have had no weight whatever with the
committee, for Council was not fixing the sal
aries of the present incumbents OF the city OH.
ces, but that Of future officers tor future terms
of Office and in my judgment, 1t was the duty
of the committee TO hX the salaries at such
sums as the expectations OF the people would
have, in all probability, commended; tor 1t Is
clearly evident that no man can be made to ap-
DIV for position within the gift Of the Council
which he does not desire to FL, or to bold an
Office the salary of which lie deems an made
auate COMPENSATION Tor the time devoted to its
duties; and the City Council can feel no obll-
cations to its agents or officers to make their
individual or personal interest the object OF
legislative care when it has choice OF any Que
of ten applicants equally mertorlous to I'LL
each of the places Of the city government.
Honesty and capabity are powerful petition
ers in behalf of au applicant for Office but with
the qualifications OF officers the committee had
uolhlug to do. Their duty was to recommend
suitable salaries for the officers of the next
year without the slightest care TO know who
were to be the successful competitors t0l such
offices aud it is evident, from the nature OF
the report, that the committee coDtounded the
duty of fixing the salaries with that of the cleo
ton Of officers; and this Inference Is confirmed
by the fact that the committee has recommend
ed slight reduction In the salary of one or
two Offices aud made 90 suggestions 10 regard
to Others, equally entitled to its consideration.
[ do not approve OF the plan of making fish OF
one and flesh Of another, and if the salaries OF
all the officers for next year are not lmpartlaly
ADD reasonably reduced will not vote for the
reduction of any; for right Is right and wrongs
nobody, and | wish to be governed by that
principle OF actioo, which, while it Is partial to
none, does Justice to ALL Therefore, cannot
vote to adopt the report OF the COMMITTEE OF
conference, but move to refer 1t to the Com
mittee on Finance"
MIR. Moore moved that the bill pass as re-
ceived from the Common Council, but it recelv-
ed no second.
kloA asinl
one of the two Boards would have to recede
from it's action; certainly the Aldermen had
done their part.
The action of the other Board was noucou-
Cured in, and special committee-MesSrs.
johnson aud Moore-apponted.
The Board then adjourned till Thursday
night next.
COMMON COUNCIL.
No president, but eleven members and about
half dozen spectators were all that were
present, and considering the intense heat OF the
chamber, it was wonderful that there was even
SO large an attendance.
The consideration of the Salary bill being
the first business in order, the report OF the
conference committee was presented, aud after
some discussion in which it was stated that
the members of that committee from this Board
had been compelled to agree to it as compro
mise, as the members from the other Board
would otherwise have rejected the whole bill
il was nou- coneurred in, The diminution OF the
salary of the Auditor being the chief cause Of
objection, and MIR. Evans Directing because, in
his opinion, the salary of the Mayor could not
be diminished after that officer had been
elected.
Mr.. Eichberg hoped that committee of
conference would be obtained to night.
f,ar hat ha q
quorum, The bill was sent to that Board, which
disagreed again with it, and new committee
of conference was appointed.
A report upon the application of Mr.. w. N.
McVeigh for remission of taxes on property
being up for consideration, the committee re-
porting in favor of release OF q portion,
Mr. Fowle said that it was remarkable that
when property which was sold at the coufsca-
finn sale is recovered by its owners down came