Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-02-25
urErrxG OF THE CITY COUNCIL

\ regular meeting of the City Council was
held last night For official proceedings see
another column of to-days Gazette.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
In the Board of Aldermen there were six
members present.
Tie resolution of the Common Council, for
tie appointment OF a committee TO whom all
matters relating to the police should be referred,
WIS opposed by DIR. johnson, who saw no reason
t,r such ac'ion, aud thought the Mayor was
clothed with all the powers necessary. aud it
was informally laid over.
Col. G. + Stuart, Corporation Attorney,
appeared before the Board, and made verbal
report upon the matter of the Relief Eogine
House, advertised to be sold, 10 which he gave
il, as his opinion, that the city has no claim
70 the property to be sold, the only approprla-
ton ever madc being 5000. to aid III construct
ing house for the Relief Company, the same
/, be refunded when the house should cease to
be used Us such eugue house
The report was accepted.
Committees of conference on the diSagreeing
votes OF the two Boards on the resolution IN
reference to the sale Of property for Corpora
ton taxes, aud on the bill OF DR.. johnson for
repairs to the Friendship engine house, were
appointed:
Wncu the report Of the nance Committee
IN reference to rciuudng certain taxes to McssrS.
Carue aud Blackburn 4 Tay.or on property
used for sch ,ol purposes, came up,
DR.. Johnson said that the Courts haa set
tied the matter in favor Of the petitioners. The
legislature had exempted such property, aud
il was useless to run counter to law. The Gully
way to do was to have the law amculed.
DR.. French said that it was the opinion OF
the Corporation Attorney and the Auditor vi
the State that the property was not liable to
exemption, aud he saw no justice 10 the cx-
cmptlon OF one species OF property or Que sys-
ten Ut labor.
DR.. Johnson did not thluk tie Auditor
upiiiiou worth any more than anybody else ;,
and TO yet over rciunding this tax an appeal to
4 higher Court would have to be taken
Mr.. Latham said his views had undergone
10 change since last this subj C; was u1dcr con.
sid ration Tie opinion of the Auditor, who
vas converSant with all these sui cc >,was worth
as much as that of any lawyer. He expressed
Ia, as,ouishment that Judge Lowe should have
compromised himself by giving an opinion upon
uuas ion not before him, and he had heard
tina, lie, the Judge, was sorry such cans ruction
should have becu put upon any views he might
have expressed upon the subject. One Of the
cent .clncn whose name had been used in con-
n,c.ou with the petition had disclaimed having
ai:y,niug to do with it, and had expressed his
aun,yaucc at having hin,sel! brought into such
publicity He hoped the rcpurt would be COZ,
cured ID; and the report adverse to the prayer
vi the petitioners was agreed to.
Upon the resolution Of the Common Council
requesting an amendment to the 10Th section Of
tne charter, to require the paymUnt OF the cap
i,aton lax prior to voung
,l,,,,, 80, ,,l.t e.
the charter to committee Of Council and the
Corporation Attorney for amendments, subject
,othe ratification OF the people.
DR.. Jotusuu rel Grated his frequently express
ed views in opposl lon TO The pres ut ater
u SEX tie aid at the Instance of twcnty-fuur
lu,.a "! 0 a"rrgated 10 themselves more wisdom
,hau ,tv thirty. five huudrcd voters Of the city
IL was il favor % the prepay of the tax,
but wanted the charter amended 10 several par
tlcuarS.
The substitute vas laid On the table by tie
vote, aud the acVu of the Common Council,
asking com Ittcc of conference concurred H.
Dr. Fr:aci and Mr.. Lawson being appointed
vu the part ofthc Board
Mr. Latham submitted report upon the
petition + j X. Gray, for damages sustained
by improper drainage. and recommended the
payment 10 Mr.. Gray Of 5000, which was
agreed to.
j resolution, offered by DR.. French, request.
IN. the Audlt,rto furnish statement vi the
expenses Of the Corporation for the years
l>U.- 20, aud l>I2 IS, III order to ascertain
ii any retrcuchncnt could be made, was
adopted.
Inc Board onconcurrcd in a resolution of
reference by the Common Council Of a bill of
Jas Enwi>le, jr., for medicine furnished the
poor and ordered the bill to be paid
An opinion of COL g. +. Stuart, Corpora
ton Attorney, in rtfrreucc to the iron on the
railroad track on Henry street, with the evil
dence appeudcdj recommending the rescind-
ns Of the resolution passed by Council 10 May
L>', authorizing sale Of the iron, and stating
that |! The resolution was rcscnded the suit
h'w pending would he withdrawn by the rail
road company, was received FROM the Common
("noc aud the OPTION read
De. johnson OF jac'cd to the action of the
Common Council, in referring the papers to Il
cinmlttcc, and made u motion to reSclnd the
rc>olution Of the 5;h Of May last, but withdrew
II, and tn: refcrcuce was cpucurred IN.
y rather curious y expressed bill in reference
10 the chain gang, Its organization, clothing &c.
was received from the Common Council, and
while being read,
Dr. johnson expressed the opiuioa that it
was beneath the dignity Of Che Board 10 listen
70 such stuff, but the reading was proceeded
with. and the action of the Common Council in
r.crrug it to the Committee on Streets, with
Instructions, cuncurred in.
DE-, Juhu>uu again introduced his resolution
lo' reference OF the charter to Il committee OF
wo from each Board and the Corporation At
tHracy inr amendments, 10 be submitted to the
Vote ii the people for ratification or rejection,
w'ct was. on his motion, laid over; aud at
9vc.vck the Board adjourned
COMMON COUNCIL.
A!lc mcmbers-a bare quorum aud about
ad Zen spectators, were present 10 this Board.
HE business was transacted without any de-
bate. aEd after Il session of about half hour
duration the meeting adjourned.
n D + o R 4 4 N 7