Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-23
CITY COUNCIL.
There was a regular semi-monthly meeting
of the City Council last night.

there was regular oo"i-hou'"'J AoSoo
of the City Council last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
When the Board met there was bare quo
rum, and but one spectator.
II the absence of the regular clerk, Mr.. j.
| NJ. johnson acted as clerk pro tenn.
The Board non-coucurred 10 the action OF
| The Common Council referring resourou to
repair a pump at the Intersection OF Fairfax
| and Wolfe streets to a committee, and ordered
the repairs to be made.
A resolution directing the Superintendent of
Police to lave the curbstone set, the gutter
paved and the sidewalk paved on the west side
of st. Asaph street, between Queen ano feo-
dletop streets, being offered by Mr.. Lawson,
DR.. johnson, while in favor of improve.
ments, was for putting the work out by con-
tract and making the property holders pay tor
paving the sidewalks.
Mr.. Lawson thought that under the Law
governing such cases the Superintendent OF
Police would have the work properly done'
with view to the best interests OF the city as
well as the property holders.
DR.. French doubted the authority'of Coun-
ell to compel property holders to pave the SIDE
walks Oh uDpaVed streets.
Mr.. Moore was for economy and not tor run
Mig the city to any further expense, especially
when he understood that there were but four
teen dollars in the Treasury.
DR.. Johnson read and gave his views upon
the law in reference to street improvements
Mr.. Jauucy was of opinion that Council had
perfect right to have the work dnne. ;,
Mr. Moore thought that while Counci:
might have the right, he should be compelled
to vote against this or any similar propositions
until the finances Of the city were ID a more
healthy condition.
Mr. Lawson thought that this work was
much needed, and be looked upon 1t as ne
cessity, while he was as averse to cXpendlng
the people, money as MIR. Moore.
A motion Was made to refer the resolution t
the Committee on Streets and lost, whereupor
the question was taken upon the passage OF the
resolution, which the chair decided carried
though there were but two votes IN the attlrna
tive aud three 10 the negative.
MIR. Moore and DR.. JuhDson called the at
teu!ion OF the chair to this fact, and MIR. Jan
ney said he was laborlng under mlsappreheo
sion aud would take the vote over.
DR.. johnson made an appeal IN behalf Of
the resolution, but it was lost by tie vote.
Dr.. Johnson introduced bill to abolish the
Office of Superintendent OF Police and create IN
its stead the office of Superintendent of Streets
defining the duties OF said officer the cleaning
of the streets to be put out 10y contract, &c.
The bill having been read,
DIR. johnson said he wanted to hear the views
E of members upon it, and see whether they
were willing to vote to throw proper barriers
around the Office about which they, with others,
) we're SO loud 10 complaining He did not think
horses and carts should be engaged for more
than week at time, and he Was of opinion
that the cleaning of the streets could be done
r
were persons who would haul away the dirt fol
its value as manure. The bill, be said, Wal
not intended as ref .ctop upon any Individual
but was measure or reform.
Mr. Lawson did not see that there was any
necessity for hasty action 10 the premises, and
upou his motion the bill was laid over.
A resolution looking to the opening OF 8
soup house for the benefit OF the poor during
the winter was adopted
A resolution directing the superintendent oil
Police to have Princess street, between Column
bus and Washington graded, the curb set, &c,
was received from the Common Council.
DR.. Johnson said that the Superintendent Of
Police knew nothing of grading; it was science
recurring study, and that all such matters
should be referred to The City Surveyor, who
was qualified, and by whom the work could be
properly done. He moved to lay the resolution
90 the table, which motion prevailed.
A resolution directing the purchase of SOC
feet of hose for the Sun Engine Company, 10.
troduced 10 the Common Council, aad by tina,
body referred to the Fire Wardens coming in,
DR.. johnson hoped the resolution would be
adopted as in his opinion, it amounted to iD-
structions to the Wardens to make the pur-
chase, aud be thought it the part of wisdom
that the hand engines should be kept in proper
.o,l,,;o, Enr nnrt MOI HING RI Cnop
up these haod engine, as it did the steamers,
and he was not 10 favor of allowing four men
to have so much power, or the handling Of SO
much money He was further Of the opinion
that one OF the steamers should be retired, and
but one engineer kept on duty, who, in case OF
a large fire, and the necessity for two engines,
could manage both. He was in favor of u
thorough organization OF the band engine
companies, and that they should be uoder the
direction of the Chief Engineer. 1t was only
an unworthy rcjudloe against the hand en-
gnes that kept them from being kept up prop
erly, and he could not tell why this contcmp-
tible opposition on the part OF the Wardens.
He would advise these hand engine men to 90
to the polls and vote out each aud every mem.
Der of Council who dared thwart their wishes
in this respect. That was the way they did in
the Third Ward where they made short work
of such CouDcilnen as did not obey their
wishes, and that was the way to teach these
Wardens lesson. They could not hold Office
forever, and they should be taught to obey the
wishes of those 6rcmen. He, personally, was
not interested, but what he did he did tor the
good Of the city, whose people had always
honored him when he asked anything at their
hands
The President gave it as his opinion that the
passage OF the resolution did not effect the
object sought BY DR.. Johnson but va, mere
ly reference of the resolution to the Fire
| Wardens
A vote being ordered the action of the Com
mon Council was coDcurred in.
| A communication from the President Of the
Board OF Public Works giving the expenses
OF the repairs to Columbus street, the amount
being SIS, 957.l6 Of which 5000 bad been
paid, and balance of - S62 left unpaid, and
asking that that sum be appropriated, Tor the