Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-24
CITY COUNCIL.
A regular semi monthly meeting of the City
Council was held last night.

A regular semi monthly ueeliuS VI LUG Slty |
Council was held last night
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Immediately after the reading of the minu
tes of the last meeting,
The clerk announced that the Common
Council had referred the claim of +. l.. Smith,
ir,. for legal services before the Court OF APP
meals. 10 the case of Swain vs. the Hydraullon
Enpine Company to the Committee on Finance.
DR.. johnson explained the status OF the case
and the reasons why Mr. Smith had been en-
ployed, and, upon his motion, the action OF the
Common Council was nOn-concurred IN, ana II
was ordered that MIR. S. be retained at a lee
not exceeding one hundred dollars.
There being no other business, and the COM
mitlees having DO reports, recess OF ten min
utes was taken. ,.r
upon iu the Common Council were brought 10,
and upon the Board being again called to or
der, the action of the Common Council was
concurred in in each case, and without debate
After pause, and there being nothing be-
| fore the Board, .r
DR.. johnson called up the bill to abolish the
Office of Superintendent Of Police, and su5st-
tute for it the Office of Superintendent OF Streets,
and said he desired to hear an expression oil
oniniop from members upon the bill.
| DR.. French was 10 favor OF retrenchment
and thought the bill step in the right direc,,
tion He was of the opinion that good deal
Of money could be saved by putting the clean,
ing of the streets out to contract. tie had
been assured two years ago that when the tax
% were raised to Two dollars that it was TO pay
off The Aoating debt, and that then they would
be reduced, but instead the floating debt re-
NAMED, and if it was to be paid OF this year
il would only be done by increasing the rate OF
taxation to two dollars and nifty cents SUN
that would almost amount to conhscatlon.
Mr., Moore did not think much OF the bill;
that was not the remedy; money should only
be spent when there was an absolute necessity,
and 1t was not to be expected that the CITY
could 90 on making improvements where they
we're not needed without mourning additional
expense. The Superintendent of Police was
not to blame and be was opposed to any change
iu the Office.
Dr. johnson argued that the officers OF the
cornoration instead of being the servants had
hocome the masters and dictated what should
he done. and that there must be change Tie
had favored reduction of the police force 10
s;xteen. and was opposed to any further ~
crease 10 taxation, and was for reduction OF ex-
nenses, He had nothing against the othcers
who were all doubtless good men, but Offices
were not created for their occupants, and 10 de-
string to reduce expenses he was not striking
at Individuals.
Mr. Moore thought Council was to blame
for the expenditures There was the root oil
the evil II Council would refuse to make ap
propriations there would be no expenditures
| Al An instance of the action OF Council ne
would refer to the Board of Public Works as a
rather expensive experiment. resulting IN 90
good, while the st. Asaph street improve,
ment'' was another example oil waste o.!
money. Changing officers did no good. lie
was opposed to the bill in toto.
On motion of MIR. Lawson, the bill was laid
upon the table.
The opicion of the City Attorney declaring
that Council had DO right to disband the char
tered hand engine companies was read aud ac'
The Common Council having referred the
resolution approprlating 500 as lee to MIR.
+. l.. Smith, jr., for legal servlceS,to the Com
mittee on Finance.
Dr. johnson expressed his disapprobation Of
such course, but finally withdrew his ohjec
ton, and the action Of the Common Council
was concurred in.
A resolution from the Common Council to
make she'll walk at lower end OF Union
street being reported,
Dr. johnson stigmatised it as dodge on
the part of property holders to escape expense
and get conveniences at the cost to the public.
MIR. LyIes said walking 10 that part OF the
city was almost impossible, as at present, and
hoped for the convenience OF all that the reso-
luton would pass. :.
,sas muddy that the desired improvement
should be made at the expense of the city. Let
the property holders be made to pay for it.
!, The resolution, he repeated was dodge.
MIR. Moore said that DR.. johnson could not
or would not understand the proposition, or
else he wilfully misrepresented the facts OF the
case. One of the best enterprises ever started
10 the city was the ship-yard-a yard that
might be the pride OF any city, and 1t was to
make it accessible not to persons living 10 that
part of the city, but to all, and especially to
strangers, that this walk was asked for. 1t was
not for the benefit or convenience OF the prop
erty holders All the money spent in the last
two years had been expended 10 the Third
Ward, and he thought that the small sum ask
ed for 10 this instance might be granted.
DR.. johnson insisted that the property hold
ers we're to be benefited and should make the
improvement themselves.
Mr.. Moore again referred to the waste of
money on St. Asaph street, and the additional
sum that would have to be expended there to
undo what had been done, aud commended that
the Improvement of Union street would be
public benefit
The action of the Common Council was con
Cured in, and then at o'clock the Board ad-
journed.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The semi-monthly meeting of the Council
last night was thinly attended within and with.
out the bar.
The resolution for placing curbing on the west
side of ST. Asaph street from Queen to Pendle-
tor, coming up, it as,asked whether the grade
had been changed yet
Mr.. Beach said that as soon as the spring
opens, the grade will be lowered, aud the, rail.
road track also lowered. Unless this resolution
was agreed to there would be no place to put