Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-05-26
CITY COUNCIL.
There was regular meeting Of the City
Council last night.

There was regular meeting of the City
Council last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
10 the Board OF Aldermen the resolution for
the repair Of the street in front Of the Hydrau
lion engine house was passed, aud
The communication of the Mayor, notifying
Council OF the suspension OF ot1cer Ogden, was
received.
DR.. johnson offered resolution for the re.
insta.emeut of police officer Webb and ready
man G. w. Jones' dismissed By the Mayor for
sleeping while on duty.
MIR. S,noot asked whether the Mayor would
have the power 10 reiustate.
DIR. johnson commended that the Mayor had
the right to reinstate at the instance OF the
Council, the Mayor being only the agent of the
Council.
Mr.. Janney conucided 10 the views express
ed by DIR. Johnson
DR.. Johnson said his action was III no wise
to be construed as giving license to police OH
GERS, but to be looked upon as i pardon.
Mr.. Lyles wanted to know why MIR. Jones
should be restored
DR.. johnson explained that it would be un-
fair to reinstate one and not the other.
Mr.. Smoot said he could not vote for the
resolution.
Mr.. Janncy said he should also object.
| These men we're out aud he thought that they
had better remain OUT especially as they we're
not ncedcd.
Dr. Johnson thought that huuaoity would
dictate that both men should be relustated.
| Mr.. Janney said that he was as humane in
his feelings as anyone, but he thought that
these officers had better remain out.
Mr. Lycs repeated that he favored Mr..
| Webbs reinstatement, but could not vote Tor
Mr. Jones being put back.
Dr. johnson again explained that his action
was dictated entirely by feelings Of humanity.
The resolution was ost-ayes =, noes g.
A resolution for the appointment of a spe-
cial committee to take into consideration the
propricty Of selling certain city property, and
| investing the proceeds 10 Corporation bonds,
coming 10 from the Common Council,
Mr. Moore did not think any properly could
| be sold cow except at great sacrifice, and
| moved to Law the resolution on the table.
DR.. French was in favor of selling some OF
the property and paying off the debt OF the
city.
DR.. johnson explained the origin of the debt
and the funding Of the same, aud contcnded
| that there could be no Repatriation as this was
a mere body corporate, unlike the State or
| Government flc was in favor Of selling the
uuproductlve property.
Mr.. Moore was 10 favor of selling the Amer
lean coal wharf and the wharf at the foot OF
Duke street. He was opposed to selling the
Market Building Gas Works, or Fish Wharf.
The motion to lay % the table was adopted
ayes 3, noes =.
| 4 pe,ltion against the use, rs at present, by
the w. T. A. r. Il. of St. A~aph street, was
received from the Common Council.
At the instance of Dr. johnson the Clerk
read the act granting permission to the railroad
! company to use the street, aud then explained
! his previous action in the matter. lie thought
that the only way to do was 10 instruct the
| Mayor to enforce the law. He conteuded that
it was never contemplated to make depot
where it was.
Mr. Moore thought that a reference would
accomplish the officer desired.
The action of the Common Council was con-
Cured in, and then the Board soon after add
jourucd.
COMMON COUNCIL
Notwithstanding the suItrluess Of the even
! ing the desks within the bar were nearly all
occupied, but only TWO persons attended out
side the bar, and they Rugged the window
close. AT later hour there was I considerable
number Of spectators.
A resolution by Mr. Hopkins for raising a
committee to report upon the cxpedlency OF
selling the real estate of the city and using the
| funds to retire bonds Of the city, being up,
MIR. Mckenzie said that the matter had
| been before considered, aud DO property had
| been found which il was thought it would be well
| to sell, except the Powder House lot and that
! had not been sold because they bad not been
able TO get the metes and bounds.
Mr.. Hopkins said that this resolution was
only one Of inquiry aud perhaps there would
be found no necessity OF selling any property
at ALL
Mr.. Beach was not in fauor of selling proper
ty that paid % per ct. to buy bonds that paid
per ct. only.
The resolution was agreed to-
Mr.. Hopkins introduced a resolution asking
the Corporation Attorney to report upon the
right OF the city to tax its bonds held outside
the city.
Mr.. Mckeusie said this question had been
up year after year, aud 1t had been many times
decided that they could not be taxed. 1t was
mere waste of time.
Mr.. Hopkins did not think the enquiry was
mere waste OF time. lie knew that the pco-
pie here were suffering under the heavy weight
of taxation. People whose means of subsls-
tcuce wore most scauty we're obliged to tIeDch
the tax gatherer. Under these circumstances
he was most anxious that if there existed any
possible means oil compelling the larg amount
of wealth invested 10 Corporation bonds to
bear its share Of the burden that means should
be availcd of.
The Presiden, (Mr. Shnn) had understood
that while the ouj side city stock could not be
taxed it was legal to tax the coupons
Mr. Echberg was not willing to throw good
money after bad The Corporation Attorney
had told The Finance Committee that neither
the bonds nor coupons held outside the city
could be taxed Always there were croakers
who took advantage OF the dislike Of people to
being taxed.
Mr. Hopkins said thai in 1870, when tax
was levied on Corporation bonds whether held
inside or outside the city, $500, 900 of Corpora
ton bonds were reported as held 10 the city,