Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-12-15
CITY COUNCIL.
A regular semi-monthy meeting of the City
Council was held last night. Il,
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

Council was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Notwithstanding the severe cold weather,
last night, all the members Of the Board of
Aldermen were present, together with large
number of spectators, brought thither by the
anticipated action 10 regard to the Alexandra
and Washington Railroad. The Railroad Com
pany threaten to leave the city if they are.
compelled to vacate St. Asaph street as far as
Princess street, and thereby Inconvenience
the entire business community, on the one
hand, while on the other, the property holders
Oh ST. Asaph street say that the railroad track
Injuries their property, aud if the Railroad
Company is not compelled to remove it, they
will sue the city. Now,whe the city does not
desire to inconvenience the entire community,
and perhaps injure the commercial interests of
the city, and destroy the advantages it possesses
of close proximity to Washington, it does not
desire to get into u law suit with the property
holders on st. Asaph street, who are gentle
men OF prominence and influence.
! The Board OF Aldermen was called to order
at 7:45 by President Janney, and after the
reading Of the minutes,
The certificate Of election of S. +. Beach, ESQ ,
was read, and that gentleman came forward
and was sworn 10 and took his seat as a men,
Der of the Board from the Fourth Ward.
Mr.. Mckenzie, from the Committee on
Poor, offered resolution that the distribution
of wood to the poor be committed to the ladies
of the Union Relief Association.
DR.. Johnson was under the impression that
the wood ought to be distributed by the Over
seers of the Poor, in conjunction With the
Mayor, but he had no objection to the ladies
taking the matter in hand in connection with
their other charities.
Mr.. Mckenzie said be did not know wheth-
er 1.-THE ladies would undertake the work; it
was very laborlous one, but if Trey would
undertake it, they would be the very best ops IS
the Council could select.
DR.. johnson said that 10 view of the COM
mite not knowing whether the ladies would
undertake the distribution OF wood to the poor
he would move that the resolution be recon.
milted
MIR. Mckenzie said be understood that Mrs
WorthlngtUn, the President Of the Association,
had been consulted and that that lady had said
she was willing to undertake the work 80 far
as the whites were concerned, and he thought
that the matter could be arranged. They were
not welded, he said, to any particular wav of
distributing the wood to the poor, the idea was
to do 1t 10 the best manner possible, and as
complaints had been made that some had re-
ceiVed double and treble shares, the ladies
had opportunities of knowing more, and could
do more towards correcting these complaints
than any other persons that Council could Sc
lect.
The resolution was then recommitted.
The President announced to the Board that
he had appointed MIR. S. T. Beach on the
Committee on Poor in the place Of John Sea-
ton, and also on the Committee on General
Laws
Mr.. Neale, from the special committee ap-
pointed to prepare an act compelling the rail
road companies using the streets of the city to
place hagmen az the Intersection of certain
streets, presented bill compelling the railroad
companies using the streets of the city t. EN-
plOy hagmen on certain streets and pats OF
streets.
MIR. Smoot said be would like to ask if the
bill would have the effect of jcopardiziug any
law suits that the city might have.
DR.. johnson explained that the committee,
in preparing the bill, recognized no law suits !;
that the Alexandria and Washington Railroad
occupied St. Asaph street as tar down as King,
aud would certainly do so for forty days, at
least, and that when they ceased to do so the
law would cease to apply.
Mr.. Mckenzie asked how many hagmen
would be required at the different intersections
because it would involve an enormous ex-
pense.
Dr. johnson explained the bill, and said
that all that was required was that every train
entering the city should be tagged at each in-
terseclion.
Mr.. Mckenzie thought the bill ought to 60
to the Committee on General Laws as it was
an important one.
Mr.. Beach understood the bill to contem-
plate that hagman should precede every
train entering the city,
MIR. McKenzie-How ? On horseback p
| Laughter
DR.. johnson said that: was very mportant
that the railroads should be required to place
hagmen at the different crossings 10 order that
the lives of our citizens should not be placed
10 jeopardy daily. Flagmen, he said, could
easily precede the trains, as the law required
them to move very slowly through the city.
MIR. Smoot called for second reading of
the BILL
Mr. Beach said he thought there was already
law requiring fagmen, and he would like to
inquire whether the present bill required ad-
dltlona! t1agmen to those already required, or
| Ouly w lmpuoC pCualltcS luz lallUrC 10 keep
hagmen. ..=F
DR.. johnson explained that this act re-
pealed all other acts on the subject.
Mr.. Beach said the explanation was per-
fectly satisfactory to him, and he was prepared
to vote 90 the bill now.
MIR. Moore moved that the bill be referred
to the Committee on General Laws, as there
was law suit now pending, and be was not
| Drenared to vote on the bill
DR.. johnson was opposed to delay, aud he
saw no necessity tor the bill to be referred,
and repeated that the lives otcitzens were en-
daDgered daily; that the Alexandria and Wash
ington Railroad was in existence, and would
certainly be for some time and wheo the road
ceased to exist the law would cease to apply.
| The ayes and noes being called the bill was
referred to the Committee on General Laws,
Messrs Snoot, Moore and Mckenzie voting
aye, aud Messrs. johnson, Beach and Neale
| voting no.
| Mr.. Smoot said if that portion of the bill