Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-23
CITY COUNCIL.
The last regular meeting Of the City Council
was held last night.


was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
1t was not untll hat-past eight o'clock that
a quorum of the Board Of Aldermen was
present.
After the passage of some bills,
The report of the Gas Light Committee was
presented and read, when,
MIR. Smoot stated that the report Was not as
hattcriug as was anticipated, owing TO falling
off in the consumption Of 81, 900, a number OF
consumers having abandoned the use OF gas.
The report was accepted.
A petition of John Verdon for an abae.
ment of taxes upon his property. being partly
10 this and partly 10 Fairfax county, after eX-
PLANTATION, was rejected.
Some members of The Board having brought
in from the Common Council certain papers,
DR.. johnson protested that members Ut this
Board should not be made to wait upon the
Common Council.
The President said that it was uucorteous in
The other Beard to treat this one 10 this way,
and that il a. the meeting of the aew Council
the rule 10 reference to the transmission OF pa
pers was not repealed, he would favor letting
the papers lay on the table here until the Com
mon Council thought proper to allow them to
The report of the committee Oh the City Sur
veyor' case having been received from the Com
mon CouuciI,
DIR. Johuson recaptulated the case, and
thought that the City Surveyor should have
been exhonerated, aud contended that II was
the duty of Couucil to sustain its officers. lie
highly compmcuted Mr.. Garter, and hoped
the resolutions would be laid on the table, and
new committee appointed to investigate the
charges.
DR.. French was of opinion that the only way
to settle the question would be to call 10 au x
pert, aud he was 10 favor ola further lnVestlga-
ton in order to eXonerate MIR. Carter.
DIR. johnson wanted to know who was CON-
peteut 10 be the expert, and cited as an instance,
Oronoko street. to show that engineers will dis
agree like other people, and that the City Sur
veyur was correct. He conlended that the city
was all distorted and could not be made
right.
The report was ordered to lie % the table.
A claim OF DR.. Guutou, of Washington,
against he city for S43, l3 for which he
proposes to receive $3I. 972. IS, referred by the
Common Council to the Finance COMMITTEE
with power to settle. being read,
DR.. johnson favored laying the claim over
till the meeting of the new Council.
DR.. Freuch favored the settlement upon the
GROUND that if left over a suit would eVrntuate.
He thought we ought to pay our debts at all
hazards Our real estate was worth $4,000
O0U, aud if we owe 500, 900 it reduces the value
just that much.
DR.. johnson favored laying over, and con-
tended hat the Corporation, State, and FEEDER
oil debts would never be paid.
DR.. French cited the case of Decatur Miller,
of Philadelphia, to show how easy it would be
for Dr.. Guuton, to recover his claim through
the Courts
Mr.. Moore said that the State or Nation
could repudiate, but mere corporation could
not refuse 10 pay as long as there was any prop
erty to pay With. He contended that Dr.JohD-
SOD was always opposing compromises and there
by Increased the burden upon the people. The
present question was only to refer the propo-
sition of DR.. GuntoH so as to get ii in shape,
and save $4,000 of costs, &c.
DR.. johnson contended that MIR. Moore did
not know of what he was speaking, and had
only got his Information froU hearsay, and that
his (Dr. Us course had alWas been consistent.
As SMALL boudholders had been forced to fund
he was 10 favor of putting all on a like footing.
The judges, he said. being Interested 10 this
matter, always decided in favor Of the bond
holders.
Dr.. French contcnled that the decision in
the Miller case had advance the price OF the
bonds, and that all who voted for the 100000
to pay the interest on the bonds bued them.
Mr.. Moore reiterated his opinion of DR..
Johnson Inconsistency, and cited the 81.
Asaph street Improvement, to show how DR..
johnson had voted to throw away the people S
money.
DR.. Johnson contended that he had only vot-
ed on all occasions to protect the Interests Of the
people. He contended that it was only ques-
ton of ability, and not Of honesty-the pay
ment of per ct. interest, together with the
State taxes.
MIR. Moore coDtendcd that it was not CON-
pulsory to fund the bonds. He reiterated
that Dr. johnson was the originator OF the St.
Asaph street improvement.
DIR johnson denied the assertion, or that he
had presented petition tor it. He said that
Mr. Moore had been very personal IN his re-
uarkS on several occasions and that 1t Was time
it had ceased.
Mr. Moore contcnded that DR.. johnson had
first introduced the ST. Asaph street improve:
ment. He said he never had willingly offended
any member, but what he said, he said to a
man face, and where all had chance to de-
fend themselves.
The motion to lay over was lost ayes 5, noes
t. and the Board then concurred 10 the action
Of the Common Council.
The Salary bill coming back from the Com
mon Council with amendments, among them,
fixing the salary Of the Health officer,
Dr. johnson opposed that amendment as
useless, aud conteuded that there was no ncccs-
sity for saddlng such an officer upon the Cor
poration.
Mr.. Moore was for letting the salary bill
70 over.
Dr.. johnson said be would never consent to
the salary of the Health officer. Mr.. Z. G.:
Berry had acted as Health officer for nothing,
and be saw 20 necessity for throwing sop to
some favorite. He, however, distinctly stated
that he was DOT opposed to paying the officer
for the services be had already performed, but
was opposed to making the Health officer a
saaried officer
Tho .mo,dmant 6yino tho salaru of the