Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-28
CITY COUNCIL.
A regular semi-monthly meeting of the Cit
Council was held last night.

notwithstanding the inclemeDt weather, about
eight or ten spectators were without the bar.
After the reading Of the minutes Of the last
REGULAR meeting, aud the reference to the APP
propriate committee Of a communication in re-
gard to an erroneous assessment on the prop
erty Of Ulam Barker, on Princess street, be-
tween Lee and Union,
DR.. French offered a resolution that the
Committee on Public Property be authorized
to purchase FROM CorSc 4 Bro, for the Use of
the Auditor, their safe 1T a cost not exceeding
$3.50, and stated that the safe 10 question WAS
in good order. and in every way adapted TO the
use of the Auditor. 1t cost 5000 originally,
and in purchasing it the city would save at
least $500.
MIR. Moore said he had understood there
were other safes 10 the city for sale besides the
one referred to by DR.. +. Burke K Herbert
had one for sale. He thought The resolution
| should be referred back to the Finance Com
mittee they might be able to make a better
bargain. The Auditor did not require a burg.
lar proof safe, as he merely had papers TO pre-
serve, and no money would be locked up IN 1t.
He believed a suitable safe could be purchased
for 800.
Mr.. Smoot moved that the resolution be re
ferred back to the Finance Com nittee.
After some further explanation, the resolu'
ton was referred back 10 the cpmmittee.
Mr.. Smoot presented a petition ir0m sundry
citizens praying Council to have fire plugs
erected at the intersections OF ST. Asaph street
with Wolfe aud Wilkes streets.
DR.. Johnson moved the petition be granted.
MIR. Moore wanted TO know what the cost OF
the two plugs would be.
MIR. Smoo, said they would cost about $50
at this time, as the Water Company had the
street dug up 10 that ncighborhood at present.
Mr.. Moore thought Que at the corner Of St.
Asaph aud Wilkes streets sufficient, aud made
a motiou 10 thar effect, which was adopted
but afterwards moved a reconsideration for the
purpose of placing the plug at the corner OF
Wolfe and St. Asaph streets.
MIR. Seatou opposed the motion to reconsld.
er, aud explained why there should be a plug
90 Wilkes street.
The motion to reconsider was carried, and
the subject referred to the Committee Oh
Streets.
An adverse report of the Finance Commit.
tee on the communication OF X. il Wood. ask,
ing for a rctuctlon of taxatlou on his ware
house, No. Is kIug street, was received from
the Common Council.
Mr. Seaton was not 10 favor Of concurring in
the action of the Common Council. Property
III hlcAdUuItd was tdACu tOU ulRl, dDQ III Dc
IN should be at the cash value of the
same. The City Council TWO years ago had
reduced the assessment Oh MIR. Wood 5 ware.
house from $4,000 to 81 900, and he did not
see any valid reason why 1t could not do the
same thing now. But MIR. w. was not the
only one who was grooming under excessive
taxation it was a genera complaint.
DR.. French did not doubt that property was
assessed for more than it would bring under
the hammer, but a certain amount of money
had TO be raised, and MIR. Wood would have to
pay 10 the same proportion as others. As a
member of the Finance Cow %ulirtce, he had
carefully examined into the matter, and was
fully convinced that Mr.. w. had not been e-,
roueously taxed.
The President enquired of Dr.. T. if the
other warehouses GU the same street We're
taxed equally with MIR. Woods, and was az
swered iu the affirmative.
Mr.. Seaton said 10 his opinion The bondhold-
ers should help to bear some Of these burdens.
There was too much taxation to raise money
TO pay the interest on bonds.
The action Of the Common Council was con,
cured 10.
DIR. johnson called up the bill, offered somr
time since, abolishlng the Office OF Supcrln-
tendent OF Police, and offered as a substitute a
bill abolishiny both the Office of City Surveyor
aud Superintendent Of Police, and ~elccting in
their stead a Superintendent OF Streets. He
then read the following:
"Mr. President Ill any one will carefully
examine the laws regulating and defining the
duties of the Superintendent Of Police and City
Surveyor, he must confess that he cannot cs.
the terms Superintendent of Police, a miS0o-
NM krt oopfprpl in q n not ouE tn ri o,,2 dc
agreeable manner the duties Of that Office with
an unsatisfactory apportionment of the duties
of the office has not cowported with the high
and responsible character of the other. The
duties of one should refer exclusively to the
sanitary condition OF the city, while the other
ought to be entirely conhUed to he regulation,
survey and repair Of the lauded property of tie
| city and the Citizens. This reasonable and just
distinction between the offices Of Superlnteu-
dent of Police and City Surveyor, has DOT been
adequately made by the laws in relation to the
two Offices and instead of defining the duties
Of one separate from those of the other, all
the laws on the subject confuse one with the
other, and make, 10 almost every instance OF
respective official action, a conflict OF authority
which always results not only in expense to the
| City Council, but delay and embarrassment to
the property-holder. The law creating the
chain gang, has rendered the Office Of Superin.
tendent of Police almost a useless or %slnecure
one ; and certainly the two offices OF Superin-
sendent of Police and City Surveyor, are net
at all requisite to the public welfare, and SUR
ly the two can be consolidated into Que with
not only no detriineut to the public good, bu:
with great utility and economy TO the CITY
Council. To meet this indication aud to pre-
pare the way for future harmony aud useful.
oess 10 the conduct of the business relating To
the streets, [ propose the Act which [ have the
honor to offer for your consideration. LIS adop
ton will not ooly simplify aud SyStemize the
design of the Two offices, but bring Toto IA more
perfect usefuIoess the intention of the chain
gang. There must be an intelligent head to
every official duty to ensure success in it, appll.
cation aud so confused is the management Of
the affairs Of the streets, that TO one knows
who TO hold responsible for mi>managemrnt Of
-,rL onppoofub uitb thaD W.. I,.y, ,h. 81