Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-12

and tool Of me? No SIR The work i, is said
must be done at ooce. Haste is the worst Of
taskmasters. Things done 10 haste are repen,.
ed of in leisure. He was not willing TO let tho
chairman of the Committee on Streets buy this
lumber. Ouce before, three weeks prryious r.
the making of public contract, member of
| the committee had made private contract
with private lumber dealer for lumber to be
charged for at an increased price. He made
| TINS charge and he could prove it. He never
made charges that he couldn't prove. The
| WORK should be given out by contract TO the
mechanics OF the city, all Of whom should have
| chance at It, With the city as Frustrated AZ
at present. 1t was shameful to be running it to
this unnecessary and extravagant expense. He
| would not say now what he knew about def
cheney OF from twenty-five to thirty thousand
dollars that would occur in this year 8 revenue.
MT. Downham said he was sorry to hear the
| gentleman talk so about members of the Coun.
ci., ana especially sorry to hear him imruvp
| the motives OF members of the committee of
which he, the speaker, was a member, and
which be felt assured we're as pure as those
| which acuated their acouser.
Mr.. Moore said that his experience with
Councils contract work was that it cost about
twice as much as similar work done by the Su-
perlntendent OF Police, and was not done half
as well. He recolected distinctly an instance
10 which contract work cost $500, when SINH
lar job done by the Superintendent oil Police cost
SoO0 DID Was a member of the Commit
| tee on Streets last year, and was then always
willing to turn everything over to the Board OF
Public Works. 1t he did anything, it Was that
| work on St. Asaph street.
DR.. johnson said the gentleman had made
| that assertion before, and be, the speaker, had
now nothing else to do but pronounce the state
ment false. He had Dothing more to do with
| the present condition of St. Asaph street than
| the gentleman from the lSt Ward
MIR. Neale said that as Mr.. Downham had
/ not been present at the meeting of the com
mttee which had prepared the resolution, as
| MIR. Smoot, the other member OF that commit
| tee from this Board was absent, aud as DR..
| johnson had examined the matter and was op-
posed to the plan recommended, he would
move to lay the res ,lution over till the next
meeting.
| MIR. Moore said Mr.. Smoot approved the
plan,a did also MIR. Broders, the member from
| the other Board
| Mr.. Mckenzie seconded the motion TO Inv
| over, and II Was carried.
| MI. Moore asked what had become of a pe-
tltlon OF suudry residents of st. Asaph street
Tor tearing up the track vi the railroad on that
street.
| d.. johnson said it had been referred to the
Corporation Attorney, VINO would examine and
| report upon 1t DIS SOU as his heallh-uow fee
ble-woud permit
| a resolution adopted by the Common Coun-
Gil, approprlatiug $50 for the payment of a bill
tor paving the sidewalk al the intersection Of
| klng and Washington streets, being read,
| DR.. johnson said consistency was level
| rarely found IN men, auu when hound was high
ly priced. The Common Council short time
ago must always know when III ,ucy was paid
whether the work Tor which 1t was due had
been ordered by the Council. During that con-
scientlous period many people on north Pitt
| street were Unable to procure water unless they
| agreed to purchase their groceries from man
who had d pump ID Ills yard He, the speaker
III the emergency had well dug for tnei. ac
cOmmodatlou, they paying IS OF the cost there
OF. The bill Tor the remainder the work
W done by contrac--with accompanying
vouchers, Was Sent TO the Common Council
who land 1t on the table GU the pretence that
| the work had not been authurlz Il. The work
oenchtted many people; there Was no doubt
1 abOu! the currcCtOesS vi the bill aud the saving
| OF the IS, which had been paid by those who
| used the Water, and yet that bill was rejected,
| aud this Que, though III more authorized than
| that, paid without d ulsseullug voice. lie was
| IN favor OF paying this bill because the me.
chanlc who did the work ought TO have tho
| money Tor 1t, aud he oily showed the uconsst.
| cDcy OF the Common Council 10 exhibit to the
| puulc how the city fathers treat their children.
The work, however, should have been done by
| contract ADD not gIveu by Mr.. Clifford to any
| one be likes The law says the work must be
| gwen out that way, bu; Mr.. Clifford don't obey
| the law.
| MIR. Mckee zlc said he was sorry Council had
not paid the bill referred to by the gentleman;
| 1t should have been paid, but ii was thought
| the work had not been authorized. As to the
present bill he did not think thc Committee on
Streets or the Superintendent OF Police had
auy right to expend larger sum than $50 with
| cut the consent OF Council, aud hc would repeat
That the chaitm imam of the Com iltcc on Streets
would ruin this town he is MT stopped 10 his
| course OF excessive aud exlravagaut expendi
ture.
lhe motion to non-coucur was agreed 10 and
! the bill ordered to be paid
The report CT the City Treasurer was accept
| cd without debate, and the Board then ad-
Journ:d, MIR. Mckenzie expressing the hope
| mat there would be no more meetings till Dc
tober.
VIOLENT storm Of rain and hail. accom-
| ianled BY terrlf, thuudcr aud lightning, pass
| I'd over this vicinity last Friday evening. A
| tenant house GU Gen. James II. Carson place,
| near Newtown, occupied by Mr.. Gruver, was
| struck by lightning. Mrs. Gruyer was render