Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-14
CITY COUNCIL.

I'll 4 SOUNC1L.
A regular semi monthly meeting Of the City
Council was held last night, and as Anticipated
10 yesterdays Gazette, ii was the last meeting
before the usual summer recess. As it was
known that the election of municipal officers
would be concluded at this meeting, the numer-
Gus candidates and their more numerous freuds
were present in large numbers crowding the
space set apart for spectators, and 10 the cham
Der Of the Common Council, in which the cleo
ton was held, crowdlng 10 upon the floor. All
the members of both boards were present tx.
cept Messrs. Smith and Evans of the Common
Council, the former of whom Is out of the city,
and the latter being prevented from attending
by unavoidable causes For official proceedings
see another column in TO days Gazette.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
The Board met few minutes after eight
o'clock, when, after the reading of the minutes
of the last meeting, the bill introduced in the
Common Council at the last meeting by MIR.
Z. II. Smith, for the removal of Aliantus trees.
as a nuisance, was read and referred, Mr..
Seaton S being the only vote in the negative.
Mr.. Mckenzlc Introduced resolution look
log to having we'll dug at the gas works TO
receive the gas tar, and prevent its running into
the river, aud explained that it Was 10 every re-
spec; deleterlous, especially to the fisheries :;
that 10 Euglan and elsew here means have had
to be adopted to prevent its going into the
rivers, and that if action was taken here it
might have some effect in Washington and
Georgetowp; that this tar was found floating on
the surface Ut the water for miles down the
river, aud was offensive in every way
Ou motion OF Mr.. Smoot, the resolution was
referred to a special committee Of two from
each Board.
The President then announced the standing
committees, as published III yesterdays Ga
zette.'
Mr.. Seaton expressed himself satisfied with
the complexion of the committees.
The President wanted to know if Mr.. SeatoD
wanted to be satirical.
Mr.. Seatou disavowed any such intentlop
and said that be had expected that the com.
mittees would have been composed lust as thew
had been.
MIR. Hopkins, from the Common Council
having Invited the Board into the Council
chamber for the purpose Of going into the cleo
ton for Corporation officers, the invitation was
at once accepted and the members, 10 a body
proceeded to the Council chamber, where they
went into joint session, and the election Of Off
GERS Was proceeded with.
Upon returning TO their chamber,
Mr. Mckenzie introduced a resolution for an
adjournment OF Cou0cll until the second Tues
day 10 October, which was adopted lem con.
Mr.. Mckeuzle presented a petition for the
erection OF sheds IN the market square for the
beDeht OF the country people, signed by about
one hundred and hlty persous, which was re-
ferred to the Commissioners Of the Sinking
Fund, with power to act 10 the premises.
a communication from the Mayor, recon.
mendlng uniform for the chain gang. with
suggestion from City Sergeant Lucas to the
same effect, was received, together with reso-
luton Of Council, referring the matter to COM
mittce with power to act
DR.. Johnson opposed any such action. as, in
his opinion, 1t Was worse than preposterous; the
chain and ball was uniform enough He though,
too, that thirty days was too long punishment
imposed by the Mayor for petit offences. Unless
the convicts could be better regulated, aud
more properly attended to, and furnished with
some one to wash their clothes uniform would
do no good.
Mr.. Latham here appeared 10 the chamber,
and asked, on the part Of the Common Council,
return OF the communication and accompany
log papers, which was granted, aud which put
stop TO debate, though Mr. Mckenzie suy-
gested that suit of liusey ,woosy would be
appropriate, or farm purchased on which to
put all the worthless vagabuudS.
A bill of DR.. r. C. Powell for s37, for SER
Wees as Health officer, coming in lrun the
Common Council
Dr. Johnson said that he would not oppose
the payment of this bill, but the Office was a
slnecure. and unnecessary, and the appropria.
ton OF $50 throwing away of that much
money, when the Corporation could not af-
ford it.
Mr.. Mckenzie explained that the President
Of the Board o! Health and Health officer were
different Offices. The law required that
Health Officer should be appointed, whose
duty it was to attend infectious cases arriving
at this port, and he though the salary very
low.
Dr. johnson said he was not opposed to the
pay ment OF this bill, although no service had
been rendered-ony two meetings of the Board
Of Health having been held; and repeated that
there Was otthe slightest necessity for the Office
Of Health Officer.
Mr.. Moore sent to the clerks desk to be
reau the following communication from DIR.
Powell:
ALEXANDRIA, VA, June q, 1876.
Dear Sir: l beg leave to call attention, through
you, to the law in reference to the Health Off
Ger, Wnltn you Will ind On page 81 of tie Cor
poratlon Laws, which says lhe City Council
shall annu lily elect Health officer, who shall
be one Of the Physicians to the Poor, and eu
othcio President OF the Board of Health Para
graph 10, same chapter, says: THE Health Off
Ger shall receive reasonable compensation for
his services" You will observe That the Ian
gusge of the law is mandatory, not discretionary,
cons -quently, the Board Of Aldermen have moth
ing more to do in this matter lhan acting jointly
with the City Council, determine what shall ba
considered II reasonable compensation" In
regard to the remarks of the Alderman who was
SO bitterly opposed to throwing sop to ia
vorite," and "saddling the Iorporation with
useless officer" | take the liberty of saying that
II there had been Health Cti ;er, as the law
requires, this city would have saved several hun
dred dollars last year. II there had been-a
Health Officer when }. B. johnson was employ.
ed to attend the small pox hospital, thirty-sx
patients, so Ill with small pox rs to require Sl79
worth OF cotins, would not have been allowrd 10
consume SO ~. % worth oil gre ceries, furnished
chiefly by j. B. johnson, under the alias of
Eaton s. Co He would not hava rennz.a LII.