Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-16
COMMUNICATED.
Again. L Say-Retrench

Again, SAJ-1tcGECHCh5
AS was to have been expected have "awak-
ened, in certain quarters, reply to my artl-
Gle of last Friday. Two XAX's came prompt
" to the front, and what have they done? Let
us briefly examine their lucubrations: We
are told by Xxx No. l, that " somebody has
an axe to grind "a very courteous remark ln-
deed to commence his article with-a most un-
warranted assault Suppose somebody
had an axe to grind, would that prevent some
BODY" from calling attention OF the public to
abuses But, to pass on. Then we have from
the aforesaid XXX, No. /, quitca lot of vague
geueralities about "ntegrity, Is stealiDgs,
and the stale clap-traps that the laborer is
worthy of his hire, " and saving at the
spigot, and losing at the bung-hole, y and 9th.
er classical illusions from those distinguished
writer's Joe Miller and Poor Richard And
then he informs US he is " not much OF f1an-
cier, " which is apparent by his 6gures-as
Peabody or Rothschild, whose names be cites,
would first get their data correct before they
essaved to enlighteu us | will suggest to
xxx, No. l, that the pay Of the Collectors
il considerably more than 81 200 each-one
wear they received $4,000 between them At
present they receive about $4,000 | have no
complaint about the incumbents they are
worthy gentlemen but if We can get this work
we'll done for about one-haf, why not do it !?
While small savings or petty salaries" may
not save US, this We all must admit, that re-
duction in these salaries will decrease our taxes,
and that is what he public demands. | make
no war upon any of our officials l simply de-
sire to arouse the attention OF the tax payers
to the matter and if succeed In so doing l
shall be greatly grathed and my sole pur-
yose will have been accomplished. Permit me
to try my hand at few figures Put the collec-
ton of tie taxes at $4,000, take Oft 20 per
cent. from the salaries OF all our tunctlouarles
who receive $500 per year. dlsmlsses i've police
men, mot much said by anybody in their be-
half put the cleaning OF the streets out by
contract and enough would be saved, according
to my calculation, TO pay the interest on $780,.
600, and this, according to AAA, No. !, is
Letting go at the bung.hole Well, if We
can let 90 in that way few times we will lift
our old town out of this financial quagmre.
A few words to XXX, No. ,. You started
out with such prodlgluus assertion that l was
stunued at the mere reading of it. Just think
of it The aborer at the coal wharves at
| ST. so per day enjoys more Of a siDecure than
any officer of the Corporation. WheW |
exclaim, when think of our midsummer sun,
! and the thermometer past 900, and of our
American citizens of African descent toll
ing away among the black diamonds" On
such any occasion my mental vision reverts to
our Market building, and there | see snugy
enscoDced for few hours per day, in their
cool rooms, with palm leaf fans 10 their hands,
and ice water at discretion, number of gentle
| men employed, at times, as Is their first duty,
in making themselves comfortable All what
hard work they do. And then he tells US, that
day after day, add week after week, the same
parties are called upon for their taxes. " Why
this | have DO doubt, is wonderful news to the
Collectors and, if true, would make of them
| the most unconscienable " duns in existence.
| And then to cap the climax of assertions, he
very gravely informs us that some old citizens
| tell him that 'pavements might be found 10
| some of our alleys" if they we're excavated
| Why this covert attack upon our veteran 5. of
P? What has he done ? Come now, Colo
mel Clifford, let US see you, 10 hunt Bile imitation
of that great traveller and excavator, Layard,
uuearh those alleys, as he did the streets and al
legs of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Those streets
mud Marshal your forces, Colonel and with
the "Chain. gang" surrounding you, armed
with their spades and picks, and followed and
hanked by your CARTS restore to US those long
lost and mud-submergcd alleys, and render
yourself famous
promised an article upon the Poor's House,
but think must forbear, for that would in-
duce an article upon the cognate subject, viz:
the dispensing of medicines, aud this is too
delicate subject. | might, perhaps, be charged
With lacking the milk of human kindness.
To those interested--and all are--I will refer
to the bills which are presented, from time to
time, to Couucil. They will see such items as
these Tea 50 per ID. i; hams - cents per
h., &C., &c. And how is the medicine bill?
I deprecate the wrath of the Faculty." but,
10 the language of an esteemed member Of
Council from the I'd Ward, when he suggested
"giuger as substitute for costly prcscrip.
ton, would again remark shall have to treat
the subject g1ngery! aud let tho dear public
investigate Tor itself. AS eternal vigilance is
the price flberty, so is eternal vigilance the
price of our-pocket-books /! Tale AA.
COMMUNICATED.
Why? oh why? are We shot down, hung,
poisoned by every passcr by? Why do those
with whom We once played so joyousIy now 10
our old age slyly hand us a California biscuit2
IA piece of meat with strychniue on it.) Why
do those who, uuli lately, would say shoot
my dog and I'll shoot you,' murder US at
every step! Is it because we-takiug as pat
tern those above us-steal sheep or two occa
sionav2 Our masters are taxed To keen the