Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-05-15
Meeting Of the Common Council.

previously been adopted by tic Board OF AT
dermeu, extending Tor sixty days the suSpen-
sion Of the order OF the Clty Council Tor the
removal Of the railroad track Oh St. Asabh
street from King to Princess, which order,
without further extension Of the period Of sus
pension OF its execution, would have been opc-
rative alter twelve clock to night. i
OBly eleven members were present, but the
spectators were 80 numerous that thc'Space al
loted them Was not sufficient, and they came
in large numbers upon the floor OF the cham
Der.
the First Ward, who had bccu elected Presl !;
dent ata previous meeting, was sworn into
Office by Justice May, and havlng taken his
seat, stated that the charter required him to
call meeting at the request oil auy four mem
bcrs, aud that he had called the meeting be
cause he had received written request for
MIN to do so from six mem bers, who desired
that some action be taken upon a resolu
ton that had been adopted by the Board oil
| Aldermen with rcte!Guce to the 81. Asaph
street railroad track.
The resolution referred to Was then read by
the clerk. 1t provided for tic Suspension ol
the order for the removal of the track Tor sixty
days.
The Clerk also read communication sigucd
| by Geo. &. wilkins, Superintendent address
| ed to both boards O.! Council, rcqugs tlUg them
| to aupolnt committee ID confer with the Ia-
! road company 10 reference 10 the occupancy Ut
the street; asking the Common Couucll to agree
10 the cxtcuslou # time allowed by The Board
OF Aldermen: 30 az to give the proposed COM
mittcc time to act. aud stating that uocss the
time were cxl.nlcd the company would proceed
to execute Ihc order Tor the removal OF the
track alter the I5.h lusi., and that II the pro.
posed conference resulted 10 uc satisfactory ar
rapgemcnt the company would ask 20 future
suspension Of the tx cutlou 81 the order.: Il
| The President SEATED thrQuC$tlon before the
Board was concurrence or nUn concurrence with
the action of tie Board OF Aldermen.
MIR. Harlow moved to CONCUR, aud his mo-
ton was seconded by Mr.. Hughes.
| Considerable debate then euSucd regarding
the number If votes required 10 make action
effective, the pGiut raised bclag whether Or
not the resolution should DC ecns'drrcd new
matter, for il So, 10 CONCUR would require twelve
votes, three iuurifs OF the Whose iumher OF
members The debate was participated IL by
Mcs,rs. Hughes, Bach, Harlow aud I'roadtrs,
| all OF WHOM malutaIGcd that the reS9luilOn was
| IL
,iucel rlo the Board nl Aldermen, Il branch oI
the City Uu;lrciI, on the Oh inst. |. beng
tacilly decided that il vas Mt ucW m,t;cr, and
that con, ulcu;!y It w,u!l liz. r.Quir. twelve
Totes to cnncur w;il the action oi the Alder.
m"n, there was III: further debate as 10
whether an alteraiinu 10 the resolution should
he c1nsilcrrd ID the light y! Il >uD-' tltc II an
amendment, is upon decision OF that qn">-
tioa would dcpat the characterization ol the
! Board o! Aldermen aud til, necessity Tor d
mcctiGg Of ;tat Is 3aId.
During this discussion Mr.. Hughes suid-it
would no! hc decent 10 cnilI2nc: tearing UP
!: the rack 4; T. clock lloni,y night, and that
the Ma, " Nd given no $uch instruction.
Mr. Bsckham also sail hat he wa. certain
| the Mayor mad never even contemplated order
inr TIE track to be removed al II % clock at
Eight.
Mr. Smith said The Superintendent Of Police
had told him tiat he hal orders t. remove the
track as soon al the time for it to remain had
expired. 1
Mr. Harlow SAID that il inc people Of the
city had an opportunity 10 rive Their opinion on
the subject ulue-tenths Of them would vote for
the track TO remain. Numbers Of mcchaa &C.
living here worked in Washington; they had
hardly time to reach the ralts uow aud GER
tainIy would not have were The depot changed
10 Eaypttc street, aud some r. them would have
to move to Washington if 'lch charge we're
made Tie Railroad Company Lad moved their
freight depot and he thought, Tor the gcncl al
| convenience, the passenger dcpo. should rcula't
at its present location.
! Mr.. Bcckham concurrcd in all that Mr.. Far-
low had said, and il the city were in more
prosperous condition be wrulu vote that the
damages due the property owners on ST. Asaph
street should be paid cut Of the city treasury
and that the track should remain where 1t is ;
but the question was not the general convent
epce Of the city, but the rights of the property
owners on St. Asaph strcct-'cga rights
which the Council could not take away from
them, and the Railroad Company should be
made to comply with the law. Mr.. Stevens,
he understood had declared that the Railroad
Company would not accept the charter granted
It by the Legislature, and would bot pay
| damages to The property owncrs.
Mr. Suiith thought a committee OF confer
ence, such as asked for by the company might,
aud probably would, agree upon some satitac-
l tory arrangement.
Mr. Hughes said that Mr. Stevens was not
Superintendent Of the road. The Superntcn-
dent was Mr.. Wilkins a court Gous and agrce-
able gentleman, and would be found 10 be such
I by all who came in contact with him. Dir.
Stevens had disposed Of all his. interest IN the
road, and was nuw only an employee, who was
| sometimes cbstrcprouS. and had no authority
to speak for the Railroad Company.
MIR. Rishicll asked what fleet 4 delay 10 the
consideration Of the resolution would have upon
the Mayor action 10 the matter.
The President thought II souli justify him
ip withholding the order ior tearing up the
| qark
Mr. Smith thea moved to amend the Al
dcrmcu resolution by cxtcodng the time for
the track to remain thirty days, appointing Z.
committee of conference, and providing tina:
in the event of the non compliance by tac Rail
road Company with their charter the track be
removed.
|. Mr.. Beach moved to amcnd the amendment
by declaring that the resolution. should it. be
adopted, be SO only upon the express under
standing that The Railroad Company acc Ut all
the CONDITIONS contained IN the charter granted
it by the LEGISLATURE Ii" said that the Rail
road Company had been askng for and pb,air-