Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-24
CITY COUNCIL.
The City Council held its regular meeting
last niphf =
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

members present, anu thFte "lu'l' '"p'' l"eN'
iy came 10. -,
Pnblie Properly, made report on the matter
of the Sun engine. house, referred to them The
committee recommend that The Mayor take
possession of the Sun engine house Tor the use
Of the city. 1t also repeats The resolution OF
March 81, 1851, granting the use CT the house
TO tho Sun company.
MIR. Downham moved to amend Ky instruct.
ing the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund TO
take possession. -
Mr.. Armstrong opposed the amendment, and
thought the Mayor safer custodian. lie
stated his oil jecions to the Sinking Fund 10
general.
Mr.. Strauss favored Mr.. Downham' amend
ment.
MIR. Downbam thought That as all the rest of
tho market building was in the possession Of
the Commissioners of tho Sinking Fund this
part should also be.
Mr.. Armstrong did not sec why the Commits
sioners of tho Sinking Fund have possession oil
this any more than the rest of the city prop
crty. tic thought, also. that the Council could
control it bother 10 the hands Of the Mayor.
The amendment of MIR. Downham was car
ried, and the resolution as amended vas
adopted.
1t was subsequently, returned by tho Com
mon Council, reoommlttcl to the committee.
Mr. Latham, who brought the papers back,
said that he had desired to appear before the
com mttcc, and asked. as on act of Justice to
tho company and himself, that the action OF
the Common Council be coacurred in, which
was done.
The petition of Mrs Mary kell, for cxlen.
sion Of time for the payment. Of improvement
tax on Fayettc alley. was presented, and gave
rise TO long and tedious debate Of no public
interest, some members advocating the cStcn-
sion time, others the culir remission Of: the
tax, and others a reference to the Finance Com
mittcc. The petition was GGay granted, and
the time extended six months.
Sundry matters OF minor importance were
disposed of without debate.
The communication Of John llodgkin, rcla-
tive to Duke street, was partially read, when
COL Reid moved to suspend the reading and
concur With The other Board 10 its reference 10
the Committee on Streets.
Mr.. Smoot moved to lay it On the table.
Lost.
Mr.. Armstrong understood tLat the Com.
mittee on Streets had settled up entirely with
MIR. Uodgkin and given him twenty five dollars
to get out Of the way.
The action Of the other Board was COIL
Cured in.
Mr.. Strauss called up the resolution relative
to filing up the suuken lots between Royal,
Pitt Queen and Process streets. He said that
the nuisance was i most insufferable Que, and
the people there were all being made sick by
it. He demanded that the Duisaucn should be
abatel and the property holders DC made to
pay tor it. .E",'",
A debate ensued as to the ways aud means
Of abatng the nuisance, and OF Iakinr Tie
owners Of the property pay Tor It,
Finally resolution was adopted approtllat.
inc $500, or so much as necessary, 10 atlatc the
| nuisance, to be afterwards assessed against the
property owners
COL Reid asked for information as to whether
the provision of the new charter relative 10 the
return of DELINQUENT tax aud gas bills had been
enforced.
Mr.. Marbury answered the provision did not
go in force until The present year.
After some further matters OF minor interest
had beer disposed of the Board. at 8 % o clock,
adjourned
COMMON COUNCIL.
The regular semi-monthly meeting 0i the
Common Council was held last night. The at
tendance within the bar was much batter than
| usual. a few persons only sat without the bar
Much OF the business was transacted without
debate
The petition of Mr.. llodgkiu for compcnsa-
ton for loss of his contract for repairing Duke
street, was read.
Mr.. Rsheill--IIc seems 10 be readjuster.
Tho petition was referred to the Committee
on Streets
When the resolution from the Aldermen, d.
recting the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund
to take possession of the Sun engine house ,camo
10 from that Board,
MIR. Latham said that the action was sur
prise TO him. lie could show that the commit
tee entirely misunderstood the state OF tho case.
He had asked the committee to hear him 90
the subject, but had been unable to attend on
account of sickness. lie said, 81 would ask if
the whole committee we're present.
Mr.. Risheill-rhcy wore all there except Mr..
Evans.
MIR. Latham was surprised at the course of
the chairman, (Mr. Armstrong; of the commit.
tee, whom he had understood to be opposed to
disturbing the possession of the company. Ho
hoped Council would rccommit 10 give him
chance to make somo statements to the com.
mitteo.
MIR. Rishell explained thath had introduced
tho resolution into the committee, and that the
committee had heard the request Of Mr.. Lath-
am, but they thought the matter too urgent
for delay. The Corporation Attorney could
find no title to the property in the possession
of the Sun Company, and yet that company
had rented out the house for business place.
Mr.. Beach thought that time should be Civ
en- MIR. Latham TO explain the facts of the case
to Council.
MIR. Latham said he thought he could show
to at least three members Of the committee that
their report was wrong. 10 regard to the in
situation of Mr.. Risheill that money was re-
ceived for rent, he would say that there was
no private benefit. The rent was accumulated
for the benefit Of The company in connection
with its usefulness to the city. The rent was
deposited with MIR. Harlow and if the purpose
was not carried out the money would be paid
into the city treasury. lie had handled thous-
ands Of dollars and not one cent had stuck to
bis fingers"
Mr.. Rischeill-I don't charge it.
MIR. l.. said had ho known the committee
would have acted as they did hewoud have
come out even if it had been the last day Of
bis life, in spite of nurse and doctor. lie would
H.. 10 tlo