Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-14


BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
This Board met at SO O'Clock With ali The
members present; , poo:s,7,,o
cranh Co.. for permission 10 remove pole,
consequent upon change OF once, vas al'ei
explanation by MIR. Strauss, granted.
Some other business OF nlDor Importance
uas transacted, after which the Board went into
;oint conventiou at s 80 o'clock. The Board
returned to its chamber at lilo o clock and
adjourned untl the 3! Tuesday in October
next.
COMMON COUNCIL
The Council met last night, and after some
routine business had been transacted the Alder
men entered the chamber and organ2,d
JOINT CONVENTION
for the election OF the remaining municipal
officers.
The first position voted for was that Of Cap
tain Of Police, to which James Il. Webster was
unanimously reelected.
For Lieutenant of Police Col. Reid nominated
John L. Smith, ST.
Mr.. Latham nominated VIM. Dabie, aud pro.
ceeded at length to arraign Lieut.. Smith, the
present incumbent. charging hlm with utter
inef6ciency, vulgarity and want OF proper sell,
respect. file charged that the police force was
demoraliZ ID, aud that Lieut.. Smith was re-
srousible therefor. He had been the cause
Of all the trouble in the police force since
its organz .ton lie (the speaker) had
known of these things for many years
even when he was Mayor but took no ac-
ton, fearing to be accused OF prejudice. "--
The men felt degraded. On one occasion when
he was Mayor he visited the station house at
night; two men were there, one with the Lieu,
tenant. Both, am satisfied, were asleep, and
never awoko until they we're awaken hy the
sound of my voice The Lieutenant did get
up, but cannot report the remarks here that
fell from his lips. The other man never even
m nv mind that | would bring this matter to
the attention of Council. | have done 80. And
if members Of Council can vote for him after
they had been told of his unftness they could
do So. He was surprised that Mr.. Smith would
have the presumption to claim this Office again.
He has not one qualification; he does not attend
to the duties, and is so laxative that there can
be no privacy in the Mayors Office. k was not
until Tuesday last that he, the Speaker, had
determined to move 10 this matter. anu then
he asked one member Of Council to vote Tor
MIR. Dobe. 1t had been said to him that
Smiths whole family is operating against
YOU | said | knew it, but that was not go
ing to rotaliate. This had been his disposition
heretofore, but now patience has gone clear
out, aud if they want war they can have il here
| am on the war path.
The Presilent-The gentlemen is out Of Or
der. You have right to discuss the quaIIilca'
tons Of the candidate, but not to take INTO con
sideraticn any personal dithculty between him'
sell aud yourself.
MIR. Latham concluded by expressing lis VII
lingness to prove all that be had stated.
MIR. Reed had kroWn Mcut. omiln hiteen
years, and never heard aught against his char
acter. lie was surprised now TO nave these
grave charges preferred against him on the eve
of election, and moved that the election be post
poned, and committee appointed 10 'nVcSl.
gate the charges made by MIR. Latham.
Mr.. Evans urged that the convention hau 10
right 10 do anything out postpone or proceed
with the election, anu the ffes'asnt SuS'a'ueu
THE VH wv, ,nu,nu,at,o ,.o,
MI, I'LL thought the ululculty cou'u ne soiteu
over BY the convention requesting I'll; teSue0'
TO appoint committee OF inVestlgatloh:
MIR. Beach held that Mr.. Evans position Was
correct.
Mr. Armstrong was aMa1'u , ina' auy eA t'O.
tive head OF the CITY shou!o aIlO" such aouse
as is now charged upon Lieut.. 0mith anu NOT c
say word about It, 1t Lieut.. omith was uoa6
for the position why was not an oDPp3rtunlty
given him to be heard when all was tresh 10 the
miods Of everybody. Tie had never heard be
fore that Lieut.. Smith vas immoral Il know
be will swear little sometimes lie thought
man had a great deal better swear rgh out
than keeplt here llayipg DIS Gaoo on ms Gteas''
1t was better to De an open Toe tnao 70 hide a
grudge: stab that 10 secret ne oid not .h'nk
the police OF the city was gileu WIN u1us!l r.,
liglon. There was not mucn 10 po!lcenen 8
lite to bring that out. 1t aoesn i1e9'ca'e .urn,
mp both sides TO be struek' llo G.u po' agree
with this doctrine, ior II nan MI nun lA nj
stroog ne would g1Ve IL 70 nini psck as ''a5u ns
be could drive. why dia MI. Aa1nan uG,ly
this matter untl! now IL was tne uuIy VI nir
Latham, when Mayor, unaeG inc otu1oahce o.
man and dod' 10 arrest 40 omce1 unuet suIu
circumstances Before lie WouId oecVe 1ohn
L. Smith to be olackguara anu raSca1 ne
would have to nave more evidence .llap ne nuW
had. Lieut.. Smith mas raiseu up an ololoary
good family and isa good eit,Zen' anu IL IS 100
late now to try to b'aGken hlm ana turo nun
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