Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-08
Civ Council.

City Council.
\ called meeting Of the City Council was
hcld last Saturday night
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Mr.. Armstrong was called to the chair and
manfred whether any communication had
been received from tic Mayor.
The clerk said there had not.
Mr.. Armstrong said that be understood the
Board was called together for the purpose OF
taking action az to the erection of q soup house.
He proceeded at length to discuss the ad7isa'
bilisy OF approprlatpg money Tor that purpose.
lie said the prescn, mode of issuing groceries
was very expensive and the erection OF soup
house would pot cost more than 800 or $500.
Mr.. Armstrong was proceeding with bis re.
marks when the President came in and took
the chair.
The chair then presented the communication
of the Mayor as follows:
Mayors Office, january 6, ISL.
Samuel II. Janney, eal., President Board OF
Aldermen:
Sir-Through you have been requested to
call the City Counci! together TINS evening iof
the purpose OF taking into consideration Inc
condition Of the poor OF orr city, ana TO devise
such means as may, in the wisdom Of the City
Council, be deemed best TO alleviate their sui
ferings. For the purpose soup house has
been suggested Us the best means; bu! AN
convinced By experience that auch an expt1ient
will prove both expensive and Inadequate. II
will REQUIRE at least Two hundred gallons OF soup
and Sc many pounds of bread per day to supply
the demands which will be made upon such an
institution and in addition this mode OF relel
will be attended by both delay and expense. II
permitted, will suggest much more, IN my
Judgment, eXpedient and economical mode. IL
consists in tho purchase Of the substantial artl-
cles Of diet, oil bacon and meal, at wholesale
prices, sad then putting the distribution OF this
food under tbs orders of the Overseers OF the
Poor and by police officer detailed for tho
purpose The poor can st once be supphed' ana
every pound OF meal and meat SO distributed
can be at Ill times accounted for and approprl-
stely bestowed. This mode is unattended By
'Ap'D=' S''' ''''S' j: &. JOHNSON, Mayor.
Mr.. Armstrong combatted the Mayors views
aud proceeded to demonstrate how 10 his opin-
ion the soup house was the cheapest plan. lie
said that under the Mayors plan unworthy
parties would get the provisions and trade them
ior whiskey. He urged the necessity OF some
action to avoid The payment of the enormous
bills Tor groceries now furnished the poor.
Mr.. Smoot offered resolution appropriatiue
5000.
NIr. Armstrong offered resolution appro-
priating 81 900 from the sinking tund.
AIr. Smoot said that from 500 to $500 used
to support the soup house in former years.
! Mr.. Armstrong thought the last one cos!
500.
! NIr. Moore said the ovcrseer5 Of the poor
! or some one else ought 10 be paid 10 attend 70
these matters. Much money vas spent
unnecessarily, He though. the Mayors sug.
gestion the most sensible one he had ever
! made, and better one than the soup house idea.
| He further said that the money could not lie
taken from the sinking fund.
! The chair said that he was about 10 call at
teulion 10 that fact. He read the law in rela-
ton thereto, aud said that the commissioners
would not be permitted to respect such aresolu.
tiou, as the slnkicg fund was already appro-
prlated.
Mr. Armstrong was surprised at the idea
that the sinking fund was sacred. The Coun.
ell lie maintained could repeal the ac.
The chair-Havc you repealed it?
Mr. Armstrong said that the passage Of this
resolution would repeal It, lie proceeded at
length to speak on the subject.
! Mr.. Downham moved as "a amendment that
| the finance COMMITTED be directed to uego-
tate loan Of 81 900 for the purpose. lie did
not believe 5000 was sufficient for the purpose.
lie favored the employment of some one to at
tend to the soup house and the issuance OF tick
cts to he sold to citizens and by them given to
! the poor.
Mr.. Strauss vas wiling to spend $500 but
was opposed 10 borrowing money. The Mayor
| could detail oue Q! the policemen who was q
bonded officer to attend TO q soup house, with
out additional expense 10 the city,
Alr. Jauney (Mr. Armstrong III the chair
x-nl, tI,n int, n
fund, and urged that it could not be used Tor
| this purpose.
Mr.. ONeal was 10 favor of Mr. Strauss mo.
ton for $500, and il necessary TO have any more
let it be taken from the poor fund and not Dor
rowed. He favored Mr.. DoWnham plan tor
| tickets.
MIR. Downham said his only object 10 moving
| to borrow was to avoid interfering with the ap-
priations az recommended by the Finance Com
| mittec.
Mr.. Armstrong attacked the sinking fund
and hoped TO live to sec the day when the bill
establishing it would be torn TO atoms.
| Mr.. Strauss did not see why the money could
not be taken from the general fund.
Mr. Strauss motion to appropriate $500 was
| adopted unanimously.
Several matters OF arrangement 10 regard 10
the soup house were passed which will be found
in the official proceedings
After waiting some time for the action OF the
other Board aud the passage OF sundry COM
muDcations and amendments the Board ad-
journcd.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Blu: on2 solitary spectator was present, while
Of the sixteen members, five were in attendance.
4 resolution coming 10 from the Board oil
Aldermen appropratlDg $500 Tor erecting
and maintaining" soup house.
Mr.. Hughes said it would require all that
sum to build the house.
The President said he understood that a
house suitable fer the purpose, with front
and rear entrance. could be gotten for small
rent. 1t was the house on the north side of
King street, between Lee and Fairfax, lately
used as an oyster packing house, and that the
corporation had the kettles already.
Mr.. Hughes said he had heard that the ket-
ties had been sold.
The President said that after they we're last
used they were put away securely by the late