Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-16
CITY COUNCIL.
A called meeting of the City Council was
held last night

HIS DUaIu Mcl dI O.-O v C!SSt., hi'h WV"
members present.
The resignation Of Mr.. s. G. Neale, Alder.
man from the Fourth Ward, was received and
MIR. Armstrong voting no.
\ discussion ensued as 10 whether an cleo,
was finally determined that writ issue for an
election, on the day of the general election,
Mr.. O'Noal saying that he thought it better
that his Ward should be fully represented.
The call Of the Mayor, and enclosed commu-
nicstion being read,
Mr.. Downham suggested that The latter had
the signature of only Que member of the Board
Of Aldermen, the rule requiring two members.
The Chair decided that the Mayor had The
authority of his own volitiou TO call The City
Council together at any time.
Mr.. Armstrong explained that he had slgu-
ed the call in order, if possible, to get the sal
airy bill passed before The election, and not
have the ridiculous biuoders oil last gear re-
peated,
The Chair said that The salary bill Was not
here 1t was 10 the ether Board
MIR. Armstrong said that he thought that
CODY of the bill should have been sect here at
the same time it was reported in the other
Board, so as to be duly considered. lie hoped
the Board would meet every night uoil this
salary bill was disposed Of He thought The
Board had right TO compel the Finance Com
mittee to report copy Of tue bill here 1t they
saw fit.
The Chairman anuourcel that there was 10
business before the Board.
Mr. Strauss said that as he saw 10 business
for consideration, he moved TO adjourn.
Mr. Armstrong wanted TO know if it was the
intention Of this Board to e7adc action on both
the salary bill and the charter.
Mr.. Smoot said, that at the last meeting 1t
was unanimously understood that, when the
salary bill bad been acted upon by tho other
Board, the President would at once call the
Board together.
The Chairman said that he would certainly
do So.
Mr.. Armstrong attacked the sciou Of The
other Board 10 not taking Immediate action On
this BILL He was tired Of this continual clog
on legislation. As things were managed now,
the Board Of Aldermen might as we'll be abol-
ished. He continued at some length. aud at the
conclusion oil his remarks, the Doar., At $40,
adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The called meeting of the Commou Couuci
Was wei! endss'd: :,
compliance with an order irom the Mayor.
The Clerk will please read the call.
The Clerk read the request Of Nlessr!. Ford,
Chauncey, Smith, Armstrong and Seals for Il
called meeting. aud also the call OF The Mayor.
The Salary bill Was first called up and lis
reading begun.
The Chair--l want the members to under
stand this is the second reading Of the bill, aod
it is being read a second time. Now is the time
TO make any amendments il any be deemed ne
cessary.
Mr.. Seals moved to strike $4OO out Of the
bill as the salary of the Mayor and insert $500,
which was agreed to.
The bill Was further read and all the ame cd
ments reducing salaries were stricken out and
the salaries restored to the rates paid last year.
Messrs Lambdin aud Broders voting 10 the
negative.
During the consideration Of the bill motion
to strike out $500 and Insert $500 as the saIarg
Of the Superintendent Of Gas beng up,
MIR. Lanbdin said am in favor Of rotreDch
ment. | know of 20 better time to rctrench
than the present time. Everybody suffers and
I think our officers should take part as we'll IS
our citizens at large in the general striugency
Of the timcs .hiDk, sir, that this town should
not be divided into three ciasses--thc bood
holders, the ofiiccholdcrs sud tic taxpayers.
1t is a triangular fight, but Two Sides shoot at
the taxpayers. am going 10 favor rcIrcuch,
ment on principle.
MIR, L9mbdin moved ID consolidate the col
lectorships and to give the collector II per cent.
The Chairman-Iha amendment, sir, is cot
applicable to this bill. It cauuot bc done al
this ti1,e 10 the form proposed Ivy the gentle
man from the Third Ward
Mr.. Iambdin-I ain afraid, sir It Is TO late
to cgislatc upon the sublect.
The subject was dropped,
When the last scclio0 OF the bill hXi0e its
operation to commence 90 the lst OF Jnly
was up,
Mr.. Evans said-We cannot make bills for
the ucxt CouuciI. We cannot send work over
Tor them to do. Ifthis Council does not adopt
this by the lst Of July it can not adopt it at all.
The amendments having all been adopted
and the question coming up on its final passage,
Nr. Broders said would like to state what
influenced the FtoancG Committee to make
changes 10 the Salary bill. They had the az
sessment of property before them, and they
foupd that there would be reduction OF three
or four hundred thousand dollars in that as
sessment, which would require - or per cent
tax next year. Seeing these facts 10 the face
they were trying ~ Curlaii tSDcusc5 anu ~ cut
the garment according to the cloth. Now
have not been in favor OF cutting down salaries
when it could be helped. would like to make
the salaries double what they are now il it was
right and just to the taxpayers. Upon these cir
cumstauces and upon these facts the Finance
Committee reported this bill. | make this
statement because want this Board to know
and everybody TO kno" the rcasOos that 10.
duced the finance Committee to report this
bill
Mr.. Lambin said that lie intended IL stand
by principle Many men had been elected on
declarations in favor Of rctrenchmcnt, but when
they can record their votes 10 favor OF rctrench
ment they are found wanting.
Mr.. Seals was in favor Of rereuchmenl, but
thought that the officers should be paid living
salaries. Let gentlemen first try little starva-
ton themselves lie had waited to hear the
Finance Committee devise some plan OF reduc-
ing the taxes and relieving US from the miser
able bondholders that are damaging this towo.
Mr.. Latham QeaviDg the chair said that he
had supposed that after all the amendments had
been agreed to discussion would have ceased.