Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-13

held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
This BOARD met at S o'clock with six mem.
bers present. -. ,,.
In the absence of the President, Alderman
Armstrong was elected President pro tenn
| The report Of the Committee on Light was
received and accepted and q resolution liking
the price Of gas at So. % with ten per cent OH
| for payment in current luods was presented.
MIR. Strauss favored the resolution and hoped
it would pass. lie thought ii would be.a means
| OF producing payment in current funds.
MIR. O'Nca doubted whether the Council
| could refuse to receive the coupons Tor auy pur,
pose Ii had been contcndcd III ichmond
| that such course was unconstitutional anu inc
same rule held good here. Tie did not kne"
whether the resolution could be made binding.
MIR. Smoot said VIC do not refuse coupons,
hut merely make difference for paymcnt IL
current funds
MIR. O'Ncal said the Council already taxed
coupons, aud now proposed to lax them again.
Some Of the people here bought the bonds al
lair prices and wcro dependent upon them lor
their support. lie thought We were putting ii
Oh rather heavy.
| MIR. Strauss favored the adoption Of the resp
luton and seconded the views OF Mr. Smoot.
| Mr.. Downham said large reduction bad been
! made 10 the price Of gas, nearly one hundred
per cent. aud If the reduced rate was to be re-
ccivcd 10 coupons at present prices, the Gas
| Works would not pay expenses; hence, Inc
committed had proposed this resolution.
Mr.. Armstrong MIR. Strauss in the chair at
| tackled the bondholders and moved to make
| the price o! gas s. so with 25 per cent OF Tor
paymcnt in current funds. lie proceeded at
great leugth on the question Of the bonded
i IL ftI, Nv fhS Sintn
dcnominated "the cXtravagaut school concern. .
MIR. Smoot said Mr.. Armstrong; amend
ment would reduce the price OF gas TO :lSI!
Mr.. Armstrong thought nor.
| Mr.. ONeal said that il the Council refused
the coupons for gas, and got the money ADD de-
nosited it with the Treasurer, nan could take
his coupons and 90 and get tho money
Mr.. Armstrong said that the money could
not be gotten, if the Treasurer refused payment,
except by suit in the courts.
Mr.. ONeal asked what right The Treasurer
had to refuse payment
Mr. ArmstronG-Thc SAME right thai have
TO refuse to pay q forged mole.
Mr.. Neal-Nonsanse; that is mai parallel
case.
Mr.. Armstrong proceeded with m arguMcnt
to show the uncoostltutionality OF the bonds.
MIR. Strauss having said that Council could
make lis own laws to suit ITSELF
Dir. O'Ncal said that the State OF Virginia
controlled the actions of the city, which VAS It's
creature.
Mr.. Strauss said that he ouy meant that III
bis opinion, the Council could pass this reSalu.
| ton without conflicting with the State laws.
| The question was taken on Dir. Armstrong 5
amendment which was Hostages noes ).
The question recurring on the original raso
ton,
hlr. O'Neal moved to strike cut the words
"U s. currency" leaving discount O! ten per
cent On all bils~!ost, ayes , noes ).
The original resolution WAS thcu passed
ayes noes >, which vote was rccanSidcr:i aud
the resolution laid over.
| Mr.. Janney here came in and Look the chair.
The resolution TO subscribe for ten copies Of
the proposed map Of the city was, after cnnsia.
cradle debate, laid on the table.
MIR. O'Neal called up the resolution iixlag
the price Of gas.
Mr.. Armstrong made the point that the irs
olulion could only he taken up bp unanimous
consent and again stated at length his ol.iec
tons to the resolution, and his sdriH about the
| debt Of the city.
The resolution was finally adopted
MIR. Strauss offered the following resolution
The City Council uf Alexandria having in
dollars i'll aiding and constructing works
of internal Improvement, designed 70 promote
| the trsdo Of Alexandria, and having hnrn
| forced by tho war to increase thai debt BY iuni
ing il and the arrears Of interest (and the Worka
Tor whusa assistance this debt WAS increased,
having injured greatly tho trade If thiS city,
their stock proved worthlsas) and tho said debt
being loss of 80 much money with no prospect
of any return tharelron,. The property in said
city being ofthe assessed value Of $---------~--
az
loss than its assessed value is utterly unah 10 TO
bear tho tax So long imposed upon it, experience
having demonstrated that the Tax horotoloro
levied on the real and personal property OF $40.
on the 500 is insufficient to meet tho curront
expenses Of tho city, SIS is evidenced by tho fact
that thoro is now due arrears Of interest to tho
amount Of $50 600 with $50 900 more falling duo
July l. And this too with the heavy levy upon
licenses, real and personal property and tho in
como from. the Gas Works. And tho City C"un-
Gil being Of opinion that meeting with tho
bondholuers ofthe city, having Tor It's object y
full statement Of tho financial condition Of the
city and its people, and discussion OF tho sub
ject Of reducing said debt by compromise or ar
rangement between creditor and debtor. There.
fore be it
Resolved by tho City Council Of Alexandria,
That tho President Of each Board shall (nnd lle is
hereby authorized 50 to dog appoint two NOM
berS from each Board, who, i'll connection with
ciliZeps of tho city Of Alexandria, and the
shall constitute committee for tho purposes
herein indicated. Tho said committee Shall st
onco issue circular and direct ono to each crod-
itor Of tho city Of Alexandria, requesting meet
ing of all said creditors at a time and place to
! be indicated by said committee for the purpose
of adjusting on salts factory basis the financial
affairs of the city Said committee shall report
to the City Council of Alexandria their actions
and any plan upon which they may sgroe. Said
agreement if mado TO be subject to ratill cation
or rejection by Council
Mr.. Strauss said he wanted members to take
time to consider it. He thought some good
could be accomplished by the proposed meet
ing. The people could not stand The prcseut
heavy taxes, and even if they could the present
rate was not sufficient to pay expenses and the
interest.
After some debate as to the mode Of action,
&C., the resolution was laid over until the next
meeting.
If f. II