Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-28
CITY COUNCIL.
4 regular meeting Of the City Council was
held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

>''~
members bclrg present. w.,
Mr. Moore. from the Committee on Claims,
renor,ed back three bills Of Ohm L. Boyer, for
having alleys under the order Ct the Board OF
Health. He said the committee could not
agree as to the bills, and thought the Board Of
| Health should have paid them at first,
| Mr.. Armstrong thought the bills should tc
referred to the Committee Gu Streets
MIR. Smoot was satisfied The bills were all
| RIGHT. and thought the workmcu should have
| their money.
Mr. Armstrong wanted the bills To 20
| through the proper channels,
Mr.. Strauss said the bills had never been
before the Committee on Streets
| They we're finally referred to the COMMITTEE
on Streets.
The bill Of Henry johnson, i,r repairs to
pumps coming up,
Mir. O'Neal said the Committee on Streets
had ordered the Superintendent OF Police TO let
these pumps alone, but the Mayor seemed TO
take authority in everything, and he'd ordered
tho work done 10 opposition to the order Of the
committee, who had therefore refused 10 sign
the bills. lie, as chairman, did not propose
that the Mayor should exercise any OF Tie
authority vested in him, not that lie cared tur
the authority, but because he thought every.
BODY ought 10 attend to his Own business aud
let that Of others alone.
Mr., O'Neal offered resolution removing
from Office W. B. Brown, Superintendent OF
Police, for iDcompetancy.
MIR, O'Neal said Mr.. Brown had now been
SUSPENDED forth third time, and was at pres
eut in Jail on q charge OF druukcnncss The
Committee on Streets thought that whether
drunk or not, Mr.. Brown was not competent to
perform the duties Of the office; certainly III
bis present condition he was thoroughly lucA'
pacitatea.
Mr.. Neale said he viewed the resolution as q
report from the Committee on Streets, anu TEX
bourd in conscience to vote Tor 1t, although II
was very painful duty to him. lie read the
law on the subject giving the City Couac:I
power to remove. -,
Mr.. Armstrong thought the Mayor should
have reported his action suspendlng the Super
in,eudent to the Council lie understood that
the Mayor claimed the sole right to renovo or
suspend officers, but he Mr.. Armstrong; CID
not concede any such power to HIM.
Mr. Neae agreed with Mr. Armstrong that
the Mayor should have reported to Council.
The resolution yes unanimously adopted, Is
was also one to 80 into convention 20 h! !hc
vacancy created.
The Board theu look recess to await thH
action of the Common Council
Upon reassembling the substitute .; The
Common CouLcil was received.
Mr.. Armstrong opposed the appointment ot
the committee, as he believed All investigated
would. really iujuro the untortunate man more
than the removal, aud he thought that wrong.
5 Everybody kdcw that Brown had been guilty
! OF iptoxication and WAS now in The city jail.
H. favored Immediate action, and moved e
adhere 70 The former action OF the Board.
Nr. Neelc agreed with Mr. Armstrong lie
understood that the Committee On Streets had
informed Brown ci these charges and warned
, him of the consequences and lie lthe speaker
saw no reason Tor delay
MIR. Downham concurrcd With Mes:ra. Arm!
strong aud Neale, aod did not see where ans
, Injustice could DO done by prompt actiop. The
truth of the charges was notorious.
The Board adhered to its action, and s2ui
the resolution back 10 the Common Councli,
who returned it 8ith request for committee
of conference, aud Messrs Do9nham and
Smoot were appointed on the part OF the Bosrd
of Aldermen
) The committee reported 4 Recommendation
, that the Board c3nour IN the resolution ot Thu
! Common Council.
MIR. Smoot explained that there were fear:
that there might be conflict Of Authority
two Superintendent ac!Dg, and law suit or
hand.
Mr.. Armstrong opposed ttt rtcoMmcuiu
ton; these questions had 10 be settled s1oncI
or later, and it might as ws be done nov.
, Mr.. Downham said that it was too late 10
act tonight, and everybody knew that the
Mayor would fight this thing TO the bitter end,
= and it would be better to give him no hold %
: which ho could raise en- ufjaci0n
Mr.. Nea!a, although lie believed the 2ounc!l
had power to &c! TO- night, saw the impossible
ity Oh securing immediate action, and would
move to adopt the report CT Tie coul1Itcr
Mr.. Armstrong again opposed the report.
The report was adoptcd-ayea 5. noes ,.
Mr. Strauss called attention to tn: great
prevalence Of false alarms Of fire, aud aoDcd
some means might be devised by which stop
might be Put to The nuisance. Every alarm
was a source Of considerable: expense 10 the
city.
The Board. at 1915 o'clock, adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The semi monthly meeting o.! the Common
Council was we'll attended within the bar, kut
only few spectators We're present.
The Finance COMMITTEE reported in favor Of
exempting Potomac Lodge. |. .. y. f., trom
the special paving tax on Columbus street, en-
ISOLATION and that it had dore great amount
Of good, and the report was adopted.
A resolution to refer the application Of The
suretcs of contractor Delahay to the Commits
sioners of the Sinking Fund coming up,
Mr.. Mushbach said he could not see how the
Commissioners OF the Sinking Fund could take
aoy effective action 10 relation to the matter.
Mr. Brodcrs said that the contract to which
the petition related was made by the Counts
siouers, and the whole subject matter was still
under their cortrol. For this reason the COM
mittee advised the reference.
Mr.. Hughes explained tina; there hal been
a change 10 the specifications, and these sure
ties had, uuder pledge of being reimbursed,
gone Oh with the bulldog after the failure 0!
the contractor to do the work. He thought the
matter was proper for the Finance Committee.
MIR. Seals said he understood that MIR. Z.
R. Shinn had pledged that this money should
be paid. Il was not the act Of the Commits.
| sioners.
Mr.. Broders said some gentlemen seemed TO
| l.. bo 1rtio of tho Eioopo