Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-12


City Council was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
This Board met at 1885 'cIock With Blk mem
bers present.
The bill to permit lhe funding Of the city
debt coming up, as uuhnisbed business,
MIR. Armstrong moved to lay the matter over,
az he understood that some of the members
we're not ready to vote.
The Chair presented cote received from
Mr. Mushbach, Of the House OF Delegates
stating that if the Council desired the TIL pass
ed by the General Assembly, it hal batter o.
sent on as soon as possible
Col. Reid said that he felt some deicacy In
sccondiog the motion to lay over after the note
of Mr.. Mushbach. He was anxious to have
more information. especially 10 regard to tho
amount of delruuent tax and gas bills. tie
had endeavored to get this Information, but was
% far unable to do 80. He seconded The mo
ton Of MIR. Armstrong.
MIR. Marbury saw no necessity for moro To-
formation. 1t was patent fact that We could
not nav, aud wanted to scale our debt. Ibis
matter had been we'll considered. 1t made DO
difference why we we're short, whether from
delinquent bills or otherwise, the Tact remained
FlualIy, Mr.. Armstrong modified his resolu
ton so as to postpone until next Tuesday night,
which was lost
The question then came up on MIR. Smoot's
amendment, ,fF-red at the LAST meeting, to lim-
it the tax to be imposed alter 1878 TO ono dol
lar and sixty cenls.
MIR. Armstrong moved to amend by inserting
one dollar and fifty cents, and repeated his
views as given at the last meeting.
MIR. Strauss favored The motion for SLIGO,
and hoped no obstacles would be thrown 10 the
way. We must exercise economy 10 other
ways, for instance by dispensing with some Of
fcers.
Mr.. Marbury urged the adoption Of the two
per cent. as reported by the committee. lie
did not believe that any Courcll would levy
more than was necessary.
Mr. Strauss said we did not know who
would occupy seats IN the Council hereafter,
and he waited no margin left for the lmposl'
ton Of heavy tax.
Col. Reid agreed With Mr.. Strauss and pro-
ceeded to discuss the question at length, tic
did not see how provision was to be made Tor
the obligations assumed anyhow.
MIR. Armstrong said that this provision tor
$3.50 tax would prevent the bondholders from
going to Court he proph; sled that the rising
generation would curse every man connected
with this bill. when they were in their graves.
Mr.. Strauss read statement Of the receipts
and expenses Of the city, and argued TO show
that the proposed plan would work. lie urged
economy and rereuchmcnt. which, be claimed,
should be brought before Council by the Exc.
cutVe.
An argument then ensutd between Messrs
Marbufy and Reid as to the payment Of TO-
tercst.
Mr.. Armstrong riiiculcd the idea of relrench
ment and economy here; be had heard that cry
for many years. but never seen anything done.
MIR. Moore (NIr. Armstrong IN the ohair)
said the interest was always paid promptly un.
Ill 1876, when the tax was put on the coupons,
which many refused to pay. The Council, up
to that tim, had been Borrowing money to pay
the Interest, ard thus making heavy floating
debt. lie recounted the heavy expenses incur
red by the city on its public property. streets,
&c. The Board of Public Works, for instance,
cost the city not less than SIS 900 or $40 900,
directly or indirectly. He favored the 81
clause. and did not think any member here
would vote for imposing greater tax than was
necessary. So far as the courts weto ."-"Arn.
ed, they might require the Couoell to use the
whole $3.50 for interest; then what would be
come Of the city government.
The question was then taken Oh MIR. Smoot' 8
amendment of 81 GO after 1878. which was
lost-ayes 3. noes 4.
On motion of Col. Reid the vote on the first
section was reconsidered to allow tho insertion
of an amendment, allowing the CITY and its
creditors to arrange between themselves as to
the payment Of overdue Interest
The amendment was read and adopted.
MIR. Strauss moved to fill the blank with
$l.75, which was lost-ayes l, noes 6.
MIR. O'Neal moved to postpone the bill until
the next meeting of Council. Hostages 3,
noes 4.
The bill was then read 10 full for the benefit
of MIR. O'Neal, who was not present at the last
meeting
MIR, Smoot moved to Eli the black with
$l.45. Hostages 3, noes 4.
MIR. Strauss moved to fill the blank with So,
as reported from the Common Council. Lost
ayes 3. noes 4.
MIR. Smoot moved to insert $l.55 after 1868
Hostages 8, noes T.
Mr.. Armstrong moved to lay the bill over
ton was adopted.
After disposing of quantity of routine bust
The Board, at 1855 O'Clock, adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
There was larger attendance Of spectators
than Of members OF the Common Council at
the regular meeting of that Board last night,
only nine members being present at the opening.
MIR. j. S. Beach was called to the chair
Considerable routine business vas transacted
without debate, until
MIR. Monroe Introduced resolution to put
all tax bills due before Jan. l, 1877, into the
hands of new collector and pay him 10 per
cent. for collecting them.
MIR. Nails said that tho city had two collec
tors DOW, and he did not tbiok another needed.
1t seemed bjust to the city that these ooleo.
tors should receive percentage 90 such taxes
as tho tax payers came up and paid, and then
pay 10 per cent. to another collector to collect
those that were hard to collect
MIR. Latham called for The yeas and nays.
MIR. Beach did not see necessity for cd.
ditiona collectors. There we're. it is true, some
persons who had not paid their taxes, but why
could not the regular collectors collect these
taxes2 He hoped the resolution would not
pass.
The resolution was lost--yeas 5, nays 6.
The resolntjon in relation to the Sun engine