Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-27
CITY COUNCIL.
The regular semi monthly meeting 1T the
City Council was held last night.
EOARD OF ALDERMEN


-. BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
This Board met at 7. d o clock with six mem
bGrs present and one more subsequently ar.
| rived.
MIR. Armstrong offered a resolution reciliog
lhlt tho escape Of refuse gas tar into the river
was Injurious to the fisheries, game, DC.
and authorizing the Committee on Light 10
! have dug we'll for its reception, and to burn
the same out when requisite; also. respectfully
requesting the authorities Of the District OF 70.
umbia to take similar action 10 the premises.
| MIR. Armstrong said that there was no doubt
| 1t also prevented the sea going vessels from OBJ.
tai1ing fresh water in the river.
Mr. Snoot thought that the burning out of
such we'll at the Gas Works would eodanger
their safety.
Mr. Armstrong proposed to have the We'll
| located at some distance from the works.
| Mr.. Smoot suggested that the city owned no
property suitable for that purpose. outside OF
the works. He moved TO refer The matter to
the Committee on Light.
Mr. Downham thought that there should be
law passed by Congress 80 that Che district
cities should lie bound to act ia the matter
also.
Mr. Armstrong said that that would be like
asking God to send down angels to do what VIC
could do ourselves. He was of opinion that
seven tenths of the members Of Congress did
not know where Alexandra was; and if the
matter went there. DO man present would live
to sec it settled.
The resolution as.referred to the Commit.
tee % Light.
Some considerable time was spent 10 CONVEX
satoua debate on various bject5 aud tue
Board took & recess
Upon rcasJembling,
The report of the Finance Committe on the
lists of property sold for taxes was received from
the Common Council.
Mr. Armstrong thought the clause directing
the Auditor to pass the title was dangerous
one, 10 view oft difficulties which the com
mittee reported 10 getting things Strengthened
out. He referred to cases where mistakes had
been discovered He feared that the city would
BE- gotten into lawsuits. lie moved to strike
out the clause relating to title.
Mr. Downham said that the Auditor could
only convey the title which he held, and the
parties had been allowed two years to redeem
the property, and had not uono so. At The
worst, the city could OIL y bo required to return
the property and this was the only way to de-
rive any revenue from its taxatlOn.
| Mr. Armstrong again claimed that there was
great danger of lawsuits. and opposed the sec,
ton named. lie thought that the city would
lose more than it would make.
Mr. Smoot moved to amend by directing the
transfer of titles of such property only as was
known to the Auditor to be properly assessed.
The amendment was adopted and tho resolu-
ton passed.
Mr. Armstrong moved to appropriate one
hundred dollars for the use Of the Committee
on the Poor, il relieving the outdoor poor. lie
had heard Of aud seen great many hard cases,
and thought that some provision should be
made for them.
Mr. Strauss did not think hundred dollars
would 20 very far, but be seconded the motion.
| Mr. Smoot moved to place the appropriation
10 tho hands of the Mayor, who he thought
| had better opportunities to ascertain the wants
OF the poor than the committee.
MIR. Armstrong opposed the amendment. lilo
| did not propose to make huckstcr shop or
eectioueeriDg shop of any city Office. With all
respect to Mayor Kemper be did not think that
he (the Mayor could economize any better than
the committee. Ho maintained that the dis
.ribution Of tho wood. this year. had not been
80 economically managed as last year, when the
| committee had charge; even though the latter
| had heavy incubus upon them, and severe
winter to contend with.
| Mr.. Smoot's amendment was carried, but the
origina! resolution failed for want of the char.
ter majority.
MIR. Downham renewed the orig iual motion
of MIR. Armstrong, which was lost.
A considerable amount of business was trans
| acted without debate and the Board at 9.05
| o'clock adjourned.
| roNnoN rOUNCIu
The regular meeting of the Council last night
| was short one. but accomplished CONSIDER
able amount Of routine business.
The report on the application of j. Nj.
Hill Il Co., for reduction of license on Sa'
repta Hall exhibitions, being about to be grant
| ed by the Council,
Mr.. Risheill asked as the licenses had been
created by law, whether the change should
| not. also. be made by law.
The chair replied that he supposed that the
Finance Committee had examined into that.
MIR. Rsheill moved that the report be
adopted, which was agreed to.
The report of the Finance Committee on the
| lists of real estate sold 10 1872 aud 1874 for
| taxes and bought by the Corporation, referred
to that committee some time since, was read
MIR. Latham desired to call the attention OF
the Couocil tc the incooerulties, mistakes. &c.
ofthose lists. There we're entries such as John
Smith, lot on Wolfe street; what portion OF
Wolfe street is not stated and ls unkuoWo. Mr..
Latham commented on the manner 10 which the
former Assessors had neglected their work. In
stead of going to the property and maklngan ex-
animation. they copied one book into another
for year alter year even the present othcer In
some Instances has fallen into the bad plan.
Mr.. Rishel thought tho subject one OF im-
portanoe, and moved that the resolution re-
ported by the committee be published, and the
subject deferred till the next meeting.
Mr.. Latham believed that speedy action was
needed, and opposed postponement. The re.
was adopted
When bill Of Thomas Laooon, Tor groceries
furnished the poor, came 10,
Mr. Latham said be would shortly take oc