Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-05-21
CITY CGEfCTL.

Called meetings CT bOn Rolr!' OF The City
Ctuac:l xer; held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
This Board met at $40 o'c!:ck with SIX
members present.
The President stated that tho meeting had
been called 10 consider, AMI if possible TO pass
the salary BILL before the election. From what
he had heard to day, however, lie doubted
whether the / ill would pass.
Charles r. Grimes was appointed Judge Of
election vice Edward Quinn declined.
An application for water plugs at the corners
of Lee and Gibbcn ADD Lea and franklin streets,
was granted, alter which tho Board took
recess. aud upou re assembling o! $50 o'clock
adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
Twelve members of couGciI wero 10 their
seats last light. Almost az soon us the board
opened, the new salary bill, making saving ct
81 400 10 salaries. was taken up, it having been
a! tho last meeting read sccoud time and now
90 IT'S third reading.
Mr.. L,lham moved to reconsider, which was
sgrecd to.
Mr.. Eichbers did not intend 10 defend the
bill. 1t was 4 necessity. SD plain that 1t owed
its shape, not TO h1ybojy'a visa. but to the
pressure OF tho circumstances OF Tho loHn. The
salaries were to be lowered, because The interest
was TO be lowered; tho expenses OF ali kinds
wcre to be lowered Us the salaries we're TO be
lowered. Tho reduction Of salaries was only
part Of general pIao, and i! this part Jailed,
all would fail.
Mr. Latham m5yed 10 s!lsc cut the redlc'
lion Ct the Mayor salary, and said no had
hoped that council would not disprIcc itself by
voiiog for this BILL The council last wear fixed
tho salaries 80 low that tho head OF the city vas
compelled to 60 hucksteriag 10 make IVlrg.
Had the Mayor had :, proper salary, It would
have been with Mr.. kempeT as it was with him
thlr Latham) when he held The tflico OF
Mayor. lie (Mr L2tbalG) had remained in
tho office six or eight hours day and had done
his whole duty. tic could do this because The
Mayor then received fair salary. but u $500
salary was disgrace. The present salaries
Wcre lower than those of any city 10 the Uolon
lower than those which any man would pay
10 bis own business. But il was said tho bond
holders demanded it.. Ii We are to 90 on our
knees to the bo1dh0ldcIs, let US Get chains 10
put On our pecks. The whole OF bis savings Is
what?
MIR. Beckbsn Fourteen hundred dollars.
Mr.. Latham: Some $l400 10 c2me ous OF
these ten or fifteen gentlemen.
Mr.. Beckhsm: That is only baglGGlDg
Mr.. Latham c0ntended that tho oniy way 10
conduct the Mayors tthae vas to pay hial 8 ial:
! salary add to make bin collect the hrrs that
are nov collected by the magistrates. L:t him
stay 10 his Office ali day. uc would rather add
$500 to the Mayor salary than take onc cen:
from him. lie repeated tho bill was disgrace.
MIR. Eichberg had no defence TO make cl the
bill. There WAS no disgrac. 10 the matter. The
town was uuuer necessity which knew no law.
The bondhodcra were reducing their intcrcs:
and they were doing it 10 expectation thni the
city would raduoo its Expenditures. Fourteen
hundred dollars lonk sma! but 1t You'd pay Tho
interest on nearly $50. 900.
Mr. Latham replied deicpliDs biz praVious
position.
Mr.. BfoderS had hoped the bill vou!r! have
passed now, as it did at the last meeting, with
out debate. but Mr.. Latham was BOT hera hen.
TIC necessity for bio bill waa uVidaat. The
Mayor ought to get more than $500. Il the
town could pay it, but competent men wanted
it at that. The principal candidate was willing
TO take it at that, aud hu was iuforncd that tho
candidate spent ono thousand dollars TO get the
nomination. There wero Two parties in this
couGcl.-ope represented the Office holders and
tho other tho citizens or the tx payers. This
reduction OF salaries had been STAYED Off so as
ton. This was understood. lie depioicd tho
faarcial condition ofthc ciy--$l2j 900 behind
hand 10 interest Was il disgrace 10 try 10
stop lhis by reduction OF cypcusgs? Was it
disgrace, 10 pay your debts when your creditors
meet you tai way. Ii the gentlemen who
ate now runpiDg for Offices don't wait them st
the reduced salaries. ho WDu!.? undertake 10 fill
all OF them with men Just as competent. -
Everybody ia business had reduc;d expenses.
lie rcoolIlcted when he paid $500 for clerk.
new ho paid $500, aad he made more when he
paid $500 than he did now. lio did not think
Mr. Smith would eoa.idtr $500 too little al his
salary when Mayor Il was no disgrace to pag
what so Wtr1 able 10 psy, tn. /; would b,
disgrace to promise what No are. Eot able 10
rsy.
Mr.. Evans cid not ioteud 10 take part 10 this
argument, but tho renlarkato statement THAI
tbs COuOcil was Divided Toto two c!us1Gi--One
a party Of Tho ciio,hoidcra aud IT." other the
party Of the taxpayers.
Mr.. Rrodes That i what | meast.
Mr.. Evaus Was surprised wnCu Tic genlcA
mcn canned ono patty Us party Of Tie office.
holders; ho did hot name the other IS the party
Of the bondbolder5. 1t was said that the city
could not pay he present salaries. lie guessed
the offceboIders have been paid.
Mr.. E;ohberg They've been psid 10 scrip.
Mr.. Breeders asked Nlr. Evans if Mr.. Smith
Was not satisfied to tsko tho MayorsIty at $780,
Mr. Evans: You viii have to ask Mr.. Smith
laughter.
Mr. Latham hurled back the i1sipuation that
no was here to delay aciiou, 70 that IL might
be too lsto to pass <a!asy bill. The COuacl
could tx tho salary Of tho officers at aoy time
befo-o the Both of June, 1880. Tho present
salary bill would expire juno 80. 1879. s0d
thea there would be DO salaries. aod Couool
could Gz what was just. Tho refusal TO make
this reduction would not aff!c; the com premise.
Tho creditors did care abcut it
Mr.. Beckbam They nave agreed 10 the
compromis, with this understanding
Mr.. Latham Don't ioterfup. NC H5 knew
why il was said that some Of the bondhoiders
asked rcducIioo CT salaries. He know who
they were. Some Ct our LIBERAL cizans who
will give two c.nts TO poor wOnan with - or
20 children to feed them ell. He vas sur
prised to hear Mr.. Broders say that BIO COW paid
only $500 to O clerk when hp had opco paid
$500. Had h., Mr.. Lpham. done that hs
anil Ia rnI