Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-12-20
FROM WASHINGTON

the representatives of the City Of Alexan
dria and the Alexandria Canal Co. with Mr.
John s. Barbour with reference to the bill
now before the House for the condemna-
ton of the piers Of the Alexandria canal
alucduct, it was determined to consult with
the lcssees of the canal before any thing fur
Their was done. In order that no delay may
occur by reason of this determination, Cen
eral Wells, one of the three lessces referred
to, has written the following letter, 10 which
Mr.. DUNCAN, another one, agrees, giving
their utimatum on the subject
WASHINGTON, d. G.. Dec 10. ISL
s. Lacey:
My Dear Maior-Mr DUNCAN having handed
Inc your letter Of yesterday on the subject ola
conference relative to free bridge, write this.
though 10 reply Seemed tn be expected for the
reason that hope thereby 10 prevent III uune-
cesSary loss Of time
You will remember that the lcSSccs have from
the outset spared effort to secure the fullest
protection for the interest of the canal making its
pcrpetuity an Indispensable condition to every
proposal hitherto made for the Of the piers
for purposes oil q free bridge.
1t was for that reason that prior TO the passage
Of the act Of 81, we gave uGr consent tn what was
| then known Is the compromise bill which, in
ton ,. provides: But said free bridge shall not
interfere with the said Alexandria Canal and shall
be strong enough ari H.. constructed AS tUallow
the trough or trunk %: The said canal to rest
| curcly thereon.
That bill simply "t~:,tcd TO the United states
| the exclusive ria~. to use tic pies per
| pctnally for :.&c bridge, am! if il had
| become a aw wuHd have br"n IN ia violate
security l"r the protection al the canal. but on The
very day its passage :S5urcd. those il central
Of the Canal Co, no; only opposed its passage lat
secured its defeat. ly the adoption and final pas
sage of 4 much less favorable bill the art known
| rs tn. law uf oS1.
After Is passage The lcsscrs, much against their
| interest, gave their consent TO the provisions Of
the law of 1851, knowing aS they did and still do
that a public interest demanded an! eventually
would have. the use Of TIE piers for Il FREE. bridge
In addition to s@@a consent they have made
arguments, pcT5uations and solicitations without
number to officers Of the Canal Go. and its prrnl-
ncnt friends 10 accept on behalf oil the Canal Co.
Where we then s1u!, :yc still stand; we were
then and arc still ready to accept the provisions Of
tina. bill! and if the Canal Co. do the same prompt.
IL the bridge can speedily be built under The law
| in question.
i nay add !arhr. that while the bill now he
fore the House Of Representative; Known rs the
condemnation bill is still more un,arorable TO the
| Cana! Co. and possibly more unfricnily TO our in
tcre-;' IN the pra;irs. wc will, ifcalird upon ac-
cept OF Its provisions 10. ii the Canal Co, or the
| city0f Alexandria persists in inviting still more
uniavorabl, legislation. We cannot afford to Join
them therein. And what We say to them private
| ~ We arc ~ willing to say to Congress ana the
puhic generally Very respectfully
prcsdcn; Alex'I ii. Canal, L. X. & Bridge Go.
4 bill was introduced in the House yes
terday, and referred to the Appropriations
colnmittcc,tO compel The Iessccsofthe Alex
andria canal TO keep the trough or trunk of
their alncdnct al Georgetown watcr-tight,
so hat pleasure parties passing under itin
boats may not have their clothes sprink led
The GAZErrE's correspondent in talking
wit't several Senators this morning about
the bill to condemn the piers Of the auue-
duet for Il free bridge was assured by them
that so lar As n!"y could prevent it nothing
should he done 10 impair the navigation Of
the Alexandria canal.
The Senate Finance Committee agreed
this morning 10 report rayorablv upon \
resolution declaring hat if the tax on tobac-
60 lie removed or reduced, there sha! he Il
rebate. This. il is thought, will relieve the
existing anxiety OF the tobacco men
throughout Tie country and enable them
to proceed with their business. rs il is gene
rally believed that the resolution will pass
both houses without much opposition.
Senator's Davis OF West Virginia aud
German OF Maryland were before the
Finance Committee Of the Senate to-day in
opposition I" the proposed reduction Of the
duty on bltnmilunS coal from - 20 10 cen:
per ton.
In the Senate to-day, the House rcsou-
ton for holiday recess from Friday next
until the following Tuesday week Was
iavorahly reported, upon by the Appropria-
tlons Committee, but its consideration post
| n Nil IL
some opposition, but. il is generally sup
posed, will be adopted,
Mr. Conkling made al argument in the
Supreme Couro to-day in 4 case that involves
the following questions: Whether the four
teenth amendment TO the federal Consti,u.
ton has amy proper application to the rcvc.
nue. systems o! the several States whether.
by that amendment, Il limitation is imposed
upon the taxing powers of the States :
and, If so, what is the nature and extent of
that limitation. The court room was crowd
ed to its utmost capacity, u large portion of
the crowd being composed Of women. An
Old lawyer who was provoked by his inaSi-
ity to enter the room by reason of the c.owsi
remarked audibly that if there never had
been Mrs. Sprague no women would have
| been there
| In the star route case to-day. Mr. Bliss OF
| CounScl Tor me Government, replied to the
speech of Mr. Chandler. counsel for the
prosecution, and did bcttcrthan hcdidinthc
first trial. The impression is already pre-
valcnt that in the second as in The first trial
the jury will fail to agree upon verdict.
The subcommittee of the House Commit
tee on Elections decided this morning to re-
port in favor Of the admission of Caine as
delegate from Utah
Judge Garrison. who has been trying to
get the claim Of Joseph f. Scawell, Of Vir-
glnia, who was passed midshipman in the
I. ). Navy, for pay for services in the Mex
lean war, has been informed by the Sccrcta-
ry of the Treasury thar such pay is only due
volunteers in the war mentioned, and not
to officers in the regular navy
The wife and daughter of the late Law
renee NJ. Kit, who attacked and knocked
down the late Senator Sumner for insulting
his uncle. Senator Butler. are among the
late arrivals at the Metropolitan Hotel, in
this city.
| SwlNDLED BY THE BANCo GAME On
! Il