Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-11
BOARD OF ALDERMEN

The board of Aldermen was called to
order ut S o'clock. with all the members
present.
Mr.. }. b. Smoot presented some matters
from the Finance Committee and after ac-
ton on which,
Mr.. Risheill offered u bill providing that
no vehicle of any kind whatsoever shall
move at faster gait than 4 slow walk along
Cameron street square, between Fairfax
and Royal, while the courts are is session.
under 4 penalty of $40 for each offence :;
further that it shall be the duty of the City
Sergeant on the opening of the court to dis
play, IN conspicuous place, Il white flag
marked Court in Session." and to keep it
displayed till the rising of the courts, then
to Immediately remove it; ALSO in con unc-
ton with the Captain of Police, he shall
keep an officer on the square, whose duty
it shall be to arrest all offenders.
! MIR. Risheill explained that the court was
greatly annoyed by the noise of passing
carts. and this bill was suggested as a RENE
dy for the annoyance complained OF, and he
thought it the cheapest way TO get out of
the difficulty.
Mr.. c. c. Shoot said he would not vote
for no such BILL He thought the Cor
poration ran the courts and not the courts
incorporation. The courts had already been
very we'll provided for. A cartman might
thoughtlessly round one of the corners in a
run, and he would be taken before the
Mayor and fined \ man who made his
living with carts or other vehicles paid his
taxes and he ought not to he subjected
to any such annoyance. 1t would not be
right.
Mr.. Strauss advocated the passage of the
bill in an amended form, so that people from
the country and other strangers, ignorant
of such law, would not be subjected to an
arrest. He moved it be laid over until the
next meeting.
Attention being called to the fact that the
OIL prohibited (by an omison) the running
OF carts anywhere in the city.
Mr.. Risheill said the fire engines ought
also to be exempt from the provisions of the
bill, and he would move that it be referred
to the Committee on General Laws. SO re-
lerred
Mr.. Risheill said he had an ornamental
bill to offer, one providing for the changing
of the name of the building now known ms
the Market House Building" to City
Hail."
Mr.. c. c. Smoot did not think it was an
appropriate name: it was market building,
but ifit could be shown where the City Hall
was, he would vote for the bill.
}. Is: Smoot-How will the change affect
the title to the grounds?
The bill was referred to the Committee ON
General Laws.
A petition from the Potomac Steamboat
Company asking the privilege of extending
the wharf OF the Company to the line of the
horse railroad platform, foot of King street.
granted by the Common Council, was after
some some debate, referred back to the
| Committee on Streets for further consider
alton.
4 bill repeating the law prohibiting the
running of geese at large was read.
Mr.. Z. Z. Smoot was opposed TO geese
running about the streets, as they are de-
structive, dirty birds
Mr.. Downham said he was prompted TO
Introduce the bill by seeing a number OF
poor Old women at the station house with
tears in their eyes praying for the release
OF their geese, not having the money ga
cents each 10 redeem them. Many times
they had to allow their geese to go TO the
aims house. 1t seemed to him that the
ponce officers were too apt to see such
things. If the law did not work well the
old one COULD be re-enacted
Mr.. c. G. Smoot wanted TO know If the
poor people could not raise something else
besides geese. 1t cost us much TO raise
geese rs it did hogs.
MIR. j. b. Smoot said he had sown a lot OF
ground and he had seen hundred geese on
that lot picking up the seed He knew it
was hard for the poor people to have their
geese picked up, but they should not allow
them to run at large and trcspass on other
peoples property. Talk about poor people.
There were rs many poor people raising
hogs as there were geese. Why not repeal
the law relating to hogs \ goose was a
greater nuisance than hog.
Mr. klshelll could not see why the geese
should be legislated outside of the corpora
ton, and the gamblers allowed the freedom
of the city.
MIR. Strauss said it was frequently the
case to see policemen, when they could not
arrest anybody, driving lot of geese, be-
longing to some poor woman, to the station
house. He could not engage in such bust
ness, and he thought when geese were
caught in the streets they should be driven
out of the city. Referring to Mr.. J. b.
Smoot's remarks, he said good fat goose
was the best eating in the world.
Mr.. Downham said his motive in offering
the bill was to afford relief to poor, descrv-
ing people. When he acted Mayor he al
| ways released the captured geese with the
warning to the owners to keep them up. As
the Mayor had this discretion. he would
withdraw the bill
\ communication from the Mayor stating
the illness of Lieutenant Smith of the Police
force, and recommending additional pay to
Capt. Webster, who has been dscharsinr
the duties of both Captain and Lieutenant
of the police force; also suggesting that
Lieutenant Smith receive the pay of lieu
tenant of the force during his life, was read,
and after some remarks, appropriately re-
ferred.
Aresoution coming in from the Common
Council providing for the appointment ola
special committee to investigate the costs
of repairing Union street, was debated by
President Downham, who did not think
that the resolution hal passed the lower
board by constitutional vote, and NIessrs.
Rishell, j. B. Smoot and Strauss, and
adopted. Messrs. Strauss and Moore were
appointed the said committee on the part of
the Board
After acting upon some petitions from
citizens of the city, without debate. and