Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-11-15

IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
all the members were present at the hour
fixed for meeting, and upon the Board be-
ing called to order the business on the
Clerks desk was transacted without debate,
and the indications were favorable TO
short session, Notwithstanding il was 10
o'clock before adjournment.
Mr.. Rishcill moved that naSmuch us
no quorum had appeared III the Com
mon Council this Board adjourn, which
motion not being seconded, and it being
suggested that the Aldermen give the other
Board half an hour more time, il recess was
taken, during which this Board wa, notified
that quorum had appeared in the Common
Council
When II bill of James Entwislc, 1892 49,
for medicines furnished the poor was read,
Mr.. Strauss asked for information in re-
gard TO the outlay made yearly for medi-
cines for the poor. Long ago this quarterly
medicine hill had been i vcXcd question.
and it was time some measure was adopted
looking to u cu-;liinl"nt Of this onerous tax
upon The city treasury. Mr.. Lewis Nc.
kcnzc in year, son" by. when member of
the other Is ard. was always brought to his
feet wh"E H. rerio,licul medicine bill was
presented. L is supposed he had reference
TO an occasion, several years ago when that
gentleman. upon hearing the amount Of the
medicine bill for the poor read, suggested
that they he given ginger hereafter. The
speaker wanted it understood that he made
no reflection whatever on the druggist who
compounded the prescriptions. The Ply
sicians to the Poor ordered them. with all
their costly ingredients, and ii was his
place, of course, 10 put them up as directed
He knew, for he had examined into the
IN that NJ h.r 1rufr,;.i Il |
up the same prescriptions for less money
than charged by Mr.. Entwisle. But he be-
ieved that the trouble lay il persons well
able to pay for their medicines being ply
sickcd at the citys expense. While he
could suggest no remedy for the evil some
thing ought to be done liz the matter.
Mr.. }. 3. Smoot said the only thing that
could be done would be TO request the
Physicians to the Poor in future to leave out
the costly ingredients iii their prescriptions.
He had himself in company with Mr.. Lead
bcater called on Mr.. Entwisle in regard to
the matter. Mr.. l.. had carefully read the
prescriptions prepared by Mr. Entwisle, and
averred that the latter put them up at the
same figures he would be compelled to
charge if the same had been sent TO him.
Some of the prescriptions contained costly
elixirs, probably intended to disguise the
taste ofsomc ofthc less palatablc ingredients.
Col. Reid said the whole business was a
delicate matter. He did not think The
physicians would be thoughtlcss enough to
make this expenditure any greater than
necessary. There had been, and was now,
great deal of sickness in the city, and that,
too, of q nature which required expensive
drugs.
Mr.. Strauss made some comparisons
between the cost of medicines in the whole
year Of 1880 and for four months of the
present year. He thought the chairman of
the Committee on Poor might see into the
matter If this expenditure was to be coli
tinued it would be better to abolish the
whole system Of relief to the INDECENT.
Col. Reid again said it would be a delicate
matter to undertake to tell the Physicians
to the Poor what kinds of medicines to order
in cases of sickness among the poor These
men served the city for small salaries. and
there were times when difficulties were cx-
perienccd i'll getting doctors to serve the
city in that capacity.
The bill was ordered to be paid and the
matter dropped.
Time seemed to drag, when another re-
cess was taken.
Some debate occurred on the resolution
in regard to the grade adopted by the A. &
L ~ " III lstSSluS tuIOuSu TdNeCtc SlTccl.
when it was finally determined to refer the
matter to the Committee on Streets, with
directions to inquire whether or not the
railway company had complied with the
terms Of the right of way granted by the
City Council
The Board then adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
There was q small meeting of the Board
ut hn, y1,- r.
night. In the absence of Jas S. Douglas,
president, Isaac Echberg was called to the
chair.
The early part Of the meeting was occu-
pied with business without debate
communication from the Clerk of the
school board coming in announcing the cx-
piration of the official terms of four school
trustees, the Aldermen We're invited to ii
joint meeting.
JOINT MEETING.
The Joint meeting having convened, on
motion, the President was directed to cast
the ballot of the meeting, and Edgar Snow
den, lst ward w. II. AIarbury. 81 ward
r. l.. Carne, Sd ward; and orc. WhittlcScv
4th ward, were unanimously re elected
Mr. Rice urged that the joint session 90
into all election of policeman TO fill ii IA.
cancy occasioned by the resignation Of Kc;.h
Davis
Alderman Reid made the point Of o.,le.
whether the Aldermen having been nv:ie,
to joint convention for II spccilicc ,ugl,ts,,
the convention could proceed further uu.:i
authorized to do SO by the separate Board.
He was not opposed to elcclingn policeman,
but he desired that this question should J..
settled for information and guidance in tie
future
Alderman Strauss held that the Join,
board was fully competent, to so into the
election, and he hoped that it would do So
Mr.. Rishcill thought that the election
should be postponed until the next meeting
and public notice given in order that all
candidates might be informed and have
chance to present their names 10 the couE-
Gil Pending this question the convention
dissolved
COUNCIL EEASSEM1LED.
Council then re-lssemblcd and the re-
port of the Finance Committee in favor of
paying Capt. Webster one half extra pay