Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-13

The first meeting of the City Couhcil ~.
year was held last night. There "e'o 90
members on hand
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
when that body was cslled TO oluei' nv yus at ~
snec,ators were without the bar. Inc az
mosnbere in the chamber was declueu,y
fr;n;d end the committees were quickly
thind far renorts: none of them, however,
800 Ia ,.,b;np 70 submit. A recess was de-
Led IN about five minutes time, when
ast If the members drew close to the
stove and awaited business from tho other
hoard. About half an hour was thus Whlled
away, when oo;,
apueared in tine chamber bearing an invita-
ton from the lower board to the Aldermen
IN meet in the formers chamber Tor the
nurpose of participating in the election OF a
Eire Warden from the 1st ward, and UPON
The Aldermen's return several papers which
had come in from the Common Council
were read and the action of the latter board
concurrei n.
The bill to amend the act in relation TO
pigs. geese, &C., found running at large
within the city's limits so as to make 1t un'
lawful for cows to roam through the streets,
was also received from the Common Council,
but on motion of Mr.. Leadheater was laid
over till next meeting.
The board then adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board met, last night, with full at
tendance, every seat being occupied soon af-
ter President Eichberg called the meeting to
order.
AS soon as The minutes had been read
President Echberg said that he had made
u wrong ruling on the subject of the Mayors
veto at the last meeting of the board, but
he bad been misled by the fact that the
message had been sent in from the Board
of Aldermen wheh it had no business here.
Mr.. Snowden, rising to question of priv
ilege, said that he and several other mem
bers by their votes at the last meeting, had
not meant to antagonizs the Mayors veto,
but merely TO indicate that they did not in
tend to unite in the parliamentary pro-
cedure that was then taken in reference to
the message.
In reporting adversely upon resolution
10 refund taxes of 1854 to Thomas Risheill,
Mr. Snowden said the resolution was
offered soon after the fire at Risheill s
mill, when it was proposed to refund the
taxes of 1854, supposing they had been paid
but it turned out they had not been paid /;
so, of course, nothing could be done but to
report adversely.
After some discussion Mr.. Eichberg said
that the mill was mortgaged at the time OF
the fire to Mr.. Eichberg and Mr.. Portner, and
the bill was in form against Mr.. Rlsheill
but in fact it was against the mortgagers, and
he aud Mr.. Portner would have to pay the
taxes unless on further petition, which
would be presented at future time, the
Council should take some action in refer
ence TO the matter. The report was
agreed to.
Mr.. Peake, from the Committee on Pub
lie property, presented a bill of the new
cemetery trustees for $25, which, he said,
was much less than one half the cost of the
fence between that cemetery and Penny
Hill.
Mr.. Brent said it seemed to be understood
that in such cases as this of division fences,
the owner of one side should give notice to
the other before proceeding to put up a
fence. 1t was the law The city was en-
titled to notice and to have something to
say as 10 the kind of fence and its price.
Nothing of the kind has been done here.
Mr.. Fsher--They have closed the right
Of way from Penny Hill to the other ceme-
teries.
Mr. Peake said no right of way had been
closed up The trustees had only enclosed
the ground which they had bought.
MIR. Sweeney wanted to know if tho city
was to pay $25 for one half the cost of about
100 yards of wire fencing?
Mr.. Peake replied that the whole cost of
enclosing the new Gem etery had been some
$3.50; but the city was bound to pay only
one half of the division fence. Only $25
was charged when so had been spent on
this fence.
Mr.. Brent said that hereafter he would
oppose such bills, but as the work had been
done he would make no opposition to this
one.
Mr. Snowden did not think that council
understood enough of the matter to act upon
it now. He wanted more light on the sub
ject. In reply to his questions,
Mr.. Peake responded that he had receiv-
ed the bill. as chairman of the Committee
on Public Property, and that the cost of the
division fence between the new cemetery
and Penny Hill was about seventy dollars.
Mr.. Aicheson said he was under the i'm
preston that this matter had been before
council.
Voices-"No."
Several members who at first opposed the
appropriation agreed that as the work had
Deen done IL ought TO De PAID Tor, especially
as the committee of council had been first
consulted on the matter, and the report was
adopted.
Mr. Brent reported favorably from the
General Laws Committee bill changing
the mode of collecting city taxes. 1t pro-
vides for one collector at salary of 81, 200
per annum. Mr.. B. urged the passage of
the bill as one calculated to simplify mat.
tiers aud save money. No other town had
two collectors of taxes. For collecting some
$40, 600 the city now paid Mr.. Field 5000,
and Mr.. Hill 81 900. One collector could
easily do the work at 81 200 and q saving
of 500 could thus be made. The collectors
employed here are not tax collectors, but
tax receivers. They sit in their Office, and
most citizens 60 there and pay the collect.
ors their taxes, occasioning them very little
trouble. He believed that money might be
saved in the salaries.
Mr.. Brent. however, at the solicitation OF
several members, asked that the bill lay
over til! next meeting, which was agreed to,
When the bill to include COWS in the same
category as goats, geese, &C., and take them
uD when found at large on the public