Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-05-29

CITY COUNCIL.
A called meeting of the City Council was
held last night at the request of the Mayor
to consider the license bill and other mat.

A called meeting OF Tie ClIy COUNCIL WIS
held last night at the request of the Mayor
to consider the license bill and other mat.
tiers.
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
the Mayors communication calling the two
boards together was read and some routine
business transacted.
An ordinance increasing the pay Of the
officers and members of the police force and
Clerk of the Gas Works was received from
the Common Council and read the second
time, when
Mr.. Smith offered an amendment increas
ing the salary of the Commissioner of the
Revenue from $3.50 to $500.
Mr., Burke said the salary bill had been
submitted to Council by the Finance Com.
mittee as we'll as the appropriation bill.
They had carefully prepared their estimates
for the year, and if the salary of this one and
that one be changed the plans Of the COM
mittee would of course BIO deranged. The
committee had carefully considered the bill
increasing the pay Of the police and Clerk OF
of the Gas Works had believed it proper 10
make the advance, and had made their cal
culations accordingly.
The President said tho Commissioner OF
the Revenue received his salary chiefly in
perquisites.
Mr.. Smith insisted that Major DulIey
should be allowed the proposed increase.
His duties were laborious, being compelled
| to make out a separate book for each ward
every year, and in consequence was compell'
ed to employ help in order to accomplish the
work.
Mr.. Strauss concurred in the views eX-
pressed by Mr.. Smith. The Commissioner
| of the Revenue received smaller salary
! than any other corporation officer, while MS
labors were onerous and the position re-
| sponsible one. The present incumbent has
always been compelled to employ help, and
often has to call into requisiton the services
of his daughters in order TO discharge the dll
| ties deyolvin~ upon him. If the city were
able. in his munifcence toward the officer
in question he would vote to give him $50
| additional.
Mr.. Leadbeater said it was disagreeable
duty for him to be compelled TO oppose the
| amendment. The Finance Committee had
ascertained that with the salary paid by the
city and the perquisites allowed by the
State tho Office of Commissioner of the Rev
! enue was undoubtedly the most lucrative
one within the gift of the people of the city
| In addition to the $3.50 paid that officer by
1 V,
issued. The board had better consider this
matter ntelligently. He was, in common
with the other members, trying to devise
some method by which taxation could be r.
duced. and was therefore opposed to any
unnecessary increase in the expenditures o.
the city. The Finance Committee had re-
commended an increase in the pay of The
police force and Clerk ofthe Gas Works after
| ;,sn int ha, of Of
i've cases, and found they were deserving OF
such on advance.
| Mr.. Smith thought the speaker was mis-
taken in some Of his statements. Major
Duiley received no perqusites from the city
they are allowed him by the State. All
he receives from the corporation is $3.50 for
making the annual assessments. He insist
| ed that the increase should be made, and
said when the matter Of the Maryland ferry
was before Council the gentleman from the
| Fourth ward Mr.. Loadbeater) was not SO
| Jealous of the extra expenditure Of $3.50 fol
an enterprise which returned no qmid pre-
quo to the city; but now, when move !:
made TO compensate faithful officer, the
purse strings of the city arc drawn in g
hurry.
Mr.. Strauss again urged that The Commits
sioner should get the sum proposed Some
years ago, no said, when he was member
of the committee appointed to endeavor to
effect a compromise of the city's debt, the
pay of most of the city officials had been de-
creased, with the understanding, however
that whenever things grew brighter or the
prosperity Of the city improved, their pay
should be increased. He did not think the
Commissioner received any commission on
licenses and should therefore receive al
| least $500 salary.
Nr. Burke-''He receives fifty cents on
each one he issues"
| Mr.. Strauss, continuing, said he had been
q member of the Finance Committee for
about eight years, and was IS we'll &C
uuainted with the affairs Of the city as any
one. The committee had always until last
year allowed Major Dulley $50 in addition
to his regular salary In reply to the ohjec.
| ton made by Mr.. Burke that this increase
would derange the plans and calculations OF
the Finance Committee, he would say that
the committee always left themselves a
margin in making estimates; hence no
| trouble could follow in that direction.
Mr.. Leadbeater again opposed making
the increase, and defended his action in so
doing. He had not intended to mention it,
but communication had heen received by
the Finance Committee from Major DufIey
asking this increase. He did not know any
thing about the action of the old Finance
Committee in making appropriations; never
knew it was clothed with such powers. The
present committee intended doing things
right and in order; therefore they proposed
that Council should order all expenditures
that shall be made by the city.
! Mr.. Strauss explained that such extra ex-
penditures always had the proper sanction.
The Finance Committee had ever been EN-.
powered to employ extra help when needed
and the appropriations had always been
made under the personal supervision of Mr..
John B. Smoot, an accurate and careful
| man.
During the debate and subsequently it was
stated that the Commissioner of the Reve-
| nue. received in perquisites and salary be.
teen 81, 500 and 81 GOO L year, and upon a
| vote being taken on the amendment it was
defeated, and the bill as it originally came
from the Common Council passed
The revenue bill was then read, having
been passed by the Common Council on
Wednesday night, and long, tedious ses-