Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-24

CITY COUNCIL.
The fact that two policemen had tc
b., elected was sufficient to vest the pro-
ceedings of the Council last night with IN
terest, and quite crowd had ccngregated
without the bar in the chamber OF the Com
mon Council.
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
eight members were present, but no specta,
tors.
The committees were called and those
having reports to make submitted them
and they were adopted without debate
Under the head of rev business Mr.
BRYANT arose and said he had something to
saw in regard to the act recently passed by
the City Council providing for the erection
of gates at the railroad crossings at KING,
Prince and Dake streets. 1t had been the
purpose uf Mr.. II. H. Carter, superinten.
dent Of the roads between THIS city and
Washington, to appear before the board and
make 81 statement in regard to the matter,
hut he had baen unavaidabiy detained with
u,hcr business in Washington. He had,
however, deputized an assistant to have a
conference with the Committee on Streets,
durin. which the subject had been carefully
considered The committee had acted WITH
care. and hal ascer!a;ued thar both the
Fayelte street and Henry street roads were
uwued BY one company, upon whom the
eyueI.s.. Of operating the gates would de-
voive. Captain Bryant sid he had inquired
into the feasibility Of erecting suca sale
"uords OIL Union street, ana found that the
merchants on that thoroughtare were rather
ave.se to gates, regarding them As an Oh
s,ruction A. before stated, the cost OF
erecting such safeguards would be between
5000 and $500 piece. The speaker did pot
think it was the wish OF the people OF Alex
andri.l toIIut the rallTGai 10 useless e1-
pense. He had had conferences with Messrs.
Sharp auf Carter, who repre-; ented the rail-
road and they had signicd their willing
ness to have stationary nagmen, lin at:dl
ton to regular flsSmen who run ahead OF
each train 1T King and Duke stlcs,s who
would warn vehicles and passers by Of the
approach Of trains on both roads. Captain
Bryant saii he had prepared 4 new bill on
the subjac; r,sriuiing the OLD law and pro.
viding fer the II gnieu - specified above.
He showed what he regarded as he defects
in the Old bill, saying it conferred power on
the Committee on Streets which ii could not
well WELD, or made it optional with said
committee to h ave the gates erected or not.
Col. Andrews Of the Virginia Midland road,
had inform,d him that tagging an approach
ing train was, after all, the safest plan.
Mr.. Burke said hs hid no desire TO put
the railway company to any unnecessary
expense, but those crossings were dangerous
at present. Mr.. Cassius +. Lee, while
about TO cross the track s0mo time ago in
his carriage, had Il narrow escape from be-
ing killed, aud others ha;i undergone similar
experiences.
Mr.. Bryant again explained the proposed
plan, aud said the hagmen would be sta
tloued at the streets named, and would
have boxes erected for their convenience.
Mr.. Burke said he was willing 10 give the
plan u trial, and the bill offered. by Mr..
Bryant having been read the FIRST and sec
ond times Wa, passed unanimously.
Mr.. Strauss introduced bill, which at
his request was referred to the Committee
tn General Laws, aboiskng the statute
requiring Junk dealers TO give 81 900 bond.
He explained that the law now in the code
was passed in slavery tunes, and was i'll no
way applicable to the present order OF things.
Junk dealers were amenaDle to law anyhow
If they purchased articles known TO have
been stolen IL was rather derogatory to
such dealers twho were honest, law-abiding
citizens) TO compel them 10 give such q
bond.
At this uncture Col. f. l.. Smith, tho
newly elected member of the board from
the Fourth ward, appeared in tho chamber
and upon taking the necessary oaths took
his seat ~ Il member OF the Aldermen.
The board AlterWarl concurred in various
matters which came in from the Common
Council, afer which the Aldermen, by in
vitatioI, proceeded to The chamber of
tho Common Council for the purpose CT
participating in the election Of two police
men and two ready-men to fill vacancies,
and upon heir return adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The first business that came up in the
Common Council was the bill providing for
one instead of two tax collectors. Mr..
Brent on calling up tho matter, offered an
amendment allowing the collector COM
mission of ! J per cent. instead ofpaying him
salary.
p Mr. Eichberg opposed the measure, as
he thought nothing could be saved by its
provisions.
Mr.. Brent urged its passage, and said a
number Of the other cities of the State had
but one collector. In Lynchburg the treas
urer receive. the taxes till the time allowed
for the discount expired, when the bills
are given to one collector He said that
in this city fifty Of the seventy five thousand
dollars pad for taxes were paid before De-
toher Is, the time allowed for the discount
which am' unit the collectors receive with
out going out OF their Offices now the two
collectors received about $3.50 each, and he
thought that ii there was but Que collector
the increased amount he would receive,
about 81, $50. would act a. an incentive to
his energies in collecting. He said the tax
collectors made out no bills. kept no hooks,
and asked why Alexandria should pay
more for collecting taxes than any other
city in the State; in Norfolk only u per
cent was paid for collection, and 10 greater
sum shQud be paid here. One c,llec,or did
the work thare and ore would receive good
salary here at that rate.
Mr.. Sweeney "What was the amount
ColecteG?'
Mr.. Brent, Il caunot tell YOU. | have
never "a rertaiued."
Mr. Brent ,Iiscaimed any opposition tt
the collection, but thought that Alexandra
ought to pay no more fer collecting taxes
har