Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-02-12
CITY COUNCIL.
The regular semi. monthly meeting OF the
CITY Council was held last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

The Aldermen were caiieu 10 orQef at
quarter to eight o'clock, and after the min
utes of the preceding meeting had been
read
The bill to allow the Finance Committee
to accept bond from all substantial compan.
lea In lieu of personal security for the cor
poration officers (lsid over at the last meet
inP) was taken up.
Mr., Burke said that while this plan work
ed In other places it might not prove ap'
plcable to Alexandria. The bonds OF come
city officers were so small that the trouble
of corresponding with such companies would
be greater than the supposed advantages.
Messrs. McKer zie and Goodrich said that
1t would be discretionary with the Finance
Committee whether to accept the bonds OF
the companies or Individual security.
Mr.. Bryant saw no objection to the bill,
"a it would be optional with the committee
ANYHOW which class of security to accept
from the city officers.
The President Mr.. Msrbury] said the
railroad companies accepted the bonds OF
theseincorporated institutions for the faithful
performance OF the duties OF their employ
ees.
The bill after having been altered In Its
wording 80 az to allow the Finance Commit
tee to use ts own discretion In the matter,
was passed.
A resolution from the Common Council
empowering the Mayor. Auditor and City
Treasurer to borrow $4,000 for the current
expenses of the city. called forth an e1plana-
ton from Mr.. Burke, OF the FINANCE
Committee, who stated that the treasury
was at present empty, and 1t had been cal
culated that S2l 900 would be required to run
the city until the first of June he also de-
tailed the several obligations the corporation
had had to meet lately.
The action of the lower board was coz
Cured In, as was also the &C Ion ofthat BODY
on en- act appropriating Sc. LOO OF the city's
revenues.
A bill referred to the Committee on
streets BY the Common Council to grant the
right of way to the Washington, Alexandria
and Fairfax Railroad Company through
certain streets of Alexandria was read.
| Mr.. Mckenzie thought it would be better
| to let the ordinance lie over until it could
be ascsrtained how much stock had been
subscribed toward the construction of the
proposed road. The Legislature, he said,
was remlss in granting charters to proposed
roads without first finding out bow much
stock had actually been taken,
Mr.. Bryant thought the Aldermen had
better concur in the action of the lower
board. which was subsequently, done.
Some debate took place over resolution
from the Common Council (referred by that
body to the Finance Committed increasing
the salaries of the police force, Messr5. Nc
Kepzie, Burke and Bryant being averse to
d concurrence, the first named proposing
that the resolution be laid on the table.
The action of the lover board, however, was
finally concurred 10, and the Aldermen at
five minutes past nine o'clock adjourned
COMMON COUNCIL.
| II was some time before q quorum was
gotten laet night, and shortly before eight
o'clock nice members were found present.
| Four others afterwards came in, making
thirteen members then present.
An act appropriating money for extraor.
diuary expenditures of the city was intro
duced By the finance committee. IL appro-
pirates for electric light 81 700 fire depart.
ment 500; public property $500; police
| and extra police $500.
Mr.. Snowden, from the finance commit
tee. said although he regretted having to
propoee such matter no other course was
open. He then made statement OF the at.
fairs of the city, saying that over sl9, OOo
more than had been estimated for had al
ready been paid out of the treasury and that
nearly 81 900 more. which had not been es-
timated for, would be required. OF the
amount already paid out there was the
ST 500 of the Gunton bonds, to the pay
ment of which the Sll .3525 received from the
snls of the canal had been used, making
Sc IT'S paid out If the general fund there
had been paid to Mr.. Patterson, the con-
tractor for the new work in the northwest
ern section, SIS, 76S.22 to the engineer en-
ployed on the work, $4,000, and that al
ready s., 467 had been paid for running
the electric plant. There was yet to be
paid So 300 for the new work in the north.
west section; 500 more needed by the tre
department; 50. 200 more needed Tor the
electric works, expenses $500 for the pub
lie property, and $500 for the police. He
said it would require at least $2l 800 to
meet the demands on the treasury from this
date till the end of the fiscal year, May 81
SIG 900 for general expenses; $500 tor the
street contractors, and 81. 200 for the eiec
trio lights. This estimate was based on the
expense of the past three years. re SAID
the city would probably receive 80 OOO from
the Mayor for fines and licenses; S5,0C0
from the tax collectors, and 5000 from the
fish wharf. Assuming an expenditure OF
$4,000 for the remainder of the year tor
general expenses, and IS 300 to be paid
the street contractor, and $4,000 for
the electric light. S21 500 would he fair
figure for what would be needed, so tenn
porary loan of $4,000 would have to be
made. He said, however, that 1t would not
be necessary to borrow all this money at once
as it would only be used when absolutely
needed, If the improvement bills are COL
lected the city might be run at less than
the $4,000. He stated that there would
have been no temporary loan required this
year, but for the extraordinary expenses
except for which there would have been
handsome surplus. That the city had got
ten on 80 far without negotiating loan
was due to the feet that the tax ssle5 had
brought into the treasury 81 600, while
50 900 of back taxes bad been collected
through the Auditors office. THIS VIII Iod De
the frat temporary loan made since 1885
a. einca tho nrasent Auditor haa been in