Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-11-24
BOARD OF ALDERMAN.


to the rules, both boards stood adjourn
Ell until last night.
BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
Six members were present in the Al
dermen's chamber when that branch
of the city fathers was called to order,
but no business appearing call from
labor followed, and some time was
spent in waiting for something to come
in from the lower board.
Subsequently the act for the reduc
ton Of the price of gas, passed by this
board few weeks ago, was received
from the Common Council amended by
the substitution OF December" instead
of September as the month on which
discounts would be allowed for prompt
payment.
Mr.. Burke moved that the Alder
men concur, which motion was second
ed by Mr.. Leadbeater, and upon vote
being taken the act as amended was
passed unanimously.
The ordinance having been quickly
disposed of and nothing further being
presented, the Aldermen again rested
on their oars until Mr.. Mushbach, from
the Common Council, appeared in the
chamber with several papers which had
been acted on by that board, and
stated that the lower board was through
with their business and ready to adjourn.
After concuring III the business pre-
sented the Aldermen adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board had a quorum shortly ai-
ter the hour Of assembling. As soon as
the minutes were read the chair called
up the act for the reduction in the price
OF gas from 81 60 with 10 per cent. dis
count to $50 with > per cent. discount
for prompt payment, and the ordinance
passed, yeas 10, noes none. The bill
takes effect on and after the 10Th OF De-
cember.
A communication from the Mayor
calling attention Of the Council to the
bill of W. p Graves for provisions. Ne,
furnished tic schooner Strann in quar-
antine. last summer while its command
or was sick with smallpox, called out
the only discussion of the evening.
Mr.. Fisher had no doubt that the
city was responsible for the bill, but
he thought the ordinary course of ref
erencc to the finance committee should
be taken,
Mr.. Uhler saw no reason for refer
enfe to the finance committee as ne w
derstoo,'' that the court had decided
that rs the Nay,Nr had giyen the orders
the city must pay
Mir Mushbach knew that jug -NoI-
ton had decided the vessel was not -
sponsible to Nir. Graves for that bill,
and his decision was based on the
ground that when patients ill of con-
/ tageous disease are isolated on land by
public authority the city pays all eX-
penses No different rule applied 10
isolation on water. Besides this, the or
ders were all signed by the Mayor and
III this view he saw no other course
than for the city to pay the bill. Other
wise there would be another suit.
The Chair-Against Mayor Strauss?
Mr. Mushbach-No, against the city.
and the city would have to pay the
amount with additional costs. He had
prepared IN order directing the Audi
tor pay Mr. Graves 1892 10 with interest
from July 18th last, but rs the number
Of members present tonight could not
make an appropriation the order for
payment would have to 90 over.
The chair said he knew the Mayor
had acted with the best motives in the
matter, but there is no law which au-
thorzes the Mayor TO give orders for
the payment ofmoney not appropriated
by the City Council. If the Mayor has
Il right to give an order for $50. he has
the right to give such order for $4,000,
and he certainly has no right to do this.
The Mayor had left the city during Il
part of the time the smallpox was on
the vessel, and he, as President OF Coun-
Gil. was called on TO act in the place of
the Mayor lie had refused to sign or
| dcrS for city money to he used for the
smallpox vessel, for he did not think he
had power to do SO. BY this refusal
some hundreds of dollars had been
saved to the city. The quarantine was
not made by the Mayor, but by DR..
Smith as u United States officer. and
DR.. Smith had averrcd that fthc Mayor
interlerred in the matter he could send
him TO Jail. He thought the cheapest
way now was to pay The bill, but it was
bad precedent. He also reminded
Capt. Mushbach that in a conversation
with him OH the sub ect the Captain had
said that to collect the bill for Mr,
Graves he would first sue the captain Of
the vessel, and if he lost the suit he
would then sue Mr. Strauss, and then
the city.
The subject went over until the next
meeting.
Mr.. Mushbach said he wished to eX-
plain to the board that the matters re-
ierrcd to the committee on general laws;
hal not been acted upon because one
member was sick and Others absent.
He asked is Mr.. Thompson Il member
of Council?
The chair Yes sir He came here a
few weeks ago and voted.
When IN order to appropriate addi-
tional money fer lre-plugs came up
Mr. Uhler explained that the water
company was extending lis mains hence
il was much cheaper to do the work
now. The water company would, how
ever, 80 on and put up fire plugs unless
the CITY Council showed an indisposi-
ton to pay.
No such .nlisposition was shown but
two-thirds OF the members beingnccded
TO make an appropriation the subject
was passed over.
1t was suggested that Il JOINT meeting