Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-07-01

Inc AlutTlleu Iucu pIOCccuCu Y VIZ
chamber of the Common Council for
the purpose of witnessing the i~nstalla-
ton of the Mayor-elect, and upon their
return adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The members elect of the board as
sembled at the Council chamber at noon
aud MIR. John 7. johnson called the
assembly to order and called the roll.
All the councilmen were present at the
organization except Mr.. w. S. Moore,
who came in later.
The clerk announced that the first
business would be the election of a
president.
Mr.. Uhler nominated Mr.. Hubert
Snowden.
Mr.. Slrider nominated Mr.. Geo. W.
Fisher.
The ballot resulted Mr.. Snowden s,
Mr.. Fisher 5.
So Mr.. Snowden was declared presi-
dent and on taking the chair said
| wish TO return thanks to my friends
for the honor conferred upon me for
the second time in choosing me to pre-
side over this Council and to assure
them that | heartily appreciate the
compliment and will strive to merit the
confidence reposed in me. As hereto
fore | will endeaver to the best of my
ability to discharge the duties of the
position faithfully, fearlessly and i'm
partially, and hope that all my official
acts may rebound to the best interests
ofthe city. Again | thank you. | am
now ready to take the prescribed oath
of office.
The President then took the oath of
office at the hands of Justice VIM. II.
May and he afterwards administered
the oath to the other Is members of the
board.
Mr.. John n. Johnson was uaani-
mously elected clerk of the Common
Council and took the oath at the hands
of the president of the board.
Mr.. Fisher moved to postpone the
election of messenger, which was lost.
Mr.. Cation nominated John Craven.
Mr.. Thompson handed in the appli-
cation of James Hepburn.
The ballot stood Craven II and Hep
burn 5. Mr.. Craven was declared
elected.
On motion of Mr.. Cation the rules
of the last board were adopted as
the rules of the present board until
further ordered.
JOINT MEETING
The Aldermen then entered the
Council chamber and President Snow
den said the joint session had convened
to witness the Inauguration of the
Mayor.
Alderman Lindsey and Councilman
Cation were appointed to wait upon the
Mayor-elect and inform him that the
City Council was ready to receive him.
Hon. Henry Struss entered in COM
pany with the joint committee aud was
introduced by Mr.. Cation. The Mayor
elect thereupon delivered his inaugural
address as follows:
Gentlemen Of the City Council
Two years ago | appeared in this
chamber before you aud a large assem-
blage of my fellow-citizcns in obedience
to that portion of our city charter which
says, he, (the Mayor shall, before he
enters upon the duties of his office,
take an oath or affirmation in the pre-
sence of the City Council, faithfully to
execute his said office. Called by the
people to fill this office for another
term, | am none the less impressed with
lis responsibilities because of my two
years experience and observation, dur
ing which time it has been my constant
aim to discharge every duty incident to
the position ina manner which | hope
has met with the appreciation of my
fellow-citizens, for in common with
those who have preceded me as Mayor.
| have, no doubt, made those mistakes
which are common to mankind. 1t has
been my good fortune to be in Office in
a period marked by much prosperity to
the city and its merchants, manufac-
turers and citizens, owing partly to the
energy of its people and the confidence
which your acts and control of the pub
lie affairs of the city has imbued others.
l wish now to briefly call your atten-
ton to one or two things deserving no.
tice. know the subject of street i'm
provements has been 81 frequently re-
ferred to that it seems worn out, but it
cannot be denied that one of the most
important wants of the city is better
paved streets and agood system of sew
erage. For several years past we have
made fair progress on our streets, and
last year two sewers were built, which
means money well spent. BY reason OF
the doubt as to just what will be the
decision of the Court of Appeals in re-
ference to street assessments, it is not
probable that much legislation will be
now passed as to street improvements,
ont hope it will be the pleasure OF
Council to keep pace with our growing
CITY IN this matter. As the police de-
partment of city government is
constantly und r my eye and direction,
and approaching its requirements,
think 1t proper to urge Council to in,
crease its number BY at least four mem.
beers. The growth of the CITY makes
this increase absolutely necessary in
NV opinion. One of the needs of the
city is 81 building inspector. The bill
introduced in the hast Council for a city
engineer should vest that officer with
the power to inspect and condemn
buif,iiung The l,x, rs IN buildinr nor.