Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-13

NOte ity Is, ntSSIS. bilusey. DuIhe,
Lcadbeater and Mr.. President. No,
Mr.. Carlin-1.
The board then adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board met at sometime after the
regular hour and had thirteen members
present.
When the proposal to appropriate
500 annually TO the Alexandria Infirm-
airy came up,
Mr.. Uhler said that the finance COM
mittee had considered the probability
of the appropriation in making the an
nual estimates. The committee on
poor had declined to pay for the In
Urinary medicines and this was intend
ed to cover all the city's contribution.
The report was agreed to.
The committee on poor reported bids
of four grocers for food supplies to the
poor in which flour is offered at l cent
a pound, coffee cents pound, fish 8
cents a dozen, &c. 1t was said that
these prices were impossible and it was
proposed to divide the trade among all
the stores of the city or else require a
bond of the contractor to furnish the ex-
act goods called for by orders.
Mr.. Fisher said these figures had been
in the bids of contractors for years, and
it was true that some -four can be furn-
ished for l cent per pound. Tea can be
furnished at 16 cents per pound, and %
per cent made, but he would not give
such tea to sick dog.
| ln ,ol
for 10 cents?
Mr.. Fisher-What is called coffee can
be. He thought that two-thirds OF the
people who get these supplies could
work and supply themselves. He adj
vocated a change-divide $1,000 be-
tween the Ladies' Union Relief and the
st. Paul de Vincent Society and take
$1,000 and give work on the streets.
To give rotten behring's and mouldy
provisions was not charity. Let old
people have a dollar to spend for
wholesome food.
Mr.. Cation also favored a change in
the system. The present system would
allow the orders to be discounted for
cash and no provision at all furnished.
He urged that the subject be recon-
mitted, in order that a new system
might be established.
Mr.. Fisher said that it was certain
that on every order fair value was
given not the goods on the contract
perhaps; but as good or better goods.
The dealers acted honestly in the
matter.
The Chair-Was that an honest trans
action?
Mr.. Fisher-I think it was an honest
tranaction.
The Chair-There's where you and l
differ.
Mr.. Evans said that the question was
whether these bids should be accepted.
If -four as good as the sample can be
bought at l cent apound, he saw no
reason for giving more.
Mr.. Fannon urged that the one dol
lar order be made on any grocer that
is willing to lillit.
1t appeared that the orders were not
given for specific articles, but for "a
dollars WORTH
Mr.. Cation said there was no law on
the subject in the city ordinance He
thought some proper system should be
adopted. For himself he had no idea
Of charging anyone with fraud or de-
ceit, but he merely wished to say that
the system now in use was open to
fraud.
Mr.. Uhler knew of a case where the
dollar order was taken by colored
woman for graduated sugar.
The subject was recommitted to the
committee on poor on motion of Mr..
Thompson, after the chair had stated
that he had been informed that the
officers of the benevolent societies had
some years since declined to undertake
the distribution Of supplies to the poor.
When the application of Mrs. N.
Wood for postponement of the order
to move back her fence on Franklin
street came up,
Mr.. McCuen saw no reason for eX-
cepting Mrs. Woods property from the
operations of law.
Mr.. Cation said he had every DISPOSE
ton to crafty Mrs. Wood, but as other
property holders had been compelled
to remove their fences, he saw no rea-
son for excepting the petitioners.
The application was laid on the ta-
BILE.
Mr.. Cation, from the committee on
streets, reported in favor of grading
and Smelling the streets south of Duke,
west of Washington, east of Fay
cite, and north of Franklin streets, and
for an appropriation of $4,000 for this
purpose. This portion of the city was,
he said, all built up and had never been
improved, although its real estate paid
large taxes.
The Chair-Can the work be proper
" done during the winter?
Mr.. Cation said the work could very
well be done in winter.
The chair was in favor of this work,
but he thought the money should first
be provided.
Mr.. Uhler thought the first thing to
be done was to raise the money. If the
work was to be done the $4,000 would
have to be borrowed. Few of the re-
cent improvements made by the city
have been paid for by the property
owners adjoining.
The Chair urged that the city should
pay its part, and the abutting property
owners pay their part.
Mr.. Uhler made statement showing
that a great trouble the city labored
under was in the assessments. The
correspondent Of the Evening Star
some months ago had stated that the
reduction of values was apparent rather
than real, and he made an expose OF a
number of blocks showing large de-