Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-27
CITY COUNCIL.

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measures of public interest (the recon-
mendation of the Police Commissioners
for an increase of the force and the re-
port of the committee on streets on the
application of the Washington South
ern Railway for the privilege of double
tracking Fayette street) would be be-
fore the the City Council last night the
proceedings attracted but corporal's
guard of spectators. Beautifully bound
copies of the corporation exhibits for
the past year and the official directory
and laws for the present, from
the press of Mr.. John a..
Strider, were upon the desks of the
members. The binding and typo
graphical appearance of the books were
commended.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
After the reading of the minutes the
petition of the Washington Southern
Railway Company, which was laid
over from the last meeting, was taken
up for final consideration.
Mr.. Burke moved to strike out $780,
600 in the provision which required the
railway company to erect a depot
building costing that much and insert
the word suitable"
Mr.. Sweeney did not think the
amendment correct one. Some figure
should be inserted. The building the
company now have may be suitable"
Mr.. Smoot said that the railroad
people were aware that the present
building in this city was not proper
one, but they also thought $4,000 was
too much to expend in this City for a
depot.
Mr.. Burke had been informed that
the railway company would erect a
suitable depot if they had proper
grade. and that it would take some
time before that could be had.
Mr.. Sweeney said the company
would have plenty of time to attend to
these matters. An ordinance would
have to be prepared, which would
take some time, and other things
would have to be attended to.
He did not think the question
of grade entered in the problem. The
company would have plenty of time 10
prepare grade. He believed that if
Fayette street was properly graded ii
would be an advantage to the city.
The city should bind the matter down
| in black and white. This is The only
way to do business with corporation
| The city has given away too many val
| liable franchises for which it has never
received anything in return. We
should make things very straight to
these gentlemen, but when We put in
such words as suitable" they can use
their discretion in erecting building
We should name the amount, and, per-
haps, the company may exceed the
amount named. The easiest way il
the best way after all.
Mr. Burke said that if the company
did what the city wanted them to do
it would cost them S25, 900 outside OF
the depot building. 1t was not his de-
sire to run the railroad out of tho city.
He had heard of other cities which had
made mistakes of this kind before, and
he citel the city of Richmond as an
example.
Mr.. Sweeney said that it was not the
idea of the citizens to oppose railroads
or any other corporation. They are
beneficial, but when they want certain
privileges the city certainly should re
ceive some compensation. He thought
specific figure should be named in the
provision.
Mr.. Burke moved that $4,000 de in-
serted instead of $4,000. The amend
ment was adopted.
The Common Council returned the
paper amended, making $15, 900 az the
cost of the depot building instead OF
$40, 600, and their action was concur
| red in.
After several other minor amend
ments the report was adopted as amend
ed by unanimous vote of the board.
When the ordinance came in from
the Common Council requiring people
to clean snow, ice, ETC., from sidewalks
within the fire limits,
Mr.. Smoot thought man who lived
on street which was outside of this ter
ritory should be made to clean his pave
ments as well as those inside.
The ordinance was then recommitted
to the Committee on Streets.
Several petitions and communications
were received from the lower board
| and their action concurred in.
The board then adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
As soon as the clerk had finished
reading the minutes of the last regular
and called meetings the report the
conference committe on the ordinance
for the increase of the pay of the po-
lice force and in favor of adopting the
| recommendation of the Police Commits
sioners for four additional men was
read. 1t will be remembered that the
Board of Aldermen refused to concur in
the action of the Common Council in
creasing the pay of the force and adopt
ed the recommendation of the commits
sioners and at the last regular meeting
a conference committee was appointed
and they reported in favor of the adop-
ton Of the action of the Aldermen.
The report was unanimously adopted
by the Aldermen and came up in the
Common Council last night as the first
business in order.
Mr.. Mushbach moved a concurrence
in the report of the committee.
Mr.. Cation was not in favor of con-
curing. He was a member of the coz
ference committee and had dissented iu
approving the action of the Aldermen.
IF. however, he thought four more
policemen would be for the city's good
| he would cheerfally vote for the pro-