Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-13
CITY COUNCIL.

spectators were scarce. Inc Common
Council debated and amended the ordi
nance providing for the creation of thu
office of building inspector and passet
an ordinance for testing the validity O
the 33d section of the city charter re
specting street improvements.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
There was nothing whatever SAVIOR
ing of debate in the Board of Aldermen
aud the business, which was mostly o
a routine nature, was quickly dispatch
ed. Most of THAR time was consumed
in recesses while awaiting papers from
the lower board.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The Common Council held its regu
lar meeting last night. Mr.. James R
Cation was elected president pro tenn.
The board took up on its SECOND
reading the ordinance heretofore re
ported to create the Office of building
inspector and to establish building reg
ulations.
During the reading of the ordinance
the president appeared and took MS
seat.
The building inspector bill contlnu-
ing as the special order,
| Mr.. Uhler moved to amend by strlk,
ing out the section which required
concrete floors to all Easements. IL
would be an unnecessary expense.
Mr.. Kraft said this was intended as
sanitary precaution, and was the rule
in Washington and all other cities.
Mr.. Uhler pointed out number OF
dwellings in Alexandria whose base
ments had no concrete, and were yet
quite dry.
Mr.. Cation thought that the section
was good one; for many cases of diph-
liberia and scarlet fever grew out of IN
sanitary cellars. He moved to amend
by making the section depend on the
order of the building inspector so that
it would be enforced only when neces-
sary. This was agreed to.
When the section requiring a fire
proof roof on all buildings on which
one-third of the roof needs repairing
came up,
Mr.. Cation thought that this provision
might work great hardship to poor
people who owned their own dwellings
and might be able to make repairs of
single roofs, yet not able to put on q
fire proof roof
Mr.. Evans said that tin roof, or a
slate roof laid on wood, would not be
an incombustible roof, but he did not
desire to offer any amendments as he
intended to vote against the whole
thing. He thought the law was gotten
up from somebody's specifications.
Mr.. Fannon asked if this law applied
to stables.
The chair said it applied to all build
ings.
Mr.. Thompson moved to amend so as
not to require brick or stone founda-
ton to houses which cost less than two
hundred dollars.
When the section which requires fire.
proof walls between frame houses in
rows came up,
Mr.. Cation suggested that as all the
houses within the fire limits must be
hereafter of brick the section in regard
to frame houses would only apply out
side such limits.
Mr.. Kraft said that in fact we have
no fire limits. Every one who wanted
to put up frame house within the fire
limits was permitted by council to do so.
He would never vote for these permits.
Mr.. Snowden said that he wished
that some provision could be made to
prevent the extension of fire in frame
rows:
1t was finally agreed that in rows OF
frame houses fire-proof wall should
be erected between alternate houses.
Considerable debate took place on
the fee for the inspector of houses.
Pending the discussion, Mr.. Kraft
rose to privileged question and asked
unanimous consent to offer resolution.
The consent having been given he in
PRODUCED an order that MIR. D. W.
Whiting be denied the privileges of the
floor.
He said that Mr.. Whiting had just
approached himself and Mr.. Klaus in
the Council and said he be ID, or
words to that effect, if he would vote
for Councilmen who supported the
building inspection bill.
After short interval, during which
Mr.. Strider moved to lay the resolution
on the table, and it having heep sug-
gested to Mr.. KRAFT that the mere Of
fering of the order would accomplish
the result desired, the order was with
drawn and business proceeded.
Mr.. Whiting states that he was not
profane and that h9 dssirea not to be
ID, but to be blamed, if he ever voted
for supporter of the building inspec.
ton bill; and further that he had 20
intention of insulting any member of
Council
Mr.. Evans said the bill would do
more to retsrd building in Alexandria
than any measure which had ever been
before the Council. This Council could
do almost everything but it could not
repeal the constitution of the State. The
constitution of the State forbade any
one person to hold two offices in cities
and YET this bill gave the City Engi-
neer a second office-that of Building
Inspector. He wanted vote now.
After further discussion the ordii-
nance was completed With many
amendments, and it was ordered that
it be published and made the order of
business directly after the reports of
committees at the next meeting Of the
Board.
Mr.. Uhler presented an ordinance,
which was adopted, directing suit to
be brought against the Violet estate to
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