Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-06-12
CITY COUNCIL.

proceedings attracted few spectators.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
But two papers were presented in the
Aldermen-an ordinance fixing the
salary of the Clerk of Gas at 81 900 and
a petition for the erection of an electric
light at the intersection of Columbus and
Oronoco streets. The former was re-
ferred to the joint committee on light
and finance and the latter to the com.
mittee on light. All the business which
came in from the lower board was con.
Cured in save in two instances-the
opinion of the Corporation Attorney to
the effect that Council had no power to
grant the petition of G. G. Shoots
Sons & Co. to run a railroad switch
into their property on Wilkes street,
and petition from Mrs. Wolf for the
removal of the railroad watch box from
the corner of King and Fayette streets.
The opinion of the Corporation Attor-
ney in regard to the proposed switch
was endorsed, received" by the Com
mon Council.
Some conversational debate followed
between all the members after the
opinion had been read.
Mr.. Leadbeater said be was averse to
concurring hastily in the action of the
lower board. More time should be de-
voted to the consideration of the mat
ter. The board should at least wait
until the next meeting before taking
final action. In the meantime confer
ences could be held with the Corpora
ton Attorney. The tannery, he said,
employed quite number of men, and
the petitioners were entitled to some
Difference and should not be dropped
on" too suddenly. He moved that She
Aldermen non-concur in the action of
the Common Council and that
committee of conference of two
members from each board be appointed
His motion prevailed and he and Mr.
Davis were appointed. The committee
retired and after having been out about
ten minutes returned to the chamber
with q report approving of the decision
of the Corporation Attorney. The
board adopted the report.
The adverse report from the commit
tee on streets on the petition of Mr..
VIM. Wolfe for the removal of the
watchman's box had been received
from the Common Council early in the
evening and their action concurred in.
Subsequently, however, Mr.. Hinkeu
moved its reconsideration and that a
conference committee be appointed.
He and Mr.. Sweeney were appointed,
and while the committee was prepar-
ing to retire it was learned that the
Common Council had adjourned. There
was no further business before the
Aldermen and they concluded to follow
the example of the lower board.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The attendance was small when the
Board was called to order.
The Mayor by letter informed Coun-
Gil that he had removed w. H. Travers
from the captaincy of the chain gang
and that DR.. Julian Miller, Health Of
ficer, had announced his determination
to resign his position unless a proper
salary should be attached to his Office.
The subject was referred.
A communication from the Corpora
ton Attorney adverse to the power Of
the City Council to grant G. C.Smoot's
Sons the right of way for railway sid
ings from the Midland Railway with
their yards on Wilkes street was read.
The Corporation Attorney holds
that the city has no right to grant the
use of its streets to railway companies.
Mr.. Burke called attention TO the act
of Council granting the right of way
over the streets to the Orange & Alex
andria Railroad Company passed in
1S49 and he said that it seemed evident
under that act that the Midland Rail
way Company could put tracks any
where outside an area bounded by
Fayette, Union, Duke and Queen
streets.
The communication was received.
Afterwards the paper came back
from the Aldermen by the hands of Mr..
Leadbeater and committee of confer
ence was appointed which agreed to a
resolution adopting the opinion of the
Corporation Attorney.
When q communication from MIR.
Fannon suggesting an Improvement on
Fayette street, between King and Cam
eron, was read,
Mr.. Burke stated that the railway
company was ready to do its part in
the matter when the grade was estab-
lished.
Mr.. Cation said the street was now
useless and likely to become unhealthy
by reason of standing water and he
hoped that the committee on streets
would secure some speedy action on
the matter.
The communication was referred.
Mr.. Burke, from the committee on
streets, caused to be read to the board
letter from Capt. Geo. A. Mushbach
to the auditor setting out his objection
to paying fee for tapping sewer in
Fayette alley, on the ground that such
tax had no legal authority, and sug-
costing that the matter be referred to
the Corporation attorney, which was
done.
When an order referring the gas
works laws to the committees on light,
general laws and finance was read,
Mr.. Uhler said that the abolition of
the office of superintendent of gas
would render a revision of the laws
relative to lighting the city necessary.
The annual appropriation bill, which
was passed by the Aldermen at their
last meeting, was passed.
New ordinances imposing taxes on
express and telegraph companies.
drawn to conform with the recent de-
cision of the U. S. Court of Appeals,
were read and referred.