Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-04-10
CITY COUNCIL.

I
ordinance granting the Occoquan-
Woodbridge Telephone Company per-
mission to establish line in this city
was passed, and ordinances providing
for the repair of the city wharves and
the reduction of the price of gas to
81 25 per thousand feet were introduced
and referred
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
All the Aldermen were present, and
tho board was called to order at eight
o'clock, at which hour Council will
meet from now until October 1st.
But two papers were introduced in
the Aldermar-one by Mr.. Lindsey, a
petition of sundry property owners on
Prince street for the grading and repay
ing of that thoroughfare from the west
side of Fairfax street to the Strand or
bulkhead, which was referred to The
committee on streets. The second was
a petition from the Misses Henderson
asking permission to erect two.story
frame and back building on Patrick
street, between Duke and Prince. 1t
was signed by the the adjoining proper
ty-owners and by fourteen members OF
the City Council. Mr.. Sweeney hoped
the prayer of the petitioners would be
granted without reference to the COM
mittee on streets. as is the usual course,
he saying the builder had the material
on the ground and that he would be
seriously Inconvenience if compelled
to wait two weeks for the further action
of Council. Besides, nearly all the mem
bers of the committee on streets had
their names appended to the petition,
while owners of property adjoining the
premises it was purposed to improve
were satisfied and had also signed the
petition.
Mr.. Burke said he was not averse to
granting the petition, but if it was not
an urgent case he would prefer COM
nittee should examine into the matter.
Mr.. Sweeney reiterated his former
statement, and said he saw no reason
for delay.
MIR. Burke suggested that when D.
w. Schofeld petitioned Council recent
ly for permission to erect frame house
on Fairfax street he, too, had obtained
the signatures of adjoining property
owners, but his petition was considered
by committee before it was granted.
While lie acknowledged some excep-
tions had been made, as rule such re-
quests went to committee.
Mr.. Goodrich agreed with Mr..
Sweeney. AS matter of fact the pc
tition had already been referred to a
majority of the members of the City
Council and they had signified their ap-
probation by signing it.
Mr.. Leadbeater said he was by no
means opposed to granting the petit
ton, but there was law governing
such matters and they should be we'll
considered. Petitions were often sign.
ed by persons who desired to see credit
able buildings erected but with little
thought of public safety. Fire was a
contingency which should be regarded.
He saw no good reason why the pc
titioners could not wait two weeks. He
moved its reference to the committee
on streets.
Mr.. Sweeney antagonized the views
expressed by Mr.. Leadbeater, and
again urged that the fact that the ad.
Joining property owners had signed
the petition rendered it unnecessary to
refer the petition. But should Council
deem such course expedient he would
make no further objection.
Mr.. Davis favored sending the pc
tition through the regular channels.
The matter should, he thought, be re-
ferred to o committee. He had re
fused to sign the petition when it wa;
presented to him. He cited the case OF
w. J. Carter, before Council at the last
meeting, as an instance where trouble
occurred in allowing person to build
frame structure within the fire limits
without first requiring conformity
with law, He regarded it as aquestion
able procedure for members of Council
to sign such papers outside ofmeetings.
He, however, was not opposed to the
Improvement contemplated. He knew
all about it and had correct know
ledge of the geography of the locality
Mr. Burke again took the floor in
support of his original standpoint. He
was convinced committee should
make an official report on all such mat
tiers.
MIR. Sweeney suggested that the com
mittee on streets examine into the mat
ter and allow the work to proceed pro
vided they deemed it expedient.
Mr.. Goodrich proposed that the pc
tition be referred to the committee
with power to act.
Mr.. Leadbeater insisted that it would
be bad precedent. The parties who
submitted the petition knew the la"
governing such matters and should be
willing to conform toit.
After further debate vote wa:
taken on MIR. Leadbeater's motion te
refer and it was lost, and on motion o.
Mr.. Goodrich the petition was referred
to the committee on streets with power
to act :.
By this time stack of papers whict
had come in from the Common Coun
Gil was on the clerks desk. They were
read and the action of the lower board
concurred in, after which the board ad
journed.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The members were slow in assem-
bling, but twelve were in attendance
by the time the proceedings had got
ten we'll under way. The session wa!
a short one and most of the bushes;
, was transacted without debate.
The joint committee on light ant
streets reported in favor of the Super
intendent of Police furnishing from tht
canal locks o sufficient quantity o
stone for laying a floor at The ga: