Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-11-25
CITY COUNCIL.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

out debate. 1t was alter O'CLOCK De-
fore the meeting convened, and then
barely q quorum was present to con-
slider business. If measure requiring
an appropriation should have been in
troduced it could not have been con-
sidered, as there were not enough pre-
sent to vote upon it in order that it
should have become law. In fact
there are only five members OF this
board who have attended the meet
ings anyways regularly for the past six
months, and some time in the futul
the six b man on some important occa-
sion will be very much wanted.
When the resolution, requesting the
City Engineer to forthwith notify prop
erty owners of such wharves which
need repairing along the water front to
repair the same and to remove such
old piers that are dangerous to naviga-
ton came in from the lower board,
MIR. Ballenger said that the City
Council had better he careful in max y
ing wharf owners repair their property.
If they compel other people to do this
they themselves have to be first to be-
gin the work. They could not con-
sistently make other people do that
which they will not do themselves.
They should remember that they
have quite a number of unsightly
piers protruding above water at
the old coal wharf near the canal.
He would like to see the property
along the wharves improved, and was
of the opinion that it should be done,
but in this matter he thought the city
had its hands full.
Mr.. Burke moved that the action Of
the lower board, in referring the reso-
luton to the committee on streets, be
concurred in. The motion was adopt.
ed, aud the resolution will no doubt
die Datural death in pigeon hole in
the committee room.
The board, upon invitation, proceed
ed to the chamber of the Common
Council to hear the statement of Mr..
D. ]. Howell, of D. J. Howell & Co,
sewer contractors, who requested Coun-
Gil to relieve his company of the penal
ty for extra time it took 10 constructing
Pitt and King streets sewers, and upon
their return adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The board was called to order at
eight o'clock. After the reading Of the
minu es of the last meeting,
Mr.. Burke, from the committee on
streets, presented report on COM
munication of S. G.. Moore complaining
of the want OF proper guttering on the
south side of King street, between
Union street and the Strand. The
committee recommended the expend-
iture Of $25 for the purpose of con-
structing catch basin at the point in
Dictated which will abate the nuisance
complained of. The report YVES adopted
Mr.. Burke also presented report on
communication from City Engineer
Dunn in regard to needed repairs to
certain pavements in the city. The
committee recommended that the re-
pairs be made.
Mr.. Caton-"How much will be the
cost 2"
Mr.. Burke didn't know.
The President-"On what streets are
these repairs needed, and who are to
pay the bills ?"
Mr.. Burke-"Some are on King
street The owners are supposed to pay
for the repairs, but that question has
yet to be determined %
On motion OF Mr.. Cation the report
was laid over.
A communication from D. ]. Howell
was received asking permission to
withdraw his bill Of S25 against the city
for furnishing expert testimony in the
matter Of Kemper vs. the City Council
in connection with the construction of
sewer openings on Fairfax street.
Mr.. Cation moved that Mr.. Howell
be allowed to withdraw the bill, and
the motion prevailed. Mr.. Cation said
he was not present when the bill was
presented to Council, but he thought
Mr.. Howell should have been paid for
his testimony, and he regretted that
there had been objection to it. No
court had right to summon man
and demand an opinion from him with
out paying for it. A lawyer could not
be made to give an opinion without
compensation.
The Chair thought it obligatory
upon every citizen to respond to sum-
mons from court for the purpose of
testifying, as witness. He recounted
his own experience in being summoned
TO Warrenton on one occasion in case
in which he had not the slightest inter
est. The court not only refused to pay
mis- fare there and back or for substi
tute to do his work while away, but
never paid him the fifty cents day
generally allowed witnesses. He hoped
however, if the city was indebted to
Mr. Howell that he would be paid.
Mr. Cation reiterated that court
could summon a man as witness, but
could not compel him to give an opn
ion gratis any more than it could COM
pei an attorney to do the same.
Mr.. Strider introduced preamble
and resolution recting the circum
stances OF the breaking down of the
Hydraulion engine recently while on
the way to fire by running into the
turnout of the electric railway at the
intersection of King and Washington
streets. and providing for the removal
of the switch on the ground that it SEEM
ed to be unnecessary at present from
the fact that the company was not using |
it. He asked that the matter be refer
red to the committee on streets.
Mr.. Cation said he did not object to
the matter going to the committee, but
he desired to state that the company |
had ordered new switches to be placed
at that point. The work, he said, would
L ,~t hn