Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-09
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.

night.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
F! Five Aldermen were present wher
the board was called to order but two
others came in later. No spectator!
appeared without the bar.
No unfinished business was on thu
table, nor had the chairmen of any O.
the committees anything to report, and
q recess followed.
There was a general expression o.
opinion among those present, while the
board was not in session, that immedi
ate steps should be taken to rid the city
OF the tramp nuisance, and that Coun.
Gil should pass an ordinance empower.
Ing the Jallor, city sergeant or overseer
OF the chain gang to inflict corporal
punishment upon persons guilty of in
subordination while serving sentences.
1t seems that, according to the State
laws, the Judge of the Corporation
Court has first to prepare regulations
for the government of the gang, after
which Council can pass an ordinance
providing for punishment in cases of in
subordination.
Some papers finally came in from the
lower board and their action was con-
Cured in.
The report of City Engineer Damn,
to whom had been referred the petition
of D. j. Howell & Co., contractors for
the King and Pitt streets sewer, for relief
from forfeiture, WAS received from the
Common Council, together with the pc.
tition of the contractors, and on motion
of Mr.. Sweeney their action in granting
the relief was cOncurred in.
After the board had eoncurred in the
action of the Common Council in sever
al matters, among them a resolution
providing that when Council adjourn g
it be to meet on the fourth Tuesday N
January, 1897, the board adjourned.
COMMON COUNCIL.
The Common Council was late in its
opening, but had ten members in at.
tendance when the President raped
for order. Two Councilmen came to
their seats afterward.
Mr.. Uhler, from the committee on Fl
nance, reported bills of City Attorney
s. G.. Brent and of the commissioners of
election, which were ordered to be-
paid.
The report of City Engineer E. G.
Dunn in reference to the communica
ton of D. J. Howell & Co., contrac ors,
to put down the King and Pitt streets
sewer was read. Mr. Dunn does not think
that any conclusive reason is shown in
the Communication for failure to con-
plete the work in time. He examined
seriatim the reasons submitted by
Messrs. Howell & Co., aud says that
the time within which the work was
contracted to be done was amply suf
ficient for the work. The rains were
less than is usual in summers in this
climate and the wind storm or cyclone
which they sllege withdrew brick
masons from the work did not occur
until after the time at which the sewer
should have been completed under
the contract.
Mr.. Greene asked what was the relief
asked,
The Chair-Howell & Co. asked to
be relieved from the forfeiture of five
dollars day for the time occupied
over the contract time.
Mr. Green moved to refer the
matter to the committee on streets, but
on the statement of the chair that it
had been agreed to settle the matter to.
night he withdrew his m otion.
Chairman Burke, of the committee Oh
streets, said that the only money which
the city asked of Howell & Co. was
S13S.75 which the delay in the work
had caused the city to eXpend. The
whole forfeiture would have been 1910.
The $13S.75 had been paid to an in
spector.
Mr.. Snowden (Mr. Burke in the
chair expressed his qualification that
the engineer had made full report on
the subject and ne vas sorry that Mr..
Howell was not present to answer. But
be was convinced that the work had
been we'll done and thought that in a
contract of $4,000 which had been
honestly carried out, the city should
not enforce a forfeit for short delay in
completing the work. He hoped the
chairman of the street committee could
conscientiously second motion to re-
lieve Mr., Howell from the payment Of
the forfeiture,
Mr.. Burke said that nc city has had
a better sewer laid down than that
which Howell & 90. have just COM
pleted.
Mr.. Greene agreed with Mr.. Snow
den that the forfeiture was 50 small in
80 large a work that he thought it
should not be enforced.
Mr.. Burke said the city has suffered
no loss by the extension of time.
The motion of Mr.. Snowden that the
prayer OF D. J. Howell for relief from
forfeiture be granted was agreed to.
The committee on streets reported
adversely on the petition of Messrs.
Hamerslev and Brawner for leave to
construct frame stables within fire linn
it's. 1t appears that the buildings had
already been built. The committee
urged that in many cases inaamable
roofs had been put on buildings contra
ry to law, and they suggest that the
special attention Of the police be called
TO this SUBJECT.
Mr.. Greene saw no reason for the re.
noval OF MI. Hamersley's stable
which had been there for 9 long time.
The report of the committe Was &c.