The times., 1898-01-12
NEWS FROM ALEXANDRIA
Various Matters Disposed of by the
City Council.
A Veto of the Mayor Sustained-Priv-
ileges Granted to the Western
Union Telegraph Company.


monthly meeting of the city
council tonight was of short duration.
Considerable business was disposed OF
with but little debate. Mayor Simp-
sons letter, presented at the last meet
ing OF the council, setting forth his
reasons for refusing TO sign the bill
granting a franchise TO the American
Telephone and Telegraph Company,
was taken up, and on the question,
Shall the bill become a law, the may
or's veto TO the contrary notwithstand-
ing" the vote resulted, nays, Z; yeas, 8.
Mayor Simpson stated that after
carefully considering the matter he
was of the opinion that the council
had delegated it's authority in allowing
the committee on streets and the city
engineer TO designate the location OF
poles, and that the company had not
Deen required in the grant to give a
specific bond.
A petition of John c. Athey for re-
ductlon of assessment on house No. 52i
Queen street was referred 10 the COM
mittee on finance.
a petition was presented signed by
Messrs. J. ID. II. Lunt, NJ. Ruben, and
B. Wheatley asking for the return OF
S25 each assessed against them for top
ping sewers in excess of the present
rate charged Tor that privilege.
The petition of Charles Goodrich,
praying to be relieved of taxes on prop
erty formerly owned by him, was re-
ferred to the finance committee.
A communication from the city aud
itor was read, advising the council that
the appropriations for repairing streets,
public property and fire plugs are eX-
hausted. The matter was referred.
The finance committee introduced an
ordinance, which was referred, direct
ing the mayor, city auditor and treas
urer to borrow such sums of money as
might be needed by the city, pending
the returns from the tax bills.
a communication was received and
read from Dr. f. 6. Leadbeater. eX-
chief of the fire department urging the
importance and necessity for the pur-
chase of an additional steamer for the
department. The communication was
referred
On the recommendation of the board
OF health $50 was appropriated for the
purchase of disinfectants to be used in
cases Of contagious diseases, where the
persons affected are without means.
PERMISSION was granted Thomas
Beach to repair q frame building with
in the fire limits.
Mr.. Berrill offered an ordinance
amending section AZ of the licenses
law, fixing specific tax of $40 on all
persons selling fish, except when of
their own catching.
Mr.. Smith, from the committee on
streets, reported back the petition of
the Western Union Telegraph Company
to extend its line on King street with
the recommendation that it be granted.
provided that the number of poles on
King street would not be increased BY
the extension. The petition was
granted
The sum of $50 was appropriated for
laying crossings at Oronoco and Royal
streets.
A resolution appropriat ting 5000 for
the purchase of oyster shells and also
5000 for the purchase of iron pipe for
improving streets We're referred to the
committee on streets The committee
on streets reported an ordinance pro-
viding that the S3,0SS.76. recently turned
into the city treasury from the direct
tax fund to be applied to street i'm
provements, be appropriated for the
purpose of constructing a forty-foot
gravel roadway on Washington street,
from Queen to Pendleton streets The
ordinance was referred to the commit
tee on streets.
mitted a report on the proposed i'm
provement of King street, between
Royal and Fairfax. with improved ma
terial. The matter occaSioned some
discussion as to the methods of secur-
ing payments of the amounts to be as
sessed against property owners.
letter bearing on the subject of
street improvements and collections on
the same was received from the cor
poration attorney. He recommended
that the thirty-third section of the city
charter, which relates to this subject
be so amended as to conform to the
general law on the subject adopted
by the legislature. The matter went
over.
Mr.. Strider introduced a resolution
directing the committee on light to
inquire into the advisability of the pur-
chase by the city of an incandescent
electric light plant. with an approxi-
mate cost. The matter was referred To
the committee on light
A petition of Mr.. Robert Elliott re-
questing the council to compel certain
improvements by property owners to
sidewalks on Wolfe street was referred
to the committee on streets
A lodge of Good Templars was Or
ganiZed at Del Ray last night. with the
following officers: w. c. T., w. III.
Hatch, sr.: w. V. T., Mrs. NJ f. Hatch:
T., W. H. Hatch, jr.; F. s.. Harry
Bales, jr.: c., Isaac D. Arnold: r. s..
j. E. Supplee; A. r. s.. Miss Minnie
/ Keyes; NJ, c. P. Price; d. NJ. Miss NJ
Mundell; I. s., G. thompson Q. s.,