Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-27

A letter from the Mayor, returnin.
without approval, the resolution of the
City Council granting the application
of Mrs. House for q refund of S25 stree
Improvement tax was read. He ssyl
the action of the Council was unadvise(
and not impartial.
Mr.. Greene-When is this veto mes.
sage dated?
The clerk said the date was the 26tl
inst.
The charter requires that within
days after the Mayor receives an ordi-
nance from the Council he shall, if he
does not approve the same, return it tc
Council, sc
Mr.. Greene then asked if the clerk
could inform the board when the reso
luton of Council had been sent to the
Mayor.
The clerk replied that he did moi
know. The usual course was to give
the papers to the messenger.
Mr.. Greene then inquired of the mes
senger when the paper had been Car.
ried to the Mayor,
The messenger answered that he had
carried it in the usual way. He thought
it was on the Wednesday or Thursday
following the meeting of the Board.
The chair said the Mayor had told
him the day after the measure passed
that he could not approve it. 1t was
not customary to call Council to con.
slider veto when it was not on g mat
ter of general interest.
Mr.. Greene replied that ihis did not
alter the situation. II the Mayor had
failed in his duty it did not effect Mrs.
House. She had now right to man
damus from the court to compel the
execution of the order of Council. He
urged that the subject be laid over un-
til the next meeting which was agreed
10.
On motion OF the chairman of the
ommittee on streets $3.50 remaining
unexpended of an appropriation for the
improvement OF West and Oronoco
streets, was directed TO be used in COM
pletiug improvements on north Colum-
bus street.
The application of the representa-.
tives Of the Garrett estate for q reduc-
ton of the assessment of 1000 upon
the Mount Vernon cotton factory was
reported back by the committee on
finance with q recommendation that the
assessment be reduced to $35, 1000.
Mr.. Uhler thought this was justice
only.
Mr.. Greene opposed the reduction.
Mr.. Smith said that few years ago
there was proposal to establish here
a bicycle factory and application was
made 10 obtain this old factory for this
purpose; 100000 was asked for the
property or rent OF s., 900 per annum
required. This drove off the enter
prise, which now employs 100 hands
in Maryland town. They did this to
cripple Alexandria and now they should
be allowed to keep up this monument
and pay tax on it.
Mr.. Uhler said that the square op.
posite was assessed at $3.50 and there
were four fue dwellings upon it. The
high assessment was made by ~senti-
ment, the report in favor of its reduc.
ton was induced by justice. The rep.
resentative of the Garrett estate could
enforce reduction by action of the
courts. Ths~6wners had tried to sell
the property for $685. 900 but could not
hnd spurchaser.
MI Greene-If he can compel the
City Council to reduce this assessment
that is evidently the route for him to
take to secure the reduction. He said
the owners were running cotton mills
in Laurel, Md, and were merely hold
ing the property to prevent the estab-
lishment of competitive firm 10 this
city. He thought the owners were
creating d monopoly at the expense Of
the city.
After further discussion the report
was not agreed to.
Mr.. Smith reported from tie commit
tee on streets the ordinance Tor paving
with vitrifed brick on concrete base
the square on King street between
Royal and Fairfax streets.
Mr.. Strider asked if there had been
any other proposals except for vitrified
brick. He thought the Council should
have information on the subject.
Mr.. Smith said that the yitrifed
brick on concrete base would cost to
the property holder 81 Sc per front foot,
an asphalt block on gravel would cost
81 70 per front foot, ard an asphalt
block on concrete base at $500 per
front foot.
Mr.. Moore favored the use of the
best.
Mr.. Smith was personally in favor Of
the asphalt block on q concrete base,
but he was content 20 act with the
committee.
Mr.. White said there was monopo.
ly in asphalt block, but vitritled brick
could be bought of score of firms. It
would not be democratic to encourage
monopoly, besides the city engineer
after diligent inquiry had recommend
ed vitified brick.
Mr.. Birrell thought that as the com.
mittee had recommended vitri6ed
brick and the engineer hSd stated tast
such paving would he best FOR the city,
the report should be adopted.
Mr.. Greene was not familiar with
the subject, and thought that as the
Aldermen were not in session nothing
| could De galpea " pote lo-hlSut
| On his motion the ordinance went over.
Mr.. Greene gave notice that he would
at the next meeting of Council call Up
the matter to regulate the speed oil
electric trains passing through the city
Mr.. Strider introduced, by request,
resolution requesting the police
board to give any policeman who wish
ed to volunteer for Cuba leave of alb
sence, without pay, until his return